Deborah Karson @deobrahjkarson
Launch+
Launch+ is an Apprentice Learning career internship program that starts in February 2021 and ends in mid-May 2021. Launch+ will offer you additional professional skills development, career knowledge, and work experience that will help further your future career goals.
You can earn up to $700 for working online – exploring careers and learning skills – in ways that expand the knowledge and experience you gained in Apprentice Learning.
Between February 1 – May 14, 2021
- Complete a self-paced curriculum
- Meet for two hours weekly on zoom
- Participate daily during February OR April school vacation week with an in-depth career exploration
- Engage in other opportunities through your internship
To speak to our staff about applying, text LAUNCHPLUS to 844-793-0213.
Invest in the Future
Apprentice Learning provides real-world work experiences for middle school students. We leverage career exploration to teach skills and to nurture dreams.
“Apprenticing at Frugal Bookstore helped me learn work ethic and taught me to work smarter. Being on time, working hard and not complaining are important. Mrs. Egerton, you worked me to the bone but it made sense because you worked hard too. I will always remember you saying, “You can’t half-do anything. You have to finish what you started.” Aneshia, eighth grader, apprentice at Frugal Bookstore

Career education has proven to be an effective way of exposing young people to a wide variety of opportunities and can positively impact their graduation from high school and long-term employment prospects.
Since 2012, we have provided career skills and experiences for over 900 eighth graders who attend Boston Public Schools. The program demographics mirror the population of the students enrolled in Boston Public Schools. Ninety percent of students identify as non-white and the majority are from under-resourced communities. Many are English Language Learner students.
Learn to Earn
We provide youth with a successful first work experience that builds confidence and competence, and prepares students for meaningful, paid employment before they enter high school. On average, 40% of eighth graders who complete an apprenticeship land a paying summer job before high school.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted all of our programs to a virtual format. This has meant working with a smaller cohort of businesses that have the capacity to virtually explore their workplace purpose and culture. For all of us, this has been a very creative process involving the active participation of our youth. We have been pleased with the new ways we have imagined the world of work.
In the near future, we hope to return to in person programming with over 70 participating business partners.
Virtual programs have been adapted from our menu of in person experiences. These include one-day workplace explorations, a six-session, weekly apprenticeship, and a five-week summer career internship program where youth learn concrete self-presentation and communication skills, gain insights about their individual learning styles, identify their signature strengths, and explore career interests.
Our Programs
In 2019-2020, we served 177 students across 5 schools and 72 workplaces in Boston.
American Student Assistance
Bain Financial
Cabot Family Charitable Trust
City of Boston
Cummings Foundation
Eugene F. Fay Trust
Fish Family Foundation
Foley Hoag
FLHB Bank Boston
George Garretson Wade Charitable Trust II
Leon Lowenstein Foundation
Liberty Mutual Foundation
Mill River Foundation
Northeastern University Office of
City & Community Service
Orville F. Forté Charitable Trust
St. Paul’s Church
The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation
Vanderbilt Family Foundation
Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
Wild Geese Foundation
Women4Progress Charitable Trust
YouthWorks
Deborah Karson for her photography (@deborahjkarsonphotography)