Career Harvest: Pathways to Prosperity

This solution tackles the gap in support for adults in the middle or later stages of their careers who face significant obstacles to economic mobility. Many in this group have been displaced from jobs due to automation, technological changes, or layoffs, but traditional workforce programs often overlook their unique needs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people aged 45 and older account for more than 40% of long-term unemployed workers.

In Baltimore City, these challenges are even more severe, with minority populations experiencing higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. On top of this, barriers like unaffordable childcare, limited transportation options, and insufficient access to mental health resources make it even harder for individuals to get back on their feet and rebuild their careers. This solution is designed to address these systemic issues and provide the comprehensive support that’s been missing.

Career Harvest is a comprehensive program that turns YES at LHCBRC's Food Pantry and library into community hubs for career development and support. It offers a well-rounded, three-part approach to help participants build skills, navigate their careers, and access the resources they need to succeed:

1. Upskilling and Reskilling: Participants take part in workshops and earn certifications, such as ServSafe and digital literacy training, equipping them with practical skills for sustainable and meaningful employment.

2. Wraparound Support: To ensure stability during their career journey, participants receive access to mental health counseling, transportation assistance, and childcare services, addressing barriers that often stand in the way of success.

3. Career Navigation: Using the library as a resource hub, participants receive personalized mentorship and guidance to identify quality job opportunities and career pathways that align with their skills and goals.

Career Harvest is designed for adults aged 40 and older in Baltimore City, with a special focus on those from underserved communities who are facing financial struggles. Many of the people we serve are dealing with unemployment, underemployment, or career stagnation because of skill gaps and systemic challenges that make it harder to get ahead.

Our program addresses both immediate and long-term needs. For example, the Food Pantry helps reduce food insecurity, offering relief during tough times. At the same time, Career Harvest builds pathways to lasting self-sufficiency through skills training and employment opportunities. Participants leave the program not only with new skills but also with renewed confidence, financial stability, and resilience. These tools empower them to secure steady, well-paying jobs and create better futures for themselves and their families.

YES at LHCBRC is deeply connected to the Baltimore community and has a long history of delivering meaningful support to underserved populations. Our team includes certified peer recovery specialists, community health workers, and career coaches, many of whom share lived experiences with the people we serve. This connection allows us to understand and address the challenges our participants face on a personal level.

Every year, we engage with over 500 participants, listening closely to their needs and priorities. Their input has directly shaped the development of this solution, highlighting key areas like access to certifications, mental health support, and mentorship opportunities. Feedback from Food Pantry users and library patrons has been especially valuable, ensuring that our programs are rooted in addressing real-world challenges and creating practical, lasting impact.

Career Harvest is currently in its pilot phase in the Park Heights community of Baltimore City, operating through the trusted spaces of YES at LHCBRC’s Food Pantry and library services. These community hubs serve as the foundation for delivering certifications, wraparound services, and career navigation support. So far, over 50 participants have taken part in initial program offerings, including ServSafe food handling certification, resume-building workshops, and personalized career coaching.

We’ve worked hard to test and refine key components of the program, such as skills training sessions, mentorship opportunities, and case management support. Feedback from participants has been invaluable, helping us to make meaningful adjustments, like adding transportation stipends and creating digital literacy workshops specifically designed for mid-career adults.

The pilot has also given us the chance to evaluate how our wraparound support model can be scaled to serve more people effectively. By partnering with local nonprofits and businesses, we’ve built strong pipelines that connect participants to real employment opportunities.

Accomplishments:

• Provided certifications to 20 participants, resulting in direct job placements.
• Collected feedback from over 50 community members to improve and enhance program offerings.
• Introduced essential wraparound services, including transportation stipends, mental health counseling referrals, and access to mentorship networks.

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Career Harvest takes a community-embedded, holistic approach to reskilling and upskilling adults in mid-to-late career stages by leveraging the existing infrastructure of YES at LHCBRC’s Food Pantry and library services. Unlike traditional workforce development programs that operate in isolation, Career Harvest integrates wraparound services—such as transportation stipends, mental health referrals, and childcare support—directly into career navigation and training opportunities.

This solution stands out because it transforms nontraditional community spaces into career empowerment hubs. The Food Pantry provides more than nourishment; it fosters trust and serves as a gateway for participants to access services. Similarly, the library offers personalized career navigation and digital literacy workshops in a familiar setting.

By utilizing community health workers and peer recovery specialists to provide case management and mentorship, Career Harvest bridges the gap between underserved populations and the broader workforce. The solution also adapts training to meet industry needs, incorporating certifications like ServSafe and digital tools to upskill participants rapidly.

Career Harvest catalyzes broader impacts by demonstrating how underutilized community resources can be repurposed for workforce development, inspiring other organizations to replicate this model. Its emphasis on holistic support not only addresses skills gaps but also transforms systemic barriers into opportunities, redefining the workforce development landscape.

1. Empower 500 mid-to-late career adults annually to secure stable, high-quality employment.
2. Reduce barriers to workforce participation through wraparound services, increasing economic mobility for 80% of participants.
3. Foster community-driven, sustainable workforce ecosystems by replicating the model in at least three additional communities by 2027.

Indicators for Measuring Progress:

• Employment Outcomes: Track the number of participants securing employment or promotions within six months of completing the program.
• Skill Certification Rates: Measure the percentage of participants who earn certifications like ServSafe or complete digital literacy workshops.
• Wraparound Support Utilization: Monitor access rates for transportation stipends, mental health referrals, and childcare services.
• Participant Feedback: Conduct quarterly surveys to assess satisfaction, barriers addressed, and areas for improvement.
• Community Expansion: Document successful implementation in new locations and partnerships established.

The Career Harvest team includes:

• 4 full-time staff members, including program managers and case managers.
• 6 part-time staff, including library coordinators, workshop facilitators, and administrative support.
• 5 contractors, such as trainers for certifications and technical consultants for digital tools implementation.

Career Harvest has been under development for 2 years. Initial planning and community engagement began in 2023, with pilot testing launching in early 2024.

The Career Harvest team reflects the diversity of the community it serves. Leadership includes individuals from underserved populations, including women and minorities, ensuring authentic representation and alignment with participant needs. Recruitment practices focus on reducing barriers by emphasizing lived experience, offering flexible scheduling, and providing mentorship for professional growth.

Equity initiatives include offering fair compensation, professional development opportunities, and accessibility accommodations. Team discussions prioritize inclusive decision-making, encouraging staff at all levels to contribute ideas and feedback. We also partner with local organizations to recruit staff from marginalized communities, fostering an environment where all voices are respected, valued, and supported.

Our ongoing commitment includes annual diversity audits, implicit bias training, and creating pathways for career advancement within the organization

Career Harvest is built to empower individuals while staying financially sustainable. It’s a hybrid model that serves people in need, builds partnerships with organizations, and collaborates with government agencies.

Who We Serve:

1. Individuals (B2C): We help adults in the middle or later stages of their careers by offering skills training, certifications (like ServSafe), and personalized career guidance. We also provide essential support like transportation stipends and mental health resources.
2. Organizations (B2B): We partner with local businesses and nonprofits to create custom workforce training programs that meet their needs and connect them with skilled participants.
3. Government (B2G): We work alongside local and state agencies to align with their workforce goals and secure funding for wraparound services.

Value: We address the real challenges participants face, such as skills gaps, childcare needs, and limited career opportunities. By helping people overcome these barriers, we empower them to secure better jobs while strengthening the local economy. Employers also benefit by gaining access to trained, motivated workers.

How We Fund It:

• Fee-for-Service: Businesses and organizations pay us to train and certify workers for their industries.
• Grants and Contracts: Foundations and government programs help fund our services.
• Participant Contributions: We offer affordable, scaled fees based on what participants can pay.
• Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor specific programs or resources, helping their communities while meeting their workforce needs.

How We Deliver Services: We use community hubs like YES at LHCBRC’s Food Pantry and library to make our services easy to access. By meeting people where they already feel comfortable, we build trust. We also use digital tools for online workshops and virtual support to reach even more people.

Who Benefits the Most: The individuals we serve need this because they’re facing real barriers to success, and employers need skilled workers. 

Our financial sustainability plan for Career Harvest is rooted in a combination of diversified funding streams that ensure both short-term stability and long-term growth. This model allows us to meet the needs of the community while expanding our reach.

Funding Streams:

1. Fee-for-Service Programs: We partner with local employers and organizations to provide customized workforce training and certifications, such as ServSafe. These partners pay for the development and delivery of training programs that meet their specific needs, ensuring a direct revenue stream tied to the value we create for businesses.

2. Grants and Donations: We actively pursue foundation grants and government contracts to fund wraparound services, program development, and community engagement efforts. For example, YES at LHCBRC has successfully secured grants from organizations like the Abell Foundation to support similar workforce development initiatives.

3. Participant Contributions: We utilize a sliding-scale fee structure for program participants, making services accessible while contributing to operational costs. This model allows us to offset expenses without placing a financial burden on those we serve.

4. Corporate Sponsorships: We collaborate with corporate partners who sponsor specific components of our program, such as certifications, digital tools, or transportation stipends. These partnerships benefit both the community and the companies by building goodwill and supporting a skilled workforce pipeline.

Evidence of Success:

To date, our approach has yielded tangible results. We have successfully piloted elements of the Career Harvest program, including ServSafe certifications, which have already resulted in job placements for participants. Additionally, our team has a strong track record of securing significant funding, such as a $150,000 planning grant from AmeriCorps, to support community-driven initiatives. We have also generated revenue through employer-sponsored training sessions and participant contributions.

We are applying to the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards because we believe in the transformative potential of Career Harvest and see this as a unique opportunity to expand our impact. While our program is addressing critical needs in Baltimore, we face challenges in scaling our solution, refining our business model, and building the strategic partnerships necessary for broader implementation.

Working with the Truist Foundation and MIT Solve offers invaluable resources to overcome these barriers. The mentorship, coaching, and peer network provided through the Inspire Awards would give us expert guidance to refine our approach, ensuring our services remain effective and scalable. Additionally, the comprehensive needs assessment would help us identify gaps and prioritize solutions, enhancing our ability to meet the needs of underserved adults.

Access to a community of resource partners and industry leaders would also help us establish key partnerships with businesses and nonprofits, creating more employment pipelines for participants. Furthermore, learning modules focused on theory of change and scaling strategies would empower us to expand Career Harvest into additional communities while maintaining quality and impact.

Ultimately, this partnership would elevate Career Harvest, providing the tools, visibility, and support needed to break systemic barriers and create long-term economic mobility for adults in mid-to-late career stages. By collaborating with Truist Foundation and MIT Solve, we can not only scale our program but also serve as a model for other organizations tackling similar challenges.