In late March, New Avenues for Youth hosted the new U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration,  Brent Orrell.  Assistant Secretary Orrell met with staff of our job training program to learn first hand about the practices and successes of New Avenues school and employment programs.  The following week, the international employment policy think tank, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) also visited New Avenues.  As part of a three-state research project, the OECD sought to “meet with visionary local leaders involved in promising youth remedial initiatives” and learn about policies and programs enacted to improve school-to-work transitions and youth employment policies.  New Avenues is proud to be what the Department of Labor considers to be one of "the best of the best" national programs that assist youth as they make their transition to employment.