Cincinnati, OH — TNTP, in partnership with the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, today announced the launch of the Cincinnati Career Pathways Initiative, a three-year effort to strengthen the access, exposure, and navigation of career-connected learning (CCL) opportunities for young people across the region. The initiative is funded by Britebound, a nonprofit organization supporting efforts to expand economic mobility through career-connected learning for young people nationwide.
Grounded in Cincinnati’s economic landscape and shaped by the experiences of students, families, educators, and employers, the initiative aims to ensure all young people can explore meaningful pathways, understand their options, and connect to high-growth, high-mobility careers.
“The Cincinnati Region is rich in schools, partners, and resources designed to help young people find their way into their desired careers and access the necessary skills and credentials to obtain them. We are so pleased to partner with TNTP to improve how our broader workforce ecosystem works to support them and our employers who need them,” said Audrey Treasure, VP & Executive Director of the Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber.The Cincinnati Career Pathways Initiative will examine how young people experience career-connected learning, identify gaps in access and participation, and surface barriers to opportunity. The effort will produce practical tools and insights to help families navigate pathways and support stronger alignment across partners citywide.
“At TNTP, we believe every young person deserves access to clear, supported pathways to economic mobility,” said Chris Henderson, VP of SE/MW at TNTP.“Through this partnership with the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, we are building a more connected and responsive system—one that listens to families and youth and translates their experiences into real opportunities for the future.”
In partnership with community stakeholders, TNTP and the Chamber will build a clear, community-informed picture of Cincinnati’s career-connected learning ecosystem. Key outputs may include:
- A map of existing career-connected learning opportunities and participation patterns
- Tools and guidance to help families navigate pathways
- Structures that elevate youth and family voice in shaping experiences
- Recommendations to strengthen alignment across K–12, postsecondary, industry, and community partners
The initiative will unfold over three years:
- Year 1: Landscape analysis, insight gathering, and initial engagement
- Year 2: Co-design sessions, development of recommendations, and community validation
- Year 3: Finalization of resources and supports, and collaborative planning for implementation
Community participation will be central to the work. Schools, community organizations, employers, and residents across Cincinnati will have opportunities to contribute through interviews, focus groups, co-design sessions, and feedback on emerging tools and recommendations.
“Too often, young people and families face a maze of disconnected programs and opportunities when trying to navigate pathways to meaningful careers. At Britebound, we believe every young person deserves clear access to career-connected learning programs that lead to economic mobility,” said Julie Lammers, President and CEO of Britebound. “We’re proud to support TNTP and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber as they work together to better understand how young people experience career-connected learning and identify opportunities to strengthen pathways across the region. By centering the voices of students and families, this initiative will help create a more connected system that prepares young people for success and strengthens Cincinnati’s future workforce.”
To learn more about the Cincinnati Career Pathways Initiative, contact Kevin Haynes at Kevin.Haynes@tntp.org or follow the Cincinnati Regional Chamber on LinkedIn.
About Cincinnati Regional Chamber
The Cincinnati Regional Chamber is the premier business and civic organization dedicated to growing the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati region. To achieve its vision that Cincinnati is a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs, the Chamber seeks to grow our economy, grow our population, and grow our cultural vibrancy — with the foundation of a strong business community — to foster a welcoming environment for all. The Chamber’s membership offerings, signature leadership programs, government and regional advocacy efforts, community events such as BLINK and Oktoberfest as well as key partnerships with organizations like Cincinnati Experience, Cincinnati Compass, Cincinnati Business Excellerator and the Workforce Innovation Center lead the way in making that vision a reality. For more information, visit cincinnatichamber.com.
About Britebound
Britebound is a national nonprofit whose mission is to inspire young people to explore their passions, experiment with careers, and navigate a path to a meaningful and rewarding future. Britebound helps middle and high school students to know themselves—their strengths and their interests—and understand their education and career options so that they can make informed decisions. Britebound fulfills its mission by providing free, digital experiences including Futurescape, Future Network, and GoZig, directly to millions of students, and through advocacy, impact investing, research, thought leadership, and philanthropic support for educators, and community-based organizations. To learn more about Britebound, visit www.britebound.org.
About TNTP
TNTP is a national nonprofit working to expand opportunity and economic mobility for every young person. We work with educators, school and system leaders, policymakers, and communities to research, implement, and scale innovations that build both access and capability for students. We leverage technology and cross-sector partnerships to strengthen instruction, support educators, and to ensure learners are working toward meaningful careers and meaningful lives. Our vision is that 50 million young people are on a path to economic and social mobility by 2035. For more information, visit tntp.org and follow @TNTP for updates.
TNTP and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber are seeking feedback to better understand how students, families, employers, and community organizations learn about and access education, career, and support opportunities in our region.
Please feel free to take this brief survey to help us identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities to improve awareness of available resources and make it easier for young people and families to connect with education, career pathways, and community supports.
