CityWorks DC

The youth apprentices at our event on Monday truly blew me away. If you are an educator, workforce leader, employer, parent, high school student -- I implore you to listen to what they have to say and share their wisdom. Here were some key takeaways for me: 1) Employers often lament the lack of "soft skills" and "career readiness skills" among young workers. The professionalism that all three of the former apprentices brought to the Brookings stage in abundance is not something that young people get from school -- it takes experience in the workplace. It takes counselors, teachers, employers, and parents all working to make that opportunity possible and make the transition smooth. When a Senator tells 20 year-old Frankie to consider working for him in the Senate, you know you're doing something right. 2) Make learning count in all its forms. Lateefah said it so well, paraphrasing her here: You've got to believe. If you believe that time in the workplace is valuable, then value it as much as an AP course. Give students credit for what they are learning in the workplace. Remove the barriers they have to get to work, whether that means adjusting the schedule or providing transportation. Leah noted that in her college class, she was learning material that her peers found difficult, but she learned it "years ago" in her apprenticeship. Why doesn't that count? 3) Each one of them embodied their own unique career and personal identity, in part as related to their career choices. The apprenticeships gave them a chance to try something out and navigate to what felt right to them, and then they owned it, full stop, even if the first thing they tried wasn't the right fit. At the end, Jubei emphasized that we consider their journeys and consider ways to make paid, work-based pathways available to more people. He said, "I'm a success story. I'm real." The full video of the fireside chat between Frankie Mansaray and Senator John Hickenlooper, as well as the panel of youth apprentices Jubei Brown-Weaver and Leah M. Sloan and CityWorks DC VP Lateefah Durant is here: https://lnkd.in/eafTZptS. Many thanks to Brookings Metro and our co-sponsor CityWorks DC, as well as Senator John Hickenlooper, Noel Ginsburg, CareerWise USA, and their partners for setting all this in motion in 2106 with a delegation to Switzerland. Photo credits: Grant Ellis. Happy National Apprenticeship Week, y'all! #NAW2024

What a great way to kick off National Apprenticeship Week! ?? Hearing from Lateefah Durant and three inspiring DC public high school alumni about their youth apprenticeship experiences was powerful. These young leaders shared their journeys in cybersecurity, HR, and business and even had the opportunity to interview Senator John Hickenlooper about his advocacy for youth apprenticeships. Their stories remind us of a critical truth: the U.S. still has a long way to go in building diverse, robust pathways to postsecondary success. Many other countries have embraced apprenticeship as a proven, meaningful route to family-sustaining careers. It's time we do the same. The impact is clear. These students not only received full-time offers from their companies but also forged unique paths forward: ?? One is now thriving in a full-time role with their employer. ?? Two others chose to pursue bachelor’s degrees while working. I’m energized and committed to advancing this work—ensuring high-quality career pathways, like youth apprenticeships, are accessible to all young people. Proud to continue this journey with CityWorks DC and other dedicated partners! Let’s keep building a future where every young person has the tools to succeed. ????? #NAW #postsecondarysuccess #equityineducation #collegeandcareerpathways #economicmobility

It's been over a week, and I'm still thinking about our D.C. Policy Center Building Career Assets for Lifelong Success release, cohosted by CityWorks DC! I learned so much from our dynamic speakers who brought the content to life--about the importance of real world experience and relationships from DCPS alumna and so much more Syamyia B.; how District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) focuses on equity as well as investing in pathways to high demand high wage careers; the ways that Career Academies at Friendship Schools with Patricia Brantley's leadership start with a summer bridge and lead to career exposure, a sense of belonging, and students proving what they can do; the ways that Monica Dodge and the Office of Education through Employment Pathways are connecting the dots between education and economic mobility; how Robert Holm and On-Ramps weave together nonproft and business sectors with a focus on quality to facilitate internships for young people in D.C.; and how #DCBuildsDC with Clark Construction and others are showing construction as a viable career pathway to a good job--plus a closing call to action from Jennie Niles around how crucial career assets are for all youth in D.C. I feel grateful to continue this thread in part with DC Education Research Collaborative's exploration of the impact of secondary career development opportunities in DCPS over the next year (https://lnkd.in/eXkNzbS4). Please reach out if you have questions or other ideas for follow ups from this report!

We were excited to see Paul Fain write about #NationalApprenticeshipWeek in his The Job newsletter (https://lnkd.in/eD7rdF_x)! ?? As he points out, apprenticeships are a rare bipartisan issue, with states like Colorado and Indiana investing heavily in earn-and-learn models, including youth apprenticeships. These pathways are expanding beyond traditional trades into fields like healthcare, education, and finance—and pairing apprenticeships with degrees is gaining traction both in the U.S. and globally. At a The Brookings Institution event this week, leaders like Senator John Hickenlooper and Indiana Governor-Elect Michael Braun highlighted the importance of youth apprenticeships for building a skilled, innovative workforce. Hickenlooper captured it perfectly: "It’s not Republican or Democrat to make sure we have more opportunities for our kids. It’s not Republican or Democrat to make sure we have a workforce that allows us to continue to lead the world in innovation and new ideas.” Our affiliate, CityWorks DC, also took the stage, with VP of Innovation Lateefah Durant emphasizing the value of integrating learning and earning: "You shouldn’t have to learn over here and earn over there. Apprenticeship gives us a way to bring those two things together." Hearing stories from former youth apprentices, like Leah Sloan—a CityWorks DC finance apprentice at Freddie Mac and now a student at Bowie State University—reinforces the life-changing impact of these programs. Leah encouraged alumni to inspire their peers, showing that apprenticeships are just as powerful a pathway as traditional routes. Let’s celebrate the progress of apprenticeships this week and continue building momentum for the next generation! #YouthApprenticeship #ApprenticeshipWorks #LearnAndEarn #CareerWise #CityWorksDC

?? Apprenticeships play a pivotal role in empowering local talent to achieve higher income levels, financial stability, career fulfillment, and optimism about the future. Research by CityWorks DC and Bain & Company. underscores the significant impact Career Asset Building opportunities like apprenticeships can have on these outcomes. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g5cpxYnj Dr. Erin Bibo, our VP of Strategic Initiatives, recently testified in support of strengthening apprenticeships and CTE in DC. She emphasized: -Supporting the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in setting high standards, such as their new CTE monitoring tool which will include this High-Quality Work-Based Learning Rubric designed by the CityWorks DC team and our partners (Which can be found here: https://lnkd.in/essBpUyE) -Sustaining investments in the Education through Employment Pathways data system to evaluate and enhance CTE outcomes, and -Strengthening employer connections through initiatives like the Hire Local DC Sector Partnerships, co-convened by Federal City Council and CityWorks DC, which have proven highly effective. Read Dr. Bibo’s full testimony here: https://lnkd.in/eTGnanR5 #NAW24 #Apprenticeships #CareerDevelopment #LocalTalent #CityWorksDC #FutureOfWork

Yesterday’s panel at The Brookings Institution was a powerful discussion on the future of apprenticeships! Featuring Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) and three of our impressive CareerWise DC apprentice alumni — Frankie Mansaray (Friendship Tech Prep ‘22, CareerWise DC ‘23, The Catholic University of America ‘26), Leah Sloan (KIPP DC College Preparatory Academy PCS ‘22, CareerWise DC ‘24, Bowie State University ‘26), and Jubei Brown-Weaver (McKinley Tech ‘22, CareerWise DC ‘24, Accenture App Developer) — the conversation was rich with insights on shaping apprenticeship programs for the next generation. Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online! Many thanks to?Annelies Goger?from Brookings, who does crucial research on earn-and-learn programs and was integral in pulling this event together. ?? Pictured here is Frankie in conversation with Senator Hickenlooper!

#NAW24 Employer Partner Spotlight: Urban Institute ?? For years, Urban Institute has been a leader in supporting employers to create and expand registered apprenticeship programs, as well as researching the impact of youth apprenticeships. In 2021, they took the inspiring step of hiring their own youth apprentice to experience the process firsthand. During this past Cohort Graduation, we celebrated Erikah Garnett (center) for completing her Business Operations Apprenticeship with Urban Institute! ?? Erikah had the incredible opportunity to work closely with her advisor, Bhavani Arabandi(right), Principal Research Associate at Urban Institute, and CityWorks DC Director of Program & Partnerships Noemi A. (left). Through their guidance, she gained invaluable skills in streamlining and optimizing business operations, delving into the art of making organizational processes more efficient and impactful. Congratulations, Erikah, and thank you, Urban Institute, for your commitment to apprenticeship! Read a spotlight on our partnership: https://lnkd.in/egHMCiD7 #Apprenticeship #YouthApprenticeship #CareerDevelopment #FutureOfWork #UrbanInstitute

Our partners at CareerWise New York are hosting an informative webinar, CareerWise Insights: Unlocking Strategy to Expand Employer ROI this Friday at 1pm. We encourage employer, educator, and non-profit partners who want to learn more about apprenticeship’s return on investment (ROI) for employers to attend. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gdnCw5M5

What an incredible way to kickoff #NationalApprenticeshipWeek! Today I saw young people taking charge of their futures by choosing apprenticeship as a path to their American Dream. They were celebrated at The White House for being leaders that contribute to their employers, their communities, and their families. They shared stories of resilience, proving the dignity of their paths. They shared discontent with the option of college or career and instead chose both. They were offered jobs on stage by senators, though at 20 years old they earned more during their apprenticeship than the Senate would pay. I’m in awe of what young people can do when given the chance. And I’m convinced our country needs to cultivate these energized, creative, entrepreneurial thinkers only apprenticeship can provide, if we’re to remain a globally relevant economy. Thanks to our hosts and partners at the U.S. Department of Labor, Senator John Hickenlooper, New America’s #PAYA, The Brookings Institution, Cherry Creek School District, and CityWorks DC. #NAW2024 CareerWise USA

Happy #NationalApprenticeshipWeek! We’re excited to celebrate by highlighting apprentices, alums, and partners in our work to help young people in DC build careers with real-world experience. Stay tuned! #NAW2024 #DecadeOfNAW #ApprenticeshipUSA