A Different Kind of Summer Experience Aimed at Advancing Careers

Kaivon Henderson

When Kaivon Henderson first heard about the Summer Prep Class offered through Grads2Careers, the appeal was simple.

“They teach you the things you really want to do, and they pay you for it! That grabbed my attention,” he explained.

Henderson, a 2022 graduate of Green Street Academy, has been interested in cars since childhood and always knew he wanted to be a mechanic. Through Grads2Careers, he plans to enter an automotive training program in the fall but saw Summer Prep as a chance to sharpen his academic and job-readiness skills.

That’s the point of these classes, said Kate Wolfson, director of post-secondary pathways at Baltimore’s Promise, which runs Grads2Careers with Baltimore City Public Schools and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development. The sessions target students whose test scores indicate a need for support in math and reading and offer an additional focus on the types of skills needed to secure a job, including communications, teamwork, and critical thinking.

This is part of the robust support that Grads2Careers offers Baltimore City High School graduates who don’t plan to enter college full-time. The goal is to provide clear pathways into career-track jobs in growing industries that offer family-supporting wages.

The 27 young people who participated across the seven-week summer program focused on various industries, the most popular of which were automotive, information technology, and healthcare. Participants received a stipend for attendance, free lunch and snacks, school supplies, and access to other services, such as counseling and transportation assistance.

This was Grads2Careers’ fourth Summer Prep Class. While it operated in person for the first two years, the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to shut down in 2020 and offer sessions virtually in 2021. This summer, the in-person nature of the program helped foster community and create a safe space for students. The Bon Secours Community Resource Center provided classrooms and space for the team to meet with students, and the Community College of Baltimore County provided academic instruction and support.

Henderson missed only two days all summer, drawn by the content, the fellowship, and the opportunity to earn some money.

“The teachers were awesome … and the people there were cool,” he said. “You’re getting paid to be there, and it can really help you excel in your career.”