Blue Meridian Partners

"We know that our model leads to very effective and sustainable technology careers and so we want to do more. We want to go deeper in the cities that we're in, where it makes sense we will expand into new geographies. Our goal is to triple our impact by 2030." -- Plinio Ayala, CEO of Per Scholas Catch investee leader Plinio Ayala on a Harvard Business School podcast, where he shares insights on how Per Scholas is adapting to meet the evolving demands of the modern tech workforce and their future plans. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/evKk2_XT

We believe dismantling barriers to the job market for people with criminal records is an important part of boosting US economic mobility. Our investments prepare individuals for employment and career pathways and catalyze demand among employers to hire, retain, and advance people with criminal records who face inordinately steep challenges to economic mobility. How do you think employers can play a more active role in breaking down barriers for individuals with criminal records? #SecondChanceMonth

Blue Meridian Partners recognizes #SecondChanceMonth each year—a time when we highlight the lasting barriers faced by people with criminal records and advocate for solutions that support their economic mobility. We trust leaders with lived experience who are breaking cycles of recidivism, creating opportunity post incarceration, and working with employers to integrate #FairChanceHiring practices. These changemakers—such as Sheena Meade of The Clean Slate Initiative, Sam Lewis of Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), and Jason Wang of FreeWorld, for example—know best what their communities need and have bold visions for boosting economic and social mobility for justice-impacted Americans. Learn how one #criminaljustice-focused investee leader leverages her own experience to motivate her work: https://lnkd.in/ebs5G6YR

This #SecondChanceMonth we’re proud to elevate the missions of our investees who are working tirelessly to mitigate the downstream effects that incarceration can have on one’s social and economic well-being. A big THANK YOU to: Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), OIC of America, STRIVE, Rubicon Programs, FreeWorld, A New Way of Life Reentry Project, Jobs for the Future (JFF), The Clean Slate Initiative, REDF, Michigan Justice Fund, Oklahoma Justice Fund, JustLeadershipUSA, REFORM Alliance, Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, Center for Employment Opportunities, and National Employment Law Project.

Children in foster care have a 24% increase in the odds of returning to their families when referred to Youth Villages' Intercept program. We’re proud to see our investee’s work continue to grow nationwide, with its latest expansion in Georgia: https://lnkd.in/ekhcPCXr

To boost economic mobility in the US, we must consider how to create opportunity for the 77 million Americans with criminal records. These individuals deserve a #FairChance! As part of this work, we support a set of strategies that focus on reentry services and pathways to sustainable employment. 

Place isn’t just where challenges exist — it’s where solutions are born. Join us at the 2025 Rural Summit for an inspiring keynote session featuring Cecilia Gutierrez, Managing Director at Blue Meridian Partners, and Luke Shaefer, co-author of The Injustice of Place. They’ll explore the Place Matters framework and how community-driven strategies create opportunity and economic mobility. Luke will share lessons from his research on rural resilience and the power of proximate leadership, reinforcing what many already know — those closest to the challenges are best equipped to solve them. This conversation will highlight the strengths, wisdom, and innovation found in rural communities and how place-based investments can accelerate the transformative work already happening. Get ready for the Rural Summit at cvent.me/ZeOWn3. #RuralSummit25

We are so excited to announce Jim Shelton as a featured speaker at our State of the Paper Ceiling event on 4/24! Jim Shelton is the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Meridian Partners and a member of its Board of Directors. Jim leads Blue Meridian’s efforts to connect investors and visionary leaders to utilize transformative capital to scale solutions that enable all Americans to achieve economic and social mobility and escape the persistent and powerful gravitational pull of poverty. Join Opportunity@Work on April 24th as we unveil groundbreaking research on STARs’ progress and the road ahead. Discover how skills-first hiring can transform the labor market and create more equitable opportunities for all. RSVP today: https://lnkd.in/erw3XwkZ #SkillsFirstHiring #TearThePaperCeiling #wkdev #HireSTARs

A striking one in five young Americans lives in poverty. The limitations to #economicmobility are many and multifaceted: from barriers to accessing public benefits to a lack of assistance in reaching educational goals or involvement in the criminal justice system. At Blue Meridian Partners, we invest in social sector leaders who deeply understand the root causes of poverty and have bold visions to address them with scalable solutions. Learn more about how we collaborate to tackle these challenges head-on and create lasting change: https://lnkd.in/ghbVVbC

Poverty is a complex, immense challenge — but we believe bold, scalable solutions can drive lasting change. Our Nationwide Solutions portfolio invests in strategies that tackle poverty’s root causes and expand opportunity across the country. By combining flexible, long-term capital with strategic support, we help innovative leaders grow their impact — reaching more communities and transforming systems. Scaling what works is essential. It’s how we move from promising interventions to sustainable growth— breaking cycles of poverty for generations to come. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gq_uEPQ #MeridianMondays