Building 21 – Launchpad

An initiative that will directly connect young people to living-wage jobs while providing them with the credentials, skills, mindsets, and experience to thrive in these roles.

Launchpad is a new initiative from Building 21 that will directly connect young people to living-wage paying jobs that offer upwardly mobile career opportunities while providing them with the credentials, skills, mindsets, and experience to thrive in these roles. The program will begin preparing students from a network of high schools across Philadelphia during their final two years in high school and will continue in the two years that follow.

Launchpad will connect students with higher education and quality career-connected learning opportunities where students can earn associate’s degrees and certifications, build industry-specific skills, develop real-world career experience, and launch their careers. Students will leave Launchpad with a job in a high-growth industry with upwardly mobile career opportunities.

“We know that talent is equally distributed – we are starting Launchpad to make sure that opportunity is more equitably distributed for young people across Philadelphia and beyond. We are excited to bring together networks of students, schools, employers and other community-based organizations to co-create new pathways for young people that lead to good jobs in growing industries.” – Dannyelle Austin, incoming Executive Director of Launchpad

For more information about Building 21 and Launchpad, visit building21.org.