Career Pathways

How can they have a dream if they do not know what is possible to dream about?

Career Pathways Nonprofit Vision

Career Labs USA is a nonprofit passion project that grew out of a simple but powerful insight: students from underrepresented communities often reach college academically prepared, yet struggle because they lack early exposure to careers, mentors, and professional networks. In response, Pernell Marsh and I began bringing successful professionals into schools to lead hands-on workshops, giving students both role models and real-world experiences.

What started as a volunteer effort revealed a deeper truth – career pathways education needs to begin earlier. Students need structured opportunities to explore and imagine possible futures before being asked to choose a career for skills training in high school. From this realization, we developed a new blueprint for career discovery and incorporated Career Labs USA as a nonprofit to carry it forward.

Blueprint

The First Step

Adults often ask young people, “What is your dream?” It turns out that is an unfair question. How can they have a dream if they do not know what is possible to dream about?

Career Labs USA is an innovative approach that reimagines career pathways by beginning in the middle school years. At this stage, students are eager to explore, experiment, and dream. Through hands-on workshops led by professionals, students have the chance to “try on” different careers like suits of clothes. They discover new possibilities, and begin to see themselves in futures they may never have considered.

We reach them at The First Step in their Career Pathway.

We view the career pathway as a continuum starting in elementary school and continuing through four “Ages” that last throughout their careers.

By focusing on The Age of Discovery, Career Labs complement the excellent work already happening in high school, college, and workforce programs by filling in a piece that is often missing – early exposure. To bring this model into practice, Career Labs USA was founded as the nonprofit home for programs built on this vision, connecting schools with employers and professionals to open doors for the next generation.

Together, we give student the ability to dream!

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Nonprofit Organization

Career Labs USA

Career Labs builds partnerships between professionals, employers, and schools to train young people to become real-life heroes in successful careers who are making a positive impact in their worlds.

In-School Programs

In-School Labs are held after school or in-class. They combine storytelling, practical how-to steps, and hands-on workshops

Distance Learning

Quality distance learning experiences for students or anyone who wants to discover their possible dream careers

Corporate Social Responsibility

Our vision is to help professionals and employers create a virtuous cycle of giving back and bringing a new generation of inspired young people into their career fields

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Curriculum

Online Career Discovery Courses

Students discover possible dream careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Each unit includes an overview of five key career sectors, an inspirational career story from a successful professional in the field, and career challenges for teams or individuals reflecting true-to-life work scenarios.

The course also includes a workbook and extensive resources for teachers to use either in a distance learning program or in their classrooms