Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a youth development nonprofit, has announced a five-year Workforce Readiness partnership with Atlanta, Georgia-based The Coca-Cola Co., a 74-year partner of BGCA, to close the employment and opportunity gap by preparing more than 4.7 million American youth to be pioneering workers, leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
As a founding partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Workforce Readiness Strategy, The Coca-Cola Co.’s investment will support four pillars: essential skill development, career exploration, employability skills and credentialing, and work-based learning opportunities for young people at clubs.
BGCA’s Workforce Readiness Strategy is intended to foster sound life-decisions by building social and emotional skills such as communication, creativity, collaboration and leadership, which are all critical for 21st-century careers. The strategy also exposes Boys & Girls Club teens to real-world work experiences and to employability skills like resume writing and interview prep, as well as industry certifications for first jobs in high school and following graduation.
The Coca-Cola Co.’s investment also will support BGCA programs like CareerLaunch, which enables teens to explore career opportunities that align with their passions and talents.
“As a long-standing partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we are committed to helping expand the developmental and growth opportunities for young people in communities across our country. We are proud to expand our support and join the organization in implementing a Workforce Readiness Strategy designed to equip our nation’s youth with the tools and resources needed to ensure they join and become leaders of the future workforce,” said Quinton Martin, chief of staff, office of the president and VP of community marketing for Coca-Cola North America.
Amid widespread social and economic uncertainty, BGCA and The Coca-Cola Co. are committed to keeping young people on track academically and engaged in building fundamental, transferable skills for success to help them become both life and workforce ready.
“Boys & Girls Clubs serve as a safe environment for young people to learn and grow year-long,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO of BGCA. “As we continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19 and help aspiring youth achieve great futures, our Workforce Readiness Strategy with The Coca-Cola Co. will play an essential role in restoring security and resiliency within our youth, so they’re ready to explore their dream jobs and make positive differences in the world.”
Partners for 70-plus years
For more than 70 years, The Coca-Cola Co. has worked to strengthen local communities through its partnership with BGCA. As a founding sponsor of BGCA’s Workforce Readiness Strategy, The Coca-Cola Co.‘s investment supports essential skill development, career exploration, employability skills and credentialing, and work-based learning opportunities for youth at 4,700 clubs nationwide.
