Alexandra Romero is destined to get ahead in life. Romero is a first-generation college student who holds down a full-time job while juggling car payments and a mortgage. She says a strong work-ethic and steely determination keep her going.

Those qualities may be why she is rising toward prosperity in a state where very few people do. In New Mexico, low paying jobs, the limited availability of affordable housing, and a fragmented social safety net mean many young people have difficulty getting ahead. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made things more challenging. 

In an effort to bolster journalism education to historically underrepresented groups, NBCUniversal will partner with 17 historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and colleges with significant Latino, Asian, Black, Indigenous and tribal populations through its NBCU Academy.

The program promises to offer students from diverse racial and economic backgrounds a broad scope of on-campus training, online programs, scholarships, and opportunities for interaction with NBC News Group journalists.

In his new book, Lumina Foundation's Jamie Merisotis offers a roadmap for the large-scale, radical changes that must happen in order for people to find abundant and meaningful work in the 21st century. 

Merisotis shares his vision in this podcast—along with actions to harness the population’s potential, encourage a deeper sense of community, and erase a centuries-long system of inequality.