National Academy Foundation

The Loop Lab is a state-registered, earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program connecting opportunity youth to careers in creative technology. Based in Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts, The Loop Lab pairs paid, hands-on training with real industry experience in media arts, AV production, and AI, giving young people a direct pathway from classroom to career. Founded in 2017, the organization is expanding its model to new sites in Brooklyn and Atlanta in 2027.

YouthBuild Boston (YBB) empowers and assists young people with the essential social, vocational, academic, and life skills necessary to navigate a positive pathway to self-sufficiency, neighborhood responsibility, and careers in the building industry. YBB envisions a city rich with opportunity for all young people and a building trades sector that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Founded in 1990, YBB serves Boston-area young adults ages 17–24 who are disconnected from traditional education and employment systems. Our tuition-free, three-stage workforce development continuum combines education, hands-on training, leadership development, and wraparound support. Participants earn high school credentials, industry-recognized certifications, and experience in the building trades, preparing them for union careers, apprenticeships, living-wage jobs, and advancement in high-demand fields. YBB’s Designery curriculum introduces architecture and design careers through hands-on projects led by professional designers. Case management, mental health services, stipends, tools, transportation assistance, and wellness programming help participants overcome barriers and persist toward their goals. YBB is a proud member of the Roxbury community, working in partnership with community organizations, public schools, and the City of Boston to complete site improvements and help build and rehabilitate affordable housing. These projects serve as classrooms where students apply their skills, strengthen their neighborhoods, and build confidence and resilience. YBB is an affiliate of YouthBuild Global and a member of the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition. While YouthBuild programs respond to local needs, they share core elements including high school equivalency, vocational training, support services, leadership development, and alumni engagement.

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.

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