Real Skills for Youth

Lead Organization: Arts, Sports Technology Resource Organization (ASTRO)

Description: The Arts, Sports, and Technology Resource Organization is committed to champion equity among diverse populations by innovating health-promoting programming that improves the way Rhode Islanders live, learn, work, and play. ASTRO's Vocational Training programs focus on work readiness training and work-based learning that is fun and engaging for participants. Work-based learning experiences include teaching hands-on skills related to the fields in the automotive, construction, and youth development industries. 

Communities Served: Pawtucket, Central Falls

Age Range of Youth Participants:14-18

Timeline of Program: July 01, 2025- September 30, 2025 (Summer Program) 

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15 per hour. 

Lead Contact: Justin Pasquazzi 

Phone Number: 401-808-5687

Email: justin@go-astro.org 

Website: https://www.go-astro.org/

 

Lead Organization: Blackstone Valley Community Action Program (BVCAP)

Description: BVCAP with the assistance of community partners, is proposing to provide meaningful, community-based summer employment opportunities for youth ages 14-18, from the Blackstone Valley Region. Enrolled youth will be participating in a six-week paid internship. Some of the employer partners include; Blackstone Community Action Program, Black Lives Matter, Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy, Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, City of Central Falls, Lincoln McColl YMCA, Moshassuck Cemetery, Pawtucket Salvation Army, Pawtucket Senior Center, Peabody Properties, Progresso Latino, Providence County Wrestling Club, Re-Max, and Segue Institute for Learning.

Communities Served: Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Lincoln

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-18

Timeline of Program: July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025 (Summer Program)

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15 per hour.

Lead Contact: Kamalich Vega

Phone Number: 401-475-4848

Email: kvega@bvcap.org

Website: http://bvcap.org/

Lead Organization: Community Action Partnership of Providence (CAPP)

Description: The goal for the proposed Real Skills for Youth program is to support students in impactful 100-hour internships to Providence youth matched to their career interests. The Community Action Partnership of Providence (CAPP) will partner with the Office of Career & Technical Education of Providence (CTE) to place 40 students with local employers in four high-priority industry sectors: Construction, Education, Hospitality, and Information Technology (IT).

Communities Served: Providence

Age Range of Youth Participants: 16-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025-June 30, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15.00 per hour (+$100 stipend for completion of work-readiness training)

Lead Contact: Faith David

Phone Number: 401-273-2000 ext. 131

Email: faithdavid@cappri.org

Website: https://cappri.org/about/about-capp

Lead Organization: Community Care Alliance (CCA)

Description: Youth will participate in interest and career assessments, engage with guest speakers, visit businesses, work on social skills, and learn team-building skills, and explore careers with the goal of enrollment in further training or job placement. In this program, young adults build relationships with each other, and the instructor provides support and foster self-confidence as they face the work world. Each participant will also be placed at a work site outside of CCA in a career interest of their choice to gain a more holistic understanding of that chosen career path.

Communities Served: Woonsocket

Age Range of Youth Participants:14-24

Timeline of Program: January 15, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15 per hour. 

Lead Contact: Stump Evans

Phone Number: 401-837-5518

Email: sevans@communitycareri.org 

Website: https://www.communitycareri.org/default.aspx

Lead Organization: Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP)

Description: CCAP Real Skills for Youth partnership will expose Cranston, Pawtucket, Providence, and Kent County-area youth ages 14 to 24 to high-quality career exploration, career readiness and work-based learning activities leading to employment. Youth will be exposed to careers including but not limited to Welding, IT, Marine Manufacturing, Customer Service, Graphic Communications, STEM, Construction and Wood Fabrication, Cyber Security & Entrepreneurial Development. 

