Career Pathways
MeckEd’s Career Pathways is a highly successful workforce and economic development program that is creating a pipeline of students who successfully transition from K-12 to post-secondary certification and training programs, college, as well as directly into the workforce.
MeckEd’s Career Pathways provides job shadowing, career exploration, soft skills training, college tours, financial and navigational support, paid internships and apprenticeship opportunities, funded certification programs, as well as career clothing, books, equipment, tools, application fees, and transportation, for students at Garinger, Harding, Julius Chambers, and West Charlotte High Schools.
Over 14,000 students have been served since 2012
Career Pathways 2022-2023 cohort had a 100% graduation rate
Students have been able to participate in over 1,000 different workforce development experiences
Charlotte Next
The Locator has more than 578 quality Out of School Time programs listed
Over 14,000 community members have utilized The Locator to find OST programs.
MeckEd’s Charlotte NEXT initiative was launched in December 2016 with the goal of closing the EXPERIENCE GAP by ensuring that all middle school aged youth have access to quality enrichment experiences outside of the traditional school day.
With substantial support from the Gambrell Family Foundation and a growing family of local and regional funders, Charlotte NEXT built and manages an online tool called The Locator to assist students and families in matching interests and needs with current Out of School Time (OST) programs. Additionally, Charlotte NEXT has supported the expansion of seven OST programs into five low-performing middle schools.
Since 2018, over $723,000 was awarded to program providers to provide free after school programs in seven schools.