Mission
Our mission is to expose, equip, and empower young people by providing the guidance, support, and resources they need to achieve independence, education, and career success.Vision
Our vision is to create a world where every young person is supported and transitions into adulthood with a solid plan for lifelong success and stability.Why Opportunity 1st?
Opportunity 1st was established to bridge the gap in underserved communities by addressing the barriers that prevent youth and young adults from realizing their full potential. There is a growing need for comprehensive, holistic development programs that prioritize mentorship, personal growth, and workforce readiness to support disadvantaged and at-risk youth. These programs are essential to ensuring that every young person has access to equal opportunities for success. Many young people face significant personal and social challenges that hinder their ability to graduate from high school and transition into meaningful employment. A lack of skills training and resources further compounds these barriers, leading to limited opportunities, higher unemployment rates, increased crime, and difficulty establishing sustainable career paths. These obstacles perpetuate cycles of poverty and disadvantage as youth transition into adulthood. Opportunity 1st is committed to breaking this cycle through innovative programming designed to empower underserved youth across diverse communities nationwide. Our programs focus on building confidence, fostering critical life skills, and creating pathways for lifelong success. By intervening during critical developmental stages, we aim to redirect youth from negative outcomes toward positive ones, helping them become healthy, employable, and responsible adults who contribute meaningfully to their communities.A Personal Message from Our Founder
Greetings, my name is Lizzie M. Harrington, and I am the Founder and Executive Director of Opportunity 1st. My heart has always been drawn toward helping others, especially our youth and young adults. Growing up on Chicago’s west side and later moving to the south side as I entered middle school, I became aware early on that my environment was unique and that I would need to work harder than most to rise above my circumstances.
Back then, I didn’t fully understand what “improving my situation” really meant, nor did I have a clear role model to guide me. Like many young people around me, I simply tried to get by. But my journey took a different path, and today, I’m grateful to be seen as a “success story” not a statistic, as my beginnings may have suggested. Through resilience and a relentless drive, I have been blessed to empower myself as a young adult, learning, growing, and pushing past many obstacles along the way.
Here at Opportunity 1st, my mission is to provide today’s youth with a much smoother path than the one I had. I believe wholeheartedly that true support involves understanding each individual’s needs and helping them build their own unique journey. Whether that means finding employment stability, developing financial awareness, pursuing education, or accessing other resources, my greatest joy is helping youth and young adults realize their potential.
Today, I am proud to be a college graduate, entrepreneur, mother, lifelong learner, teacher, friend, and above all, a child of God. Opportunity 1st is more than an organization; it’s a community, a resource, and a commitment to nurturing the dreams and goals of our young people. Together, we can continue building brighter futures, one step at a time.
With a grateful heart,
Lizzie M. Harrington, MBA Founder and Executive Director
Services What We Do
We plan and support amazing projects that help change the lives of youth and young adults from across different regions of the world.
Mentorship
Guiding tomorrow’s leaders with personalized mentorship and unwavering support.
Personal
Development
Empowering young minds to unlock their full potential through tailored personal growth activities and exercises.
Professional
Development and Training
Equipping youth with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the modern workforce.