Communities Served: West Warwick, Warwick, Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-24

Timeline of Program: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15 per hour

Lead Contact: Meghan Nhar

Phone Number: 401-467-9610

Email: mnhar@comcap.org 

Website: https://www.comcap.org/

Lead Organization: Connecting Children and Families (CCF)

Description: CCF will host an eight-week after-school session in the winter, fall and spring that will comprise of career exploration and work readiness activities, to be facilitated through our Explore the Job curriculum for students in grades six-eight. We will further offer the ‘Rock the Job’ program for 14-year-olds looking to prepare for summer employment. CCF will also offer the ‘Explore the Job’ program which is an introduction to career exploration and will cover such work readiness skills as resume writing, communication, and interviewing skills for students. Through energetic games and activities, we will practice such essential skills as listening, respect, patience negotiation, and teamwork.

Communities Served: Woonsocket

Age Range of Youth Participants: 11-18

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $100 stipend upon completion.

Lead Contact: Sandra Costa

Phone Number: 401-766-3384      

Email: scosta1@ccf.woonsocketschools.com 

Website: https://www.ccfcenter.org/

Lead Organization: Central Falls School District (CFSD)

Description: The overall objective of the Tech Team program at Central Falls High School (CFHS) is to prepare students in grades 10-12 with opportunities “that connect their real-life passions and interests with real-life career development training that positions them for success in the IT field in college and beyond.” Students will gain confidence, competence and valuable work experience while meeting authentic needs providing IT support at CFHS for the school district, while exploring opportunities in higher education and in-demand careers available to them in the expanding field of Information Technology.

Communities Served: Central Falls

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-18

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - June 30, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $16 per hour for student tech leads $14 per hour for student techs.

Lead Contact: Erendida Montes

Phone Number: 401-300-9285

Email: montese@cfschools.net

Website: https://www.cfschools.net/

Lead Organization: DownCity Design

Description: The DownCity Designers program weaves together service learning, design career exploration, skill-building, and a culminating industry project. Students meet after school, twice weekly for 15 weeks in spring 2025 and 10 weeks in fall 2025. Over the course of 90 hours teens will work collaboratively to design projects in service of authentic community clients with genuine needs. By the end of the spring program, students make their visions a reality by fabricating new structures for public spaces, to benefit underserved communities. Summer Design Studios will serve teens ages 14-18 and will support young adults ages 18-24 as emerging Design Educators in the program. Through this intensive six-week, work-based service-learning experience, participants will discover potential career pathways in Rhode Island’s thriving Design, Construction, and Advanced Manufacturing industries, will gain experience working in a professional work environment, and will develop technical skills including architectural design and drafting, 3D design software programs, and basic construction skills. 

Communities Served: Providence

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025-December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: Stipends vary on program chosen.

Lead Contact : Adrienne Gagnon

Phone Number: 401-952-8227

Email: adrienne@downcitydesign.org 

Website: https://www.downcitydesign.org/

Lead Organization: East Bay Community Action Program

Description: The East Bay Real Skills for Youth partnership will serve in-school and out-of-school youth in the East Bay area. Youth will be exposed to careers in industries including but not limited to Information Technology, Culinary, Education, Public Administration, Graphic Design, Arts & Entertainment, Sports Management, Tourism & Hospitality, Agriculture and Land Management. Programming will allow youth to apply and develop their academic, technical & professional skills while realizing the relevance of their education and its connection to the real world. All placements will help prepare youth for college, long-term training, and future careers.

Communities Served: East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Tiverton, Little Compton, Bristol, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, and Jamestown

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15 per hour.

Lead Contact: Angela Downing 

Phone Number: 401-218-9610

Email: adowning@ebcap.org 

Website: https://www.ebcap.org/

Lead Organization: FAB Newport

Description: FabNewport will provide robust work-based learning programming, focused on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) youth ages 14-24, in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Internships will vary in industry but will focus on educational services, design, manufacturing, and social enterprise. Interns will teach middle and high school students how to code (Google Suites, 2D/3D design software, Makerspace digital resource library), design in 2D and 3D, sew, run small machines (3D printers, vinyl cutters, laser cutters, heat presses, sewing machines), and prototype.

Communities Served: Newport Area.

Age Range of Youth Participants:14-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $13-$15 per hour.

Lead Contact: Steve Heath

Phone Number: 401-399-0160

Email: steve@fabnewport.org 

Website: https://fabnewport.org/

Lead Organization: Highlander Charter School

Description: The goal of this program is to provide students enrolled at Highlander Charter School with the opportunity to explore the building trades under the supervision of established professionals, gain industry certifications as available, and complete high school ready to enter the workforce or access advanced apprenticeships in the building trades.

Communities Served: Statewide

Age Range of Youth Participants: 16-18

Timeline of Program: July 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025 (Summer/Fall Programs)

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $13 per hour.

Lead Contact: Jeanne D’Agostino

Phone Number: 401-744-5973

Email: jdagostino@hc.school 

Website: https://www.highlandercharter.org/

Lead Organization: Inspiring Minds (IM)

Description: The Explorer program at Inspiring Minds is designed for youth between the ages of 15-24 years old who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, (BIPOC) and/or multilingual youth who are exploring the field of becoming an educator. Our youth are given a paid internship of 120 hours to work within one of our partner elementary schools under the supervision of a certified teacher through the In-School Tutor Mentor Program. 

Communities Served: Providence

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025-December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15 per hour.

Lead Contact: Emily Markovitz

Phone Number: 401-274-3240

Email: emarkovitz@inspiringmindsri.org

Website: https://inspiringmindsri.org/

Lead Organization: Newport Community School 

Description: The Newport Community School, in collaboration with local schools and community partners, will provide educational opportunities to complement classroom learning and support academic success, personal responsibility, and economic self-sufficiency in a vibrant engaged community. The Newport Real Skills for Youth partnership will offer students out-of-school time enrichment programs and activities linked to career awareness and exploration providing participating students the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of jobs and careers, with a particular focus in the healthcare industry (Allied Health, Teacher Assistant, CNA Training, EKG Technician). 

Communities Served: Newport (Thompson Middle School and Rogers High School)

Age Range of Youth Participants: 11-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 – December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $14 per hour dependent on program chosen. Gift Card for weekly class attendance.

Lead Contact: Tracy Shea

Phone Number: 401-848-5923

Email: tshea@newportcommunityschool.org

Website: http://newportcommunityschool.org/ncs/index.php

Lead Organization: Providence Public Library (PPL)

Description: PPL offers various work-based learning, out-of-school time programs focused on STEAM for teens, including Rhode Coders 2.0 - HTML/CSS and Rhode Coders 2.0 - Python in the fall, Rhode Coders 2.0 - JavaScript and Introduction to Computer Hardware in the spring, Computer Aided Design (CAD) in both fall and spring, and Data for Good (summer employment) in the summer. Through these programs students can earn stipends, school credit, and industry-recognized certification for participation when applicable. They also gain skills in resume and cover letter writing, financial literacy, and hear from guest speakers about career opportunities and pathways.

Communities Served: Statewide

Age Range of Youth Participants: 11-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: Stipend earned dependent on program chosen.

Lead Contact: Kate Aubin

Phone Number: 401-455-8119

Email: kaubin@provlib.org 

Website: https://www.provlib.org/

Lead Organization: Rhode Island Builders Association 

Description: RI Career Technical Education Programs coordinate with the residential construction industry to design, build and assemble identified projects involving all aspects of construction related trades. Students come together in April to finalize and assemble the projects at the RI Convention Center where they are presented to the public at a large consumer show before being donated to communities within RI for future use. This year, the projects involved specialized playhouses for kids with medical illnesses.

Communities Served: Statewide, all CTE schools

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-18

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - June 30, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: Unpaid Classes / Community projects.

Lead Contact: Cheryl Boyd

Phone Number: 401-438-7411

Email: cboyd@ribuilders.org 

Website: https://ribuilders.org/

Lead Organization: Rhode Island Marine Trade Association (RIMTA)

Description: RIMTA will be offering a variety of programs that incorporate career exploration, work experiences, leadership development, adult mentoring, and basic skills development with a job-readiness perspective. By participating in the program, students will increase marine trades-specific knowledge on boat design, blueprint reading, boatbuilding, carpentry, tool-handling/use, and 21^st Century workplace skills (critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, planning and goal setting) that are transferable to other fields. This program will increase youth awareness of local employment opportunities by exposing them to multiple career pathways within the marine trades industry and providing insight on the skills that employers are seeking in their workforce. Students will engage with industry guest speakers, go on tours, and participate in classroom/shop-based activities and assessments. Students will also participate in institutional tours and receive information on post-secondary schools that they can attend to learn additional skills that attract employers. 

Communities Served: East Bay area, Newport County, North Providence, Providence

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-18

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $1,200 based on $12/hour stipend for up to 100 hours. 

Lead Contact: Jen Huber

Phone Number: 401-396-9619 

Email: jen@rimta.org 

Website: https://rimta.org/

Lead Organization: Rhode Island Marine Trade Association (RIMTA)

Description: RIMTA will be offering a variety of programs that incorporate career exploration, work experiences, leadership development, adult mentoring, and basic skills development with a job-readiness perspective. By participating in the program, students will increase marine trades-specific knowledge on boat design, blueprint reading, boatbuilding, carpentry, tool-handling/use, and 21^st Century workplace skills (critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, planning and goal setting) that are transferable to other fields. This program will increase youth awareness of local employment opportunities by exposing them to multiple career pathways within the marine trades industry and providing insight on the skills that employers are seeking in their workforce. Students will engage with industry guest speakers, go on tours, and participate in classroom/shop-based activities and assessments. Students will also participate in institutional tours and receive information on post-secondary schools that they can attend to learn additional skills that attract employers. 

Communities Served: East Bay area, Newport County, North Providence, Providence

Age Range of Youth Participants: 14-18

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $1,200 based on $12/hour stipend for up to 100 hours. 

Lead Contact: Jen Huber

Phone Number: 401-396-9619 

Email: jen@rimta.org 

Website: https://rimta.org/

Lead Organization: Tri County Community Action Agency

Description: The Tri-County Youth Center partnership will provide career exploration, job readiness, and work-based learning experiences to youth in the towns of Johnston, North Providence, Smithfield, Burrillville, Scituate, Glocester, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter, West Greenwich, Westerly, and Narragansett. Convened by Tri-County Community Action Agency, the partnership brings together a variety of members including youth-serving organizations, industry representatives and employers, and training partners to provide youth with the information they need to identify long-term career goals and the skills necessary to achieve those goals.

Communities Served: Burriville, Cumberland, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, N. Providence, N. Smithfield, Scituate, Smithfield, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Kingston, Narragansett, New Shoreham, N. Kingstown, Richmond, S. Kingstown, Westerly

Age Range of Youth Participants: 11-24

Timeline of Program: January 15, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: Varies on program chosen, (WBL/ $15 per hour)

Lead Contact: Justin Waranis

Phone Number: 401-935-1106

Email: jwaranis@tricountyri.org

Website: https://www.tricountyri.org/

Lead Organization: We Make Rhode Island (WMRI)

Description: We Make RI will provide youth between the ages of 16-24 with an interactive work-based learning internship that braids job readiness skills, manufacturing training, and hands-on manufacturing work during an 84-hour paid internship program at our training center and factory facility. Interns will be paid $15 per hour. Cohorts will run throughout the year.

Communities Served: Pawtucket, Providence, East Providence, Cranston

Types of Projects/Program Description: Work-Based Learning (Manufacturing)

Age Range of Youth Participants: 16-24

Timeline of Program: January 01, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Stipend/Incentive/Wages Earned: $15 per hour.

Lead Contact: Barbara Jackson

Phone Number: 401-232-0077 ext.101

Email: barb@wemakeri.com

Website: https://wemakeri.com/