Programs
Our programs give high school and college students direct access to the social capital, professional skills, and networks that determine who thrives in higher education. All programs are free to participants.
Flagship program
High school seniors + college student mentors + career professionals
Bridge pairs high