Western New York and Southeast Michigan have rich industrial roots and working-class values. People in our regions know that a good job can change everything and that having one doesn’t always require a four-year college degree. However, with rapid technological change and the dynamics of a global economy, it is harder and harder to get a good job with only a high school diploma.

The Young Adults & Working Families strategy works to create pathways to middle-skill, middle wage jobs by equipping people with the technical and employability skills and knowledge relevant to in-demand jobs now and in the future. The Foundation partners with employers, education and training providers, and others to understand the current and future skills gaps in the system and support programs like best-in-class career technical education (CTE), apprenticeships, employer and industry sector collaboratives, and community colleges. We focus on four sectors that have the highest number of middle-skill, middle-wage job opportunities in our regions: advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and the skilled trades.