In my past few updates, I’ve shared about the ways Making Waves is reimagining how we support young people navigating their journeys from high school to career.
It’s clear change is needed. Nearly half of college graduates are underemployed and nearly 60% of people from families with lower levels of income and education earn less than $20,000 per year at age 30. As young people navigate an increasingly complex education-to-workforce journey, how can we bridge the gap between high school and career?
This was the main question for this leadership panel I joined last month alongside Christine Cruzvergara from Handshake, Sorbiqué “Sorby” Grant from Climb Hire, Jonathan Johnson from Rooted School Foundation, and Elissa Salas from SkillUp Coalition.
It was such a powerful conversation. We explored approaches, partnerships, and system-level changes that are needed to create pathways to economic mobility. I’m excited to share some key takeaways with you and look forward to continuing the discussion.
Social capital is currency
Sorby, who is the president and CEO of Climb Hire, summed up the value of social capital best.
“Specifically for low-income communities, social capital networks, relationships, and connections open opportunities. I think of social capital as currency. It’s the way you can get things that you dream of,” she shared. “We teach the art of asking the follow-up question. We teach the art of asking questions, things that get people talking. We teach about how to humble brag.”
At the same time, those looking for career support want to see the tangible value in programs – which is why I loved this perspective Christine, chief education strategy officer at Handshake.
“Your value prop is to be an extension of their network and actually modeling that behavior for them,” she said, sharing about the value of warm introductions, for example. “It’s important to ask ourselves: What is our value proposition? Why would a student want to use us or see us or come to us for support?”
The “college for all” model is insufficient in today’s landscape
During the panel, I shared about how for the past 35 years at Making Waves, we have supported students from low-income backgrounds on the path to and through college. 95% of our students enroll in college, almost two-thirds earn a bachelor’s degree, and most do it with zero debt.
But the “college for all” model is insufficient in today’s landscape, and we need to shift to a “college and career for all” model.
Nearly half of low-income students who earn a bachelor’s degree are underemployed in their first job and then they ultimately often stay there five years out. So even though students earn a bachelor’s degree, they might not be on the path to economic mobility.
As we explore our next chapter at Making Waves, we’re partnering across K-12, higher ed, and employers to test accelerated education and career pathways that lead to high-demand, high-wage jobs.
I was thrilled Elissa, who is senior vice president of strategy and operations at SkillUp Coalition (and a member of our board!), was a part of this panel and shared her perspective on the college for all model and why it’s important that the sector evolves its approach.
“While it’s super important to hold high expectations and standards for folks, there is more than one standard and expectation, right? That idea of becoming much more transparent about those pathways, much more inclusive about those pathways, and then making those connections across the many different sectors is super critical,” she shared.
Career-connected learning needs to start early
To support students on the path to high-wage jobs, career-connected learning needs to start early – from dual enrollment programs to work-based learning or internship opportunities to industry recognized credential offerings.
It was inspiring to hear from Jonathan, the founder and CEO of Rooted School Foundation, who offered career-connected learning approaches that are working at Rooted School.
“Our charter schools ensure students graduate with both a college acceptance and a job offer,” he shared.
Jonathan’s story of a student named Zack – who discovered 3D printing in high school, earned an industry credential, completed internships, and graduated with a specialist role and a college acceptance – illustrates what’s possible when career exploration learning starts early.
Intermediary organizations play a critical role
Our current education and workforce system is not actually designed to work cohesively across K-12, higher ed, and industry to build out career-connected learning experiences for more young people. The biggest structural barrier to economic mobility is the disconnect between K-12, college, and career.
If we want to create this system level solution, then there needs to be investment in intermediaries to break down the silos of these three systems and ultimately impact how the system operates.
At Making Waves, we have a few pilot programs underway open to high schoolers in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County, thanks to funding from philanthropic and public sector partners.
- Career Spark: Explore Your Future, a free three-day career exploration program in November designed for 9th and 10th graders in partnership with Community Youth Center, and Earn and Learn. The application is open until Oct. 8.
- HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway, a six-month paid pathway program designed in partnership with the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences for 11th and 12th graders. The program runs Dec. 2025 to April 2026 and the application is open until Oct. 15.
- Pathways to Health: Paid Career Program: a four-day hands-on healthcare program in March 2026 designed in partnership with the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences for 11th and 12th graders. The application is open until Dec. 10.
Let’s partner!
It’s been exciting to see the momentum behind these pilots – from students, schools, and employers – and I am looking forward to sharing learnings as we launch these programs.
If this direction resonates with you, let’s connect! Let’s create a future where the journey from classroom to career is one of opportunities, not obstacles.
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