Mission Statement
Future Link seeks to close the opportunity divide for economically disadvantaged, first-generation-to-college, high potential young adults with additional adversities by providing them with the resources, knowledge, skills, and personalized support needed to achieve their education and career goals.
Vision Statement
We envision a community that offers all young adults’ equitable access to education and career development opportunities to position them to thrive in the workforce; one that invests in their abilities and partners with them to maximize their talents. Future Link aims to overcome issues of social injustice and income inequality, launching our participants to financial independence and self-sufficiency.
Core Values
We believe:
- Every young adult has potential, and each deserves the chance to achieve that potential.
- In building long-term, respectful, and trusting relationships with those we serve.
- Helping young adults achieve their goals requires an individualized and not a “one size fits all” approach.
Goals for Each Student Served
- Enter and persist in postsecondary education/training programs.
- Identify and remain on an achievable career path.
- Cultivate essential hard- and soft-workplace skills necessary for success.
- Provide direct connections to employers and professionals for experiences to launch their career.
Organizational Timeline
Timeline
2010
Seminar Curriculum Enhanced
Infused curriculum with career exploration activities and personal strengths assessment. Offerings doubled to two seminar classes per semester. Informal partnership with Montgomery College began.
2012
Mentoring Begins
Mentoring service began, as well as intensive student outreach efforts. These two program components became the foundational building blocks for our holistic, comprehensive, multi-year Phase II program.
2015
Service Model Grows
Demand led to three seminar classes per semester. Mentoring and paid internship services doubled, proving the need for positive, consistent guidance as well as paid authentic work experiences to help students advance in their desired career fields. A formal Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Montgomery College providing facilities use, scholarships, and academic data.
2020
COVID Effect
Future Link students were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and experienced challenges, including job and income loss, remote learning, and declining mental health. The Seminar and other services were adapted to virtual learning. Future Link’s goals shifted to provide deeper support in educational persistence, job attainment to replace lost wages, emergency support, and community and network-building virtual events. The number of volunteers doubled as COVID continued. Packaged pre-existing Phase II services into a formal Career Coaching Program to help students receive workforce training, develop their professional toolbox, and attain internships and jobs.
2021
Career Coaching Program Born
Career Coaching Program formally launched after successful pilot yielded excellent student outcomes in workforce training and internship and job attainment.