Youth Apprenticeship Program

This is a three-year partnership between the City and County of Denver and CareerWise Colorado. The program educates local youth and their families on a comprehensive and well-designed apprenticeship opportunity within the city. Apprentices become part of the workforce while developing relevant skills, gaining valuable work experience in professional fields, and creating paths to high-wage, high-growth careers. 

Students are part of an Apprentice Cohort that works together to develop professional skills and do community service projects. They are expected to take classes from local colleges and universities to further their knowledge, abilities, and career. Apprentices also have the opportunity to receive an industry recognized credential that will add to their foundation of various work skills upon completion of the three-year program.

Youth apprentices will work with eight city agencies including:

• Community Planning and Development CPD
• Denver Economic Development & Opportunity – Division of Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) 
• Department of Finance (DOF)
• Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR)
• General Services (GS): Administration
• General Services: Facilities Management

Goals

•  Develop Denver’s youth talent pipeline
•  Support Denver youth in exploring a variety of careers in professional settings, and those desiring to begin working right after high school

City and County of Denver CareerWise residents:

• Must reside within the City and County of Denver 
• Split their time between their traditional high school classroom and the workplace.
• Earn a wage - as stated by the City and County of Denver minimum wage policy - while receiving hands-on work experience where they can apply their classroom learning.

By the conclusion of the program, students will have:

• Meaningful work experience
• A nationally recognized industry certification 
• A professional network within the City of Denver
• The opportunity to earn debt-free college credit

Throughout the three-year program, students:

• Receive guidance, mentoring, and support from their direct agency supervisors, the Youth Apprenticeship Program Manager, CareerWise and Denver Public Schools staff, as well as from their work peers. 
• Have opportunities to expand their knowledge, sharpen their skills and develop new ones through webinars, lectures, and programs provided by external city partners.

Applications for the 2021 program have closed. If you have any questions, please email us at NEST@denvergov.org.