Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed
Institution:
The Immokalee Foundation, Inc.
State:
Florida
Academic Level:
Community-Based Organization
Issue Area:
Access
Program Focus:
Career/Workforce, Scholarship
Website:
Key Personnel:
Amber Barr
Contact Info:
amber.barr@immokaleefoundation.org | 239.430.9122
Overview
Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed aims to build pathways to success for Immokalee youth, primarily Hispanic, by providing tools, opportunities, support, and encouragement. Empowering over a thousand youth annually, The Immokalee Foundation (TIF) offers transformative learning experiences and comprehensive support, including Florida-specific prepaid college scholarships awarded upon high school graduation. Their evidence-based commitment begins with early reading programs, career introductions in middle school, and career planning in high school. Students receive vital tools, including mentors, tutors, and scholarships. TIF tracks real-time outcome indicators, documenting internships, credentials, literacy gains, job placements, and starting salaries to ensure student success.
Program Description
Immokalee, Florida faces intergenerational poverty, with 72.7% of the population being Hispanic. Many residents, primarily migrant farmworkers, have less than a ninth-grade education. In 2004, TIF undertook a major program expansion: preparing their hard-working middle and high school students for college and providing college scholarships to enable most of them to graduate with a bachelor's degree. TIF ensures success by providing long-term support, which is frequently over ten years. Low-income, first-generation students face many obstacles, and Career Pathways provides the tools to help students overcome them and achieve their dreams. In 2019, TIF developed an innovative career education model that prepares students for high-demand professional careers through collaboration with public schools, industry professionals, and higher education institutions. Every student is equipped with the academic, career-focused wrap-around skills, hands-on experience, and credentials that lead to a professional career. Career Pathways empowers students to discover and pursue the best postsecondary career path and support them during their postsecondary journey with mentors, advocates, and academic support to succeed.
Outcome
The program has shown a significant impact on Latino students' success rates due to the comprehensive support and resources provided. Career Pathways served 84% Latino students this past year.
Post High School Graduation Plan: 100% of Latino students graduate from high school and enter a college program, get a job in their career field of choice, or enter the military.
Career Action Plans: 100% of Latino 8th-grade students work with career counselors to develop a career action plan outlining their career pathway for high school and beyond.
Industry Certifications and Internships: 100% of Latino high school students receive industry certification(s) and internships to bolster their resume and marketability.
College Degree Attainment and Employment: TIF college graduates surpass the national average with 93% earning college degrees, and 89% working in their field of study.
