“I owe my new career to TranZed Apprenticeships,” says Patrick McLean, an apprentice and junior programmer for Amports, a premier automotive services company and port terminal operator. When employers were not willing to take a risk and allow Mr. McLean to transition from the mental health field to the technology industry, TranZed Apprenticeships offered an alternative pathway for Mr. McLean to gain the skills he needed and make the much-desired career change.  “TranZed Apprenticeships gave me the opportunity to start my career,” says Kenya Foster, an apprentice and junior programmer for Amports. Ms. Foster was a recent graduate with a computer science degree struggling to find a job because of her lack of experience. Now she has jump-started her career and is furthering her education in a master’s program. She credits the apprenticeship experience with teaching her valuable skills such as time management, organization and how to prioritize.

“I owe my new career to TranZed Apprenticeships,” says Patrick McLean, an apprentice and junior programmer for Amports, a premier automotive services company and port terminal operator. Mr. McLean had been working in the mental health field and taking programming courses on the side. He wanted to move into the technology industry, but no employer was willing to take the risk and give him the break he needed to switch careers.

TranZed Apprenticeships offered an alternative pathway for Mr. McLean to gain the skills he needed and make the much-desired career change – all while continuing to earn a salary. “TranZed Apprenticeships connected me with a company that wanted to invest in me,” says Mr. McLean. The apprenticeship opportunity provided a supportive employer where he received on-the-job training and was allowed to participate in more than 144 hours of classroom training.

TranZed Apprenticeships supports transformative workforce solutions through a range of programs that advance modern-day, non-traditional apprenticeships in technology, cybersecurity, digital and social media, data science and analytics, and as medical assistants. These programs source driven, talented, and committed employees for entry to mid-level positions.

“Being an apprentice builds a better foundation for your future career and helps you learn the business from the ground up,” says Kenya Foster, who is also an apprentice and junior programmer with Amports. She was fresh out of college with a degree in computer science but had very little work experience. “TranZed Apprenticeships gave me the opportunity to start my career.”

Ms. Foster has benefitted from being surrounded by experienced colleagues who have been willing to teach her and help her grow professionally. While it may seem daunting to some, Ms. Foster has recently started an online master’s degree program. She credits the apprenticeship experience with teaching her valuable skills such as time management, organization and how to prioritize.

Businesses that support apprenticeships gain loyal, productive, long-term employees. Both Mr. McLean and Ms. Foster are excited to be building their skills toward a CompTIA Network + certification. They will soon graduate from the apprenticeship program and look forward to continuing their careers with Amports. 

Kandace is a soft-spoken teenager with an amazing story. She has survived heartbreaking trauma but has also seen renewed hope as she has spent the last several years connected with The Children’s Guild. Kandace was admitted to The Guild Academy, The Children’s Guild’s residential treatment program, and lived at Staffa House for four-and-a-half years. While there, she received the trauma-informed treatment she needed, and she thrived in its supportive setting. Kandace speaks highly of her time there, noting that she liked “everything” about Staffa House, especially when she had her own bedroom! Since her time here, Kandace has been adopted and continues to keep close ties to The Children’s Guild.

When it was discovered there had been a mistake in Kandace’s paperwork, and she was only 11 years old instead of 12, the required age for acceptance into The Guild Academy, Terri and her team obtained a waiver to have Kandace admitted early. The Guild Academy is The Children’s Guild’s residential treatment program. Kandace lived at Staffa House, the girls’ home at The Guild Academy, for four-and-a-half years. While there, she received the trauma-informed treatment she needed, and she thrived in its supportive setting.

When asked what she liked best about Staffa House, Kandace emphatically says, “Everything!” One of her favorite memories is the period when she had her own bedroom, and her eyes light up when she talks about the program’s many activities: “Group therapy, of course; Zumba classes; bowling; learning how to cook; learning how to budget money; going to the beach and local festivals; and Friday ‘chilling and rhythm’ nights.” 

The goal of The Guild Academy is for students to learn enough to graduate to the next placement. “It was time for Kandace to progress with her life,” says Mrs. Maxwell. Kandace is currently a senior in high school, and she does not have supports outside of The Children’s Guild. “We want to ensure she has the best support system possible, and she deserves a home and the opportunity to experience the love of a family.”

Even positive transitions can be difficult. Kandace did not want to be adopted, and she was reluctant to leave. Special care was taken to find a placement that would allow her to maintain ties with Staffa House. Last year Kandace graduated to a placement within The Children’s Guild’s Treatment Foster care program. Kandace has experienced many “firsts” since then – her first airplane ride; her first trip to Disney World; her first Cardi B concert. Her new home is within walking distance of Staffa House, where she is a frequent visitor. Mrs. Maxwell says, “We miss her dearly, and we will always be there for her.”

C’aron Jackson is a student at The Children’s Guild Baltimore involved in the Independence Academy program. Independence Academy offers vocational opportunities in digital media, information technology, business and entrepreneurship, and hospitality. The program is available to high school students, allowing them to participate in an internship and learn specific skills that can be transferred to the workforce or a secondary education. C’aron participated in a digital media internship through Independence Academy. Of his experience, C’aron says, “It was challenging. I had to take my time and work through the projects.”

Students learn what kinds of goals to set for their future when they are given the opportunity to experience new things and explore their options. This is especially important at The Children’s Guild Schools of Baltimore and Prince George’s County, which educate and provide clinical services to students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and to students who are on the autism spectrum. These students often take alternative paths in their education.

“College is not for everyone,” says KaMyka Glenn, M.Ed., the transition coordinator for The Children’s Guild School of Baltimore. “Some young people go directly into the workforce, while others need a little more training and coaching in order to be independent and successful in life after high school.” The Children’s Guild recognizes that some students are lacking in job skills and not prepared for post-secondary life. Independence Academy is a program that was created to bridge this gap and expand students’ horizons to what is possible.

Independence Academy offers vocational opportunities in digital media, information technology, business and entrepreneurship, and hospitality and is available to high school students during school hours. Students participate in an internship and learn specific skill sets that can be transferred to the workforce or a secondary education. They gain hands-on training and real-life work experiences in a supportive environment with coaching from The Children’s Guild’s team of professional. Mrs. Glenn says, “It is a valuable opportunity for students to develop the awareness and professionalism needed to transition into the workforce.”

“It was challenging,” says C’aron Jackson about his experience in Independence Academy. A rising senior at The Children’s Guild School of Baltimore, C’aron participated in a digital media internship. “I realized I had to take my time and work through the projects, which is hard for me to do. I gained a lot of patience.” C’aron aspires to one day become a professional photographer. He describes himself as naturally very quiet, so he appreciated how the internship encouraged him to be more social. He says, “I liked everything about it and look forward to being in Independence Academy again this year.”