Workforce Development Program Design
The problem.
For low-income, urban youth
FUF was working with cohorts of low-income youth from San Francisco who were interested in environmental careers and gaining valuable hands-on work experience through internships in their organization. However, while these young people were building meaningful experience, many lacked the foundational career development skills needed to translate that experience into future employment. They did not know how to create a strong resume, effectively present their internship experience, navigate online job applications, or prepare for interviews. FUF needed a workforce development program specifically tailored to the needs of this population—one that could bridge the gap between gaining work experience and successfully transitioning into employment. They wanted to partner with WFWD to develop a structured, accessible curriculum to provide interns with the tools and resources for career readiness.
The strategy.
We collaborated closely with FUF to develop a workforce development program tailored specifically to the needs of their youth participants. We began with a comprehensive needs assessment to better understand the experiences, challenges, and career readiness gaps faced by the population. We then piloted a series of workshops, gathering feedback from staff and participants to identify what was most effective and where additional support was needed. Using this feedback, we collaboratively developed a workforce and career readiness curriculum designed around the realities of this population, including the pace at which they learned and the specific barriers they faced. The curriculum addressed foundational career skills such as resume development, interviewing, and job applications, while also incorporating critical areas such as technology literacy, professional communication, and workplace expectations.
The result.
The result was a practical, accessible, and adaptable career readiness curriculum designed to meet the unique needs of FUF’s youth participants. Through a train-the-trainer model, we equipped FUF staff with the knowledge, tools, and facilitation skills needed to deliver the curriculum independently. The program included an evergreen curriculum with detailed teaching notes and facilitator guidance, allowing staff to continue providing consistent, high-quality career readiness programming to future cohorts without relying on ongoing external support.