Big Thought

Craft enables fund braiding across government resources– eg, Pell/Title IV, WIOA, CTE/Perkins, SAEF/apprenticeship, etc.– to develop earn-and-learn pathways for underserved learners.

Available in: Nationwide

Launchpad Philly offers a learn-and-earn pathway that supports high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates as they prepare for careers in the tech sector. Students build technical and professional skills through a combination of college-level coursework, employer-led projects, paid work experiences, and apprenticeship-style training after graduation. The program blends school-based learning, hands-on challenges, and paid opportunities that help young people transition into living-wage digital careers.

The Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) is the city’s workforce development board and a school-to-career intermediary that connects students and job seekers to meaningful career pathways. Partnering with Boston Public Schools, employers, community organizations, and higher education institutions, the PIC helps young people explore careers, secure paid work experiences, and transition successfully to postsecondary education and employment. For adults, the PIC strengthens the workforce system, expands access to training, and aligns employer needs with talent pipelines. Through these efforts, the PIC works to build a more inclusive, skilled, and economically vibrant Boston where residents can advance and employers can thrive.