BridgeYear Joins BPN Skilled Trades Initiative to Connect Houston Youth to Registered Apprenticeships
Houston coalition partners with Bloomberg Philanthropies to fast-track local high school students into high-wage, in-demand skilled trades careers through hands-on career simulations and pre-apprenticeship programming.
Houston, TX, United States, 24th Jun 2026 – BridgeYear, a Houston-based nonprofit connecting underserved youth to in-demand careers, has joined a new initiative led by Bloomberg Philanthropies to expand pathways into the skilled trades for young people across Houston. The partnership brings together BridgeYear, Houston City College, Houston ISD, Good Reason Houston, Greater Houston Partnership, and employer and labor organizations in a coordinated coalition effort to close the skilled trades gap facing the city’s workforce.
Through BridgeYear’s hands-on Career Test Drive® simulations and pre-apprenticeship programming, the initiative will engage an untapped talent pool of local students and fast-track them directly into Registered Apprenticeships. The coalition’s shared goal is to ensure that young people who graduate high school without a clear roadmap have direct access to high-wage, in-demand skilled trades careers. These careers do not require a four-year degree but provide long-term economic stability.
“Investing in the next generation of skilled workers means investing in a stronger future for our city,” said Victoria Chen, Executive Director of BridgeYear. “Too many young people graduate high school without exposure to the thriving careers available in these industries. By bringing together school districts, higher education institutions, business leaders, and community advocates, this effort will expand student access to hands-on technical training and paid work-based learning — ultimately strengthening the workforce our economy depends on.”
Houston’s efforts are part of a broader Bloomberg Philanthropies national initiative to expand pathways into the skilled trades. BridgeYear serves as the hands-on career exploration and pre-apprenticeship implementation partner within the Houston coalition, connecting students to employer workforce development programs built around real labor needs. Employers and organizations interested in partnering can visit bridgeyear.org/employer.
ABOUT BRIDGEYEAR
Founded in 2016 and based in Houston, Texas, BridgeYear is a nonprofit organization connecting underserved youth to careers and educational pathways that provide economic stability and independence. BridgeYear operates Career Test Drive®, MorePathways®, and Career Cohort programs in partnership with Gulf States Toyota, Memorial Hermann, Phillips 66, Honeywell, and the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Learn more at www.bridgeyear.org.
Company Details
Organization: BridgeYear
Contact Person: Jocelyne Trevino
Website: https://www.bridgeyear.org/
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: +18325790294
Address: 3414 Eastside St.
City: Houston
State: TX
Country: United States
Release Id: 24062646407