My Past Should Not Be My Future: Youth, Criminal Justice, and Work-Based Learning

The education and workforce sectors are adopting new strategies for apprenticeship programs. Innovative models have emerged that offer diverse opportunities for young people to develop skills and prepare for employment. This chapter focuses on Exalt Youth, a nonprofit organization that empowers young people who have been involved in the criminal justice system. Using narrative excerpts, we highlight how the program provides opportunities to overcome incarceration, integrate identity and lived experience, build community and engagement, and foster career pathways and professional networks. We provide recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to motivate and engage young people in creating meaningful pathways for professional, educational, and training opportunities that are both equitable and accessible.