FROM PREPARATION TO SUSTAINABLE CAREERS
Equipping young adults to build the foundation for economic mobility.
Bridge Over Troubled Water (BOTW) connects career development, real-world experience, professional relationships, and practical resources to support young adults ages 18–24 as they explore their options, develop skills, and pursue meaningful employment and greater economic mobility.
Our approach is designed with opportunity youth in mind, including those impacted by the justice system, transitioning out of foster care, or facing barriers to employment.
BOTW is developing Thrive 365 to coordinate career preparation, work experience, and resources around each Career Builder’s goals, with clear partner roles and guidance through transitions.
— HOW BOTW BRIDGES THE GAP
We coordinate the steps toward a meaningful career.
BOTW works as a workforce intermediary, helping Career Builders navigate their options while working with employers, training providers, and community partners to expand access to meaningful opportunities.
Our planned approach aligns career guidance, industry exposure, hands-on experience, and practical support around individual goals, with clear partner responsibilities and support through transitions into employment, apprenticeship, or further education.
Richmond has opportunity. Access to it is not always equal.
— WHY WE EXIST
Richmond has employers, educational institutions, and community organizations creating opportunities across the region. Yet access alone does not guarantee economic progress. Building a stronger future also takes relevant experience, professional connections, and support to navigate what comes next.
18.2%
of Richmond city residents live in poverty.¹
Expanding access to quality employment can create more opportunities for economic stability.
49th of 50
was Richmond’s reported ranking among the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for absolute upward mobility, based on historical cohorts of children from low-income families.²
Economic growth should create more opportunities for residents to advance and build financial security.
14,700
Richmond-metro residents ages 16–24 were neither working nor attending school in 2022.³
Behind this number is a significant pool of talent and potential. Stronger connections to education, work experience, and employment can create more opportunities for economic advancement.
Career opportunities begin with knowing what’s possible.
— THE BIGGER PICTURE
64%
of young people who did not pursue a nondegree pathway after high school say they would have considered one had they known more about it.⁴
Career Builders benefit from more than information about available options. Industry exposure, conversations with professionals, and opportunities to experience different fields can shape informed decisions and open doors to meaningful employment.
— 2027 LAUNCH PILOT
Explore the work. Build the skills. Take the next step.
BOTW is developing its first Thrive 365 pilot in construction and the skilled trades: a 16-week core followed by up to 90 days of transition support.
Through Prepare, Practice, and Propel, Career Builders will have opportunities to explore different fields, strengthen essential skills, gain practical experience, and plan their next steps toward employment, registered apprenticeship, or technical training.
The proposed 2027 pilot would serve 15 Career Builders at no cost to participants, subject to funding and partnership readiness.
HVAC
Electrical
Plumbing & Pipefitting
Construction
Carpentry
— PARTNER WITH BOTW
Every partner holds part of the pathway.
Creating meaningful employment opportunities takes shared commitment.
Employers contribute industry knowledge, work-based learning experiences, mentorship, and pathways into employment. Training providers build technical skills. Community organizations help address practical barriers, while funders invest in the resources needed to make these opportunities accessible.
BOTW works across these relationships to support Career Builders as they move from exploration to experience and into the workforce.
