Drewne’ is a senior at Phelps A.C.E. High School who is involved with three Talent for Tomorrow (TFT) organizations: Spark the Journey, Genesys Works, and Year Up. The TFT is a collaborative project of Washington, DC-area non-profit organizations working purposefully to close racial, income, and opportunity gaps in the workforce.
Drewne’s experience is a perfect example of how Talent for Tomorrow organizations complement one another, providing comprehensive support for young adults on their academic and professional journeys.
Through Spark the Journey, Drewne’ is matched with a mentor. Her mentor has been particularly helpful during the college application process, working with Drewne’ on everything from identifying scholarship opportunities to deciding where to apply. Drewne’ also enjoys checking in with her Spark case manager at monthly school visits to learn about resources on a variety of academic and financial aid topics. Finding a way to pay for college is one of her top priorities right now, so she appreciates having experienced adults she can turn to with questions.
Meanwhile, through Genesys Works, Drewne’ completed an eight-week summer course before her senior year where she mastered key business skills like Excel programming and project management. She was then placed in a paid internship at the Year Up office, where she works under Year Up’s Operations Manager and continues to receive coaching from her Genesys Works case manager. She’s excited about all the soft skills she’s learning from these experiences, like teamwork and time management – two things she wasn’t as confident about in the past.
After high school, Drewne’ plans to attend a four-year college, major in mechanical engineering, and eventually work in aviation. Through the TFT, she is taking advantage of numerous opportunities to set herself up for success.
“I’m glad that I’m part of these organizations because they’re so helpful,” Drewne’ says. “Larie from Year Up, Jose from Genesys Works, Cammy from Spark – everyone is so understanding. You just have to open up to them about what you may need. They’re very supportive.”
Alone, each organization provides a valuable service, but together, they span practically every aspect of Drewne’s college and career journey, ensuring that she is in the best position possible to achieve her goals.
Learn more about the Talent for Tomorrow Alliance at talentfortomorrow.org.