Young Adults & Working Families - Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation

Northland Workforce Training Center

Young Adults &
Working Families

The Young Adults & Working Families program area works to expand pathways to economic mobility by helping young people and adults access the education, training, credentials, and career experiences needed for good paying jobs The Foundation partners with schools, community colleges, employers, training providers, and regional leaders to strengthen career and technical education, early college and dual enrollment, youth apprenticeships, work based learning, and employer led workforce strategies.

This work focuses on building clearer connections between education and employment, closing skills gaps in the adult workforce, and preparing more residents for in demand careers in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, skilled trades, and other high opportunity fields across our regions.

Special Highlights

D3C3

WNY Manufacturing and Tech Workforce Coalition

The Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative (D3C3) is helping more Southeast Michigan students access education, credentials, and career pathways that lead to good-paying, in-demand jobs.

Launched with over $30 million in funding from the Foundation and partners, D3C3 unites eight regional community colleges: Henry Ford, Macomb, Monroe County, Oakland, Schoolcraft, St. Clair County, Washtenaw, and Wayne County.

Supported by the Detroit Regional Chamber, Ballmer Group, Michigan College Access Network, and Michigan Community College Association, the initiative drives systemic change to improve student success and create clear pathways to careers that build stronger futures.

The initiative supports Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal to increase postsecondary attainment to 60 percent and cut racial equity gaps in half by 2030.

D3C3

The Western New York Manufacturing and Tech Workforce Coalition increases access to skills training and career pathways that lead to good-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing and technology across Western New York.

Developed in partnership with Empire State Development and the University at Buffalo Regional Institute, the coalition unites 13 partners across education, industry, and workforce development. With nearly $30 million in combined public, private, and philanthropic funding, this industry-led collaboration aligns workforce training with employer needs, closes skills gaps, and creates clear pathways to family-sustaining careers.

The Foundation and coalition share a vision to connect workers from all backgrounds to meaningful careers, address hard-to-fill positions, and build a sustainable talent pipeline that drives long-term economic progress for the region.

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RESEARCH & REPORTS

Increasing Dual Enrollment Access and Success

This report examines how expanding dual enrollment programs can improve college access and success for underserved students. It highlights how programs like California’s CCAP increase opportunities for first-generation, Black, and Latino students to earn college credit in high school, while also identifying persistent equity gaps. The report recommends stronger advising, student support services, and clearer academic pathways to improve long-term outcomes and degree completion.

Building regional coalitions to transform talent and modernize manufacturing in Western New York

This Brookings article explores how Western New York is modernizing manufacturing through regional partnerships between industry, education, workforce organizations, and community groups. It highlights efforts to address labor shortages, expand workforce training, and create more equitable access to manufacturing and technology careers through long-term public and private investment initiatives.