Life & Workforce Readiness
Building tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers
At Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, our programs are built around key pillars that guide everything we do, ensuring that every child and teen has access to meaningful opportunities for growth and success. Each pillar – Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, Good Character & Leadership, and Life & Workforce Readiness– represents a core area of child development, with programs designed to inspire, educate, and empower our members.
Empowering Young People to Succeed
To help young people meet the workforce challenges of tomorrow, they need safe spaces, positive mentorship, and work experiences today. At Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, we encourage youth to:
- Explore their interests and passions
- Develop their employability skills
- Apply their knowledge to real-world work experiences
What We Do
From an early age through high school, supportive Club mentors provide opportunities to explore careers and prepare youth with employability skills for future success. The Club also connects teens to behind-the-scenes exploration of industries, and real-life work experiences such as internships.
Speakers from diverse industries. Job shadowing at local companies. Hands-on activities and job training for teens. We know it’s hard to dream something you haven’t seen, which is why career exploration is key for young people to unlock potential career paths.
From that first spark of interest in a dream job to securing internships, first jobs and college scholarships, we set today’s youth up to build the great futures they envision. We do this through:
No one succeeds alone
Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena is a kid's first network — a place where they meet mentors, hone their skills, ignite their interests, and connect to opportunities.
We prepare youth of all ages with essential skills that today’s schools and employers want, including effective communication, social interaction, and navigating challenges.
Workforce Readiness Programs
Passport to Life
Ages 5-12
Passport to Life offers exploration of the following:
- Basic Life Survival Skills – Nutrition, cleaning, hygiene, first aid
- Character & Emotional Resilience – Confidence, empathy, gratitude
- Independent Living Skills – Time management, budgeting, organization
- Relationship & Community Building – Teamwork, leadership, cultural awareness
- Street Smarts & Personal Safety – Safety online, in public, and in emergencies
Career Launch
Age 13-18
Career Launch prepares teens for the world of careers and work. Through Career Launch, Club youth old embark on a journey to explore possible vocations, make sound educational decisions and find success in the world of work.
College Access Plan Partnership
Age 13-18
Career Launch prepares teens for the world of careers and work. Through Career Launch, Club youth old embark on a journey to explore possible vocations, make sound educational decisions and find success in the world of work.
diplomas2Degrees
Age 13+
diplomas2Degrees (d2D), a college readiness program from BGCA, provides a range of services to guide Club members as they work toward high school graduation and prepare for post-secondary education and career success.
Money Matters: Make it Count
Age 13+
Money Matters: Make it Count teaches teens how to set goals, budget, save, and invest. In addition to staff-led financial literacy sessions, young people practice financial decision-making skills through fun, engaging digital tools and games.
