Apprenticeship Connections

Apprenticeship Connections is how potential finds application when a community of dedicated professionals, enterprising individuals, and creative minds across all walks of life come together to envision a better future. After winning the 2014 Tom-Tom Pitch Competition, the concept of Apprenticeship Connections became a functioning program by Octobe... r 2016. Today, Apprenticeship Connections' celebrates its short history as a continually evolving program with a deep commitment to societal impact. This is made possible by our mentors and apprentices who have proven over years their dedication to our values. With only a handful of completed apprenticeships, we have already seen innovative collaborations that stem from an eagerness to meet the needs of the future. One such example was when we connected Claire, a senior at Charlottesville High School with an interest in art and design, with our Mentor Suz Somersall, a jewelry designer and owner of Suz Somersall jewelry store. Within weeks, Claire had not only learned design software, but had started creating video tutorials for Suz's new enterprise, KiraKira, an educational startup that teaches the fundamentals of 3D modeling software to middle and high school girls through interactive jewelry design lessons. Claire had never envisioned that her jewelry-making apprenticeship would lead her to help make 3D modeling, and more broadly, engineering and computer programming, accessible to middle school girls across the country. Similarly, Isaac Smith, had no idea that by the time he completed his apprenticeship with our Mentor Lauren Danley, the Metal Fabricator, he would be prepared to pass level 3 of the state certification exam. A few months earlier, Isaac, a dissatisfied waiter at a local restaurant was uninterested in attending college at that time in his life. He completed his apprenticeship with Lauren and set his 10 year goal to become a deep sea welder. Claire and Isaac's stories are not unique to Apprenticeship Connections. Apprenticeship Connections draws ...Read More