Spark Kit

A regional career pathways toolkit

Toolkits expand upon the theme of sparking interest by highlighting region-specific growth sectors and in-demand jobs.

They are designed to provide actionable steps for further exploring specific careers of interest, including through school districts, after-school programs, regional higher education institutions, and workforce partners. Additionally, they disseminate information about key local and statewide programs for families and prospective post-secondary students. For example, Colorado Promise, which will cover the cost of two full years of college for any family earning less than $90,000.

Toolkits will be printed, pamphlet style resources with 12-18 total pages of visually compelling content that are updated annually to reflect current local/regional industry trends and development. They will include a narrative voice and style that is tailored toward youth, while remaining accessible to their parents or guardians. The content and communication style will be directly informed by paid youth interns in Fall 2024, made possible through a youth voice grant from The Attainment Network.

Toolkits serve as a guide to helping young people discover and pursue exciting career paths in their own backyard.

The Toolkits will include: 

  • Regionally customized ‘sector clusters’ that prioritize local growth industries and groups sectors based on shared skills, youth interest, and regional economic priorities.

  • Resources and information to empower and inspire exploration of local opportunities, such as apprenticeships, internships, workshops, and financial aid for post-secondary education.

  • Engaging visuals that break down complex information into key points, making potential opportunities clear and easy to understand.

  • Interactive elements like QR codes that connect to online resources from community partners, including local educational, financial, and industry-specific resources, as well as resume-building and skill-identifying platforms. 

  • Locally-relevant anecdotal experiences that uplift the advice and stories of regional community and industry leaders through a customized, digital companion to the toolkit. tailored to the interest of the individual.

  • A breakdown of local jobs by education level—whether it’s a high school diploma, certification, or college degree—along with local post-secondary options to pursue those careers and key regional employers. The breakdown will also feature icons to indicate whether that role is a “regionally hot job” or offers on-the-job training.