Investigating and Implementing Effective Career Exploration for Black and Latinx Students at StudentU (2023)

Undergraduate: Asja Abron

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Helyne Frederick
Department: School of Education

---

Several studies have recorded the benefits of structured career exploration programs in schools. However, limitations to such programs are lack of funding, lack of space in the curriculum, and lack of strong community partnerships. In this project, the Future Careers Program addressed these barriers by creating a multi-session workshop that invited racially diverse professionals from students’ desired career fields. This program was implemented at StudentU, a non-profit that works with future first-generation college graduates and/or students who qualify for free or reduced lunch in Durham Public Schools (DPS). 99% of StudentU’s population identify as Black/African American and/or Latinx. The Future Careers Program was implemented in the first half of the DPS academic calendar year and it was accessible to all StudentU students enrolled in high school programming. Results from the program showed that all students who completed the exit survey believed that they learned more information about their career fields of interest.

Link to Poster