From Uncertainty to Opportunity: How Eckerd Connects’ Workforce Development Builds Pathways to Purpose
For young adults, mid-career professionals, and dislocated workers alike, navigating the job market can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s figuring out what comes after high school, recovering from a layoff, or returning to work after incarceration, the pressure to “have it all figured out” is real—and often unrealistic.
As a legacy nonprofit founded on the belief that every child, family, and adult has potential and promise, Eckerd Connects remains committed to one unifying purpose: building brighter futures. Across all our service lines—from youth support and foster care to Job Corps and workforce programs—we focus on workforce development, job training, and career advancement as vehicles for long-term success.
At Eckerd Connects, we approach career development differently. We meet people where they are—not where the world expects them to be. That means slowing down, listening, and tailoring support to each individual’s goals, experiences, and barriers.
We don’t just help people find jobs—we help them discover purpose, build confidence, and move forward with intention.
STEP ONE: Discovery: Starting with the Human
Every journey begins with an honest conversation. Through our discovery process, career coaches get to know each participant’s story, interests, and challenges. Tools like the ONET Interest Profiler help clarify vocational interests—Realistic, Investigative, Enterprising—and align them with potential career paths.
It’s not just about employment—it’s about alignment, meaning, and momentum.
STEP TWO: BOOST: Clarity, Confidence & Market Awareness
Participants engage in BOOST, a guided experience that builds awareness of job options, labor market realities, and self-identified goals. They receive a custom O*NET analysis that compares their interests to local demand—introducing them to careers they may have never considered, including details on wages, growth, and required credentials.
BOOST provides a personalized roadmap connecting who they are to what’s possible in today’s labor market.
STEP THREE: Youth & Adult Service Pathways
No two job seekers are the same—and neither are their starting points. That’s why we offer flexible frameworks:
For Youth: CareerEXPLO—Designed to help young people explore and discover, CareerEXPLO blends interest assessments, short-term job experiences, and exposure to diverse industries. It’s where discovery meets opportunity.
For Adults: ABC Career Pathway—The ABC framework helps adults and dislocated workers move forward based on immediate needs:
- A Job: Immediate work for financial stability
- B (Better) Job: Higher wages with entry-level skills
- C (Career): Long-term, sustainable employment aligned with strengths and goals
The model meets participants where they are—and walks with them toward where they want to go.
STEP FOUR: Wraparound Support & Community Collaboration
Our workforce development programs are powered by trusted partnerships—from behavioral health and probation departments to housing, childcare, and employer networks.
Brooklyn Elder, a Workforce Reentry Career Coach in Arizona, sees the impact of these partnerships daily.
“Especially with justice-involved participants, we’re not just redirecting them toward a career—we’re giving them soft skills, confidence, and support. You notice a real difference when they feel people are on their side.”
Her stories speak volumes:
One participant, employed in landscaping but eager to advance, completed financial literacy training and earned his Commercial Driver’s License—with Eckerd Connects’ support. He returned to his same employer, now in a higher-paying skilled role, and ultimately regained custody of his children.
Another participant in crisis was given clothing for interviews, job leads, and even a bike for transportation. Today, he works in peer support and is preparing for additional workforce training.
“It’s most satisfying when they send me photos from their job or stop in to share how well they are doing,” Brooklyn says. “That’s the best part.”
CVS Health: A Pharmacy Tech Pipeline with Purpose
In 2020, Eckerd Connects and CVS Health launched a national partnership to develop pharmacy technician career pathways for underserved populations. What started as a concept is now a thriving, hands-on training program—with a mock pharmacy classroom and flexible online options.
In June, our first cohort of 15 participants completed the training:
- Nine are in the hiring pipeline
- One, Triunity, is already on the job
“Triunity is proof that when preparation meets opportunity, success is inevitable,” says Monica Broadnax, Senior Workforce Development Specialist. “She not only finished ahead of schedule—she launched boldly into her career.”
Triunity, 22, shared:
“The online training was perfect for my schedule. Eckerd Connects helped me a lot. Now, I’ve been working as a pharm tech for three months, and I love it. It’s a great team, and I’m learning something new every day.”
Her younger sister is now following in her footsteps.
Leading the Charge in Denver: Sir Green’s Vision for Career Development
In Denver, Sir Green is leading a powerful charge to reimagine career development for youth and young adults. As a dynamic and purpose-driven leader, he’s bringing innovation, energy, and empathy to the forefront of workforce development.
Through a holistic, person-first approach, Green and the Denver Workforce Development team are building trust with young people who have often been overlooked. By leveraging local partnerships, integrating mental health support, and offering structured career coaching, the Denver model is not only connecting participants to jobs—it’s helping them envision careers they never thought possible.
“We’re not here to give them a job and say good luck,” Sir Green shares. “We’re here to walk beside them, to help them build a life, a vision, and a future they believe in.”
From launching new community partnerships to piloting apprenticeship pathways, the Denver program is quickly becoming a model of what’s possible when equity, opportunity, and support intersect.
Coming Soon: Apprenticeships
We’re expanding into apprenticeship models across industries—from healthcare to construction—so participants can learn while they earn.
At Eckerd Connects, we believe every person deserves the chance to build a meaningful future—regardless of where they start.
From Triunity’s first day as a pharmacy technician to Sir Green’s groundbreaking work in Denver, and the countless untold stories in between—we see what happens when potential is met with purpose, tools, and opportunity.
And with more apprenticeship programs and employer partnerships on the horizon, we’re just getting started.
If you believe in opportunity, promise, career clarity, and community-driven success—we invite you to connect, partner, and grow with us.
Because when we invest in people, we all move forward.
Learn more at: Eckerd.org/Workforce