How a Boys & Girls Club Makes Career-Connected Learning a Reality

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About the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities

The Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities serves more than 4,000 K–12 youth across 13 club locations throughout the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area. As part of the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) network, the Twin Cities chapter shares a unified mission: “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

Locally, that mission takes shape through a “north star goal”: ensuring every youth member is on a clear track toward success beyond high school graduation.

“We strive to be a safe space for kids and teens in our community. We focus on their social–emotional skills, try to be a positive influence in their lives, and produce happy and successful graduates from high school who have a plan for what they want to do with their post-secondary lives.”

— Erika Hulleman, former Teen Pathways Manager

Watch Erika Hulleman from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities share how Pathway2Careers helps students connect learning to life:

What Students Were Asking

In recent years, staff have repeatedly heard a familiar question from the teens they serve—voiced out of frustration with traditional education methods:

“When am I ever going to use this?”
“How is this relevant to my real life?”

Erika Hulleman, former Teen Pathways Manager, explains, “They would say, ‘We do all this work during the school day. We’d sit in front of a teacher who talks to us in lectures, and we put our pen to paper, but we don’t get a lot of real-world information.”

Like many educators, Club staff recognized that today’s students crave context. Adolescents want to understand how what they’re learning connects to their future and are eager to explore real-world opportunities.

That’s where Pathway2Careers (P2C) comes in.

Bridging the Gap Between Learning and Life

To help students connect the dots between what they’re learning in school and what they might do after graduation—whether that’s college, career training, or entering the workforce— club staff knew they needed real, local data. They need tools that can help students envision a future that’s both achievable and aligned with each learner’s values, interests, and talents.

With P2C Career Explorer and Labor Market Navigator, students can independently explore career paths based on their interests, check out income potentials, and learn what education or training is required for hundreds of occupations. It’s all grounded in up-to-date labor market information tailored to the Twin Cities region.

Sparking Curiosity and Self-Discovery

The impact has been striking, revealed by students’ rapt engagement. When a teen discovers a career that sparks their curiosity, the questions come quickly:

“How much money do they make?”, “What degree would I need?”, “What does the job involve day to day?”, ”Do you know anyone who does this?”

Now, instead of relying on Google or guesswork, students turn to Pathway2Careers for reliable answers. Alongside clear data on salary, education requirements, and industry trends, they can dive into P2C’s hundreds of Career Stories—authentic video interviews with professionals who candidly discuss the realities, rewards, and challenges of their everyday work.

It’s not just about dreaming big; it’s about planning smart.

“[Our kids] have all the data for our exact labor market right at their fingertips, and they can self-explore and identify their own answers without other people’s bias on the career coming into play. It gives them a lot more freedom to make decisions.”

— Erika Hulleman

Helping Students Define Success on Their Own Terms

When Boys & Girls Club staff ask students what they want for their future, the answer often starts with a desire for financial success, exemplified by owning a big house and driving a flashy car.

But mentors are helping learners think beyond surface-level models of success. What kind of life do students want to build? What kind of work will bring them happiness, purpose, and long-term fulfillment?

“The key is identifying how you’re going to achieve that lifestyle but also be happy and have a career that matches your values and your interests. That will provide you with longevity,” said Hulleman.

P2C helps the organization to not only answer students’ myriad questions but to also evolve programming and better support the aspirations of tomorrow’s workforce. With a tool that’s flexible, local, and student-driven, The Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities is empowering the next generation to dream boldly and plan wisely.

How Students Are Responding

Thanks to P2C, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities has been able to:

Make education feel more relevant for students
Empower teens with real labor market data
Spark curiosity and meaningful career exploration
Support staff with a consistent, easy-to-use tool
Build stronger, more targeted career-readiness programming

Most importantly, they’re helping students take ownership of their futures and fueling their motivation to excel in school.

“Pathway2Careers has been instrumental in helping us build out career programming that fills in what kids are really looking for. We can finally show how what they’re doing day to day in school directly influences their career. They’re linked; you have to succeed in school if you want to succeed in your future.”

— Erika Hulleman

Ready to explore how P2C can boost learning, engagement, and outcomes for your students?