Helping Students See a Future Worth Working Toward

Students are more likely to stay engaged in school when they can see how learning connects to future opportunities.

United Way of Central Iowa funded partners, including Al Éxito, PI515, and Project Iowa, help students explore career pathways, post-secondary options, and real-world applications of learning.

“When students can visualize a future for themselves, school becomes more meaningful,” said Kate Bennett, Community Impact Officer at United Way of Central Iowa. “Career connected learning helps them understand why staying engaged matters.”

Gabby Guerra Ceron, Executive Director at Al Éxito, shared, “We see students gain motivation when they realize education is opening doors. That clarity can be a powerful factor in staying on track to graduate.”

United Way supports career connected learning because graduation is about preparation as much as completion.