We are excited to share the College for Kids initiative, a new program built on the Take Stock in Children framework, which fuels college readiness through hands-on, trade-aligned learning. College for Kids empowers students to discover their talents and interests, explore pathways to higher education and skilled trades, and build essential skills and credentials. It’s designed to be practical, inclusive, and outcomes-driven, directly tying classroom experiences to real-world opportunities in high-demand fields.
The initiative directly aligns with Take Stock in Children’s mission to empower youth, foster academic success, and create pathways to educational opportunities by building an ecosystem that reinforces college readiness and trade-focused success through shared responsibility and community pride.
How CFK works and aligns with TSIC
- Taking stock of talents, interests, and trade-readiness
- Students complete industry-aligned inventories and career explorations focused on skilled trades (e.g., construction, automotive, information tech, fabrication).
- Mentors guide portfolio development that highlights hands-on competencies, certifications pursued, and project reflections.
- Alignment with Take Stock: Establishes a clear starting point for each student, mapping interests to trade-focused pathways and college options.
- Seeing opportunities and pathways
- Exposure to trade schools, apprenticeship programs, and college-to-career pipelines; campus tours and online visits emphasize vocational and transfer options.
- Partnerships with local trade unions, community colleges, and industry employers provide firsthand insights and project opportunities.
- Alignment with Take Stock: Expands awareness of viable postsecondary routes, emphasizing affordable, hands-on pathways into skilled professions.
- Increasing skills and credentials
- Project-based learning tied to industry standards; portable credentials, hands-on certificates, and workplace-ready soft skills (time management, teamwork, safety).
- Nurtures mentorship, peer support, and leadership within the program; students share learnings through brief presentations and showcases via our Future Ready Mentoring Series.
- Alignment with Take Stock: Builds tangible competencies that translate to college coursework or entry into apprenticeships, with documented outcomes.
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