CATALYZE CHALLENGE WINNERS
In an effort to catapult students into meaningful careers and level the playing field for all students the Catalyze Challenge awarded over $4M in grants to accelerate bold career-connected learning solutions that help young people better access economic opportunity after leaving school. Fifteen winners – community organizations, entrepreneurs, and cross-sector partnerships from across the country – will pilot, launch and scale solutions designed for the leaders of tomorrow’s workforce.
Created to meet this moment, grants are funding inventive ideas for career-connected learning at middle and high schools, and programs supporting the transition to early college coursework. All winners have an explicit focus on reaching historically underserved students, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, first-generation, low-income, and rural students – some of the groups hardest hit by the pandemic.
Aecern – At The Cutting Edge
A program that engages students grades 6 and up in emerging technologies while working on solutions to urgent, authentic problems facing professionals in these fields.
BUILD – BUILDing Generation Entrepreneurs
A digital transformation plan emphasizing social and emotional learning skills, 21st-century skills, career readiness, social capital, and real-world project-based learning.
CodeSpeak Labs – The Next Step
A creative agency of BIPOC high school students from underserved communities who get real-world experience doing web development and social media marketing for mission-driven organizations.
Cultívate – Cultívate Pathways
A program providing paid work-based experiences to English learner students in 11th grade through college, receiving credentials that will lead to higher pay in one year.
Hack the Hood – Designing a High School to Tech Career Pathway
Hack the Hood uplifts early career youth and communities of color through tech skill-building programs grounded in justice while ensuring economic mobility.
Rural Community Alliance – Just and Thriving Rural & Remote Futures
Just and Thriving Remote Futures Initiative hopes to bring remote work opportunities to students in rural communities throughout Arkansas.
Trio New College Network – 3-D Learning
A model aiming to unify three currently disconnected “dimensions” of our current education system – K-12, higher education, and workforce development – to eliminate barriers to student success.
UPDATES FROM OUR CATALYSTS
College Degree Should Not Be Lifetime Barricade to a Good-paying Job
By Ron Perkins at Trib Live
Crowder College Receives Grant to Help Students Learn to Code as Early as Middle School
By Gretchen Bolander at fourstateshompage.com
