Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
The ultimate success of the apprenticeship program is evident when participants, who come to us with barriers to employment, obtain and maintain stable, well-paid employment or become enrolled in an educational program. This goal ensures that youth are able to break the cycles of generational poverty and attain self-sufficiency. This long-term goal is the result of the near-term building blocks youth obtain through the program.
Urban Boatbuilders conducted surveys with program participants in 2020, and the following quantitative and qualitative data was compiled:
- 77% of apprenticeship graduates have found additional employment
- 100% of apprenticeship graduates have either graduated from high school, earned their GED, or feel they are on track to graduate on time
- 94% of youth said that Urban Boatbuilders helped them (1) explore careers that they did not know about, (2) identify careers that they are interested in, and (3) connect to people who support their goals.
- 97% of graduating apprentices know what the next steps are to achieve the goals they have set for themselves.
Current Goals
Urban Boatbuilders’ programmatic goals include the following:
Apprenticeship Program
Continue serving 50-55 youth over the course of the year
Maintain alumni engagement work, providing support and mentorship
Expand the bridge to employment, diversifying job options for youth out of the program
Partnership Program
Maintain long-term relationships with recent partners
Seek out and expand additional partnerships, specifically programs benefitting BIPOC, Black, and Queer youth
Provide scholarship relief to partners unable to provide full funding for programs
Ensure the number of youth served comes back to pre-Covid numbers (750+/year)
Community or Constituency Served
In the apprenticeship program, youth are 16-21 years old and are facing one or more barrier(s) to employment. Applicants must be eligible for free or reduced price lunch or have a barrier to employment, including but not limited to students with IEPs, limited English proficiency, juvenile offenders and youth in diversion programs, youth with chemical dependency issues, or youth who are parenting. In 2019, of the participants,
95% qualified for free or reduced lunch
82% identified as male, 13% female, 5% nonbinary
21% identify as LGBTQ+
Self-identified as 33% African-American, 27% White, 21% Multi-racial, 7% Native American, 7% Asian, and 5% Latinx
The partnership program serves youth 12 - 21 and have a similar demographic profile to youth served in the apprenticeship program.
Geographic Area Served
Twin Cities Metro
