This April, we celebrated the official integration of Ladders for Leaders into Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This milestone reflects a belief we’ve long shared: when we work together, we can create even stronger, more meaningful pathways for young people to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.
The event brought together board members, community partners, staff, and supporters who share a commitment to creating meaningful pathways for young people. By combining resources and expertise, the partnership will provide youth with more opportunities.
Ladders for Leaders, now powered by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, prepares high school students with the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in real-world professional experiences through soft-skills training, financial literacy, resume-building, and interview skills.
During the ceremony, former Ladders for Leaders participant, Garrett Heer, member of the inaugural LFL cohort and current student at Texas A&M, shared his personal journey, highlighting how the program helped him discover career pathways, build confidence, and envision a future filled with possibilities.
His story served as a powerful reminder that workforce programs are not just about resumes and skills—they are about belief, mentorship, and opening doors at key moments in a young person’s life.
That impact is already taking shape. During the first round of interviews this year, 247 youth applied, and 213 advanced to second-round interviews with employer partners, demonstrating both strong preparation and growing interest from local businesses and organizations. To date, 84 internship opportunities have been secured, with a goal of reaching 107 paid internships for youth this cycle. Supporting this work are 48 dedicated interview volunteers, whose time and expertise help prepare teens for professional success.
The Power Behind the Work
Special thanks to the SVP Austin team: Paul Smith, Kristy Covelio, Roger Aufieri, and Oscar Gonzalez for supporting the integration process. Their guidance, collaboration, and commitment have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life and ensuring a strong, seamless foundation for the work ahead.
We are also grateful to the law firm Latham & Watkins for their partnership and support throughout this process. Their legal guidance and expertise helped us thoughtfully navigate this transition and strengthen the foundation for what comes next.
Together with our business partners, supporters, and volunteers, this effort reflects what’s possible when a community comes together in service of young people. Your investment of time, expertise, and resources continues to open doors and expand opportunities for the teens we serve. This work truly takes a community—one that believes in the potential of every Club teen and shows up in meaningful ways to help them thrive.
Get Involved
As we look to the future, we invite others to join us in this effort. Whether through partnership, mentorship, advocacy, or investment, there are many ways to get involved and make a lasting impact. Together, we can continue to champion opportunities that equip our Club teens with the skills, confidence, and experiences they need to thrive in school, in careers, and in life.
