Our Program

All Future Link participants begin their professional journey with a 15-week Self-Advocacy and Career Development Seminar that meets for 2.5 hours weekly. This small learning community (12-15 students per class) provides a safe, confidential space where young adults interact with peers and acquire self-advocacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as well as develop career plans and professional connections that will position them for a successful future. Through experiential learning, a case-based curriculum, multi-media and fun, unique activities, students learn how to:

• identify and present personal strengths
• set short- and long-term goals
• resolve conflicts
• understand the needs of others
• find mentors and allies
• prepare for an informational interview
• network successfully
• communicate effectively
• manage time and transitions in life
• develop soft skills essential for employment and
• depersonalize issues

Highlights include an on-site informational interview with a local professional and a Career Immersion Day hosted on-site by a local business. Past company hosts include Marriott, Sodexo, Shady Grove Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Holy Cross Germantown, and NIH. Students graduate more confident from the seminar with a toolbox of skills, behaviors, and documents (resume, elevator pitch, personal profile) to create a roadmap to self-sufficiency — our ultimate goal for every young adult served.

Future Link provides seminar graduates with an array of personal, academic, and career supports over the course of several years that substantially increases their likelihood of a successful future. Services includes:

Working with a Mentor
Seminar graduates can be paired with a volunteer adult professional as a personal mentor. The duo meets regularly to work on goals and plan strategies that will help the program participant move forward with his/her education and career plans.

Paid Internship
Select seminar graduates work closely with Future Link staff to secure a paid internship in their desired career field that will provide a meaningful and relevant opportunity to prepare them for future careers.

Scholarships
Each graduate in good academic standing is eligible to receive a $530 scholarship toward tuition and/or books at an accredited college or training program. Additional financial support is available as students progress with their post-secondary education or credential.

Engagement Program: Workshops and Events
Future Link runs regular workshops and social events to promote peer support, connect students with professionals, and keep them progressing toward their academic and career goals. Previous workshop topics and events have included LinkedIn, Financial Literacy, Study Skills, Marketing Oneself in the Age of Social Media, Public Speaking Tips and Tricks, Networking Socials, Business and Bowling, free professional head shots and our popular annual picnic.

Student Outreach by Future Link Staff
All Future Link seminar graduates are contacted regularly to update us about their school, work, finances and life. Future Link then provides personal support and resources as needed to keep students on track with their education and career.

Pathway Advice
Future Link staff provides advice on a variety of career pathways and planning for students to best achieve results utilizing their strengths academically and considering their personal circumstances.

Academic Support
Future Link has skilled professionals that tutor students in math, English, writing and accounting.

Network of Support
Future Link staff utilizes community service partners to address crisis situations where needed to best meet the needs of the young adults served to keep them progressing forward with their education and career plans.