Grants

CityWorksDC

Project Title

For project support to expand access to high-quality youth apprenticeships and industry sector partnerships

Date

Jun. 06, 2024

Duration

36 months

Description

A high-quality educational experience can serve as a springboard for economic and social mobility, particularly for students from low-income and other marginalized backgrounds.CityWorks DC (CityWorks) aims to create an equitable education-to-employment pipeline for low-income young people in Washington, DC by providing the paid career-based training, social capital, and credentials needed to achieve strong early career outcomes and long-term mobility. CityWorks operates three programs that fill critical gaps in the District, including an exemplary youth apprenticeship program, a career planning and development program, and a high-support college degree program run in partnership with Arizona State University. Continued support will enable CityWorks to expand the number of participants served through its core programs and mobilize local educators, employers, and policymakers to provide work-based learning opportunities so that all DC youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are equipped to compete for and secure the high-demand, high-wage jobs in the region.

Project Title

For the development and launch of a strategic learning plan

Date

Jun. 08, 2023

Duration

15 months

Description

Washington DC is renowned for its proximity to power and the potential for long-term career mobility. Yet, the wealth gap in Washington DC is jarring – the average net worth of a white family in DC is $285,000 compared to $3,500 for the average black family. CityWorksDC aims to create an equitable education-to-employment pipeline by providing students from marginalized communities with the social capital, credentials, and paid career-based training necessary to achieve socio-economic mobility. CityWorksDC plays a crucial role in the DC ecosystem by hosting citywide youth apprenticeship programs that provide real work experience and leading strategic initiatives that aim to convene influential stakeholders citywide. Support from the Corporation would enable CityWorksDC to create systems-level change citywide to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds have the same access to career mobility as their more affluent counterparts.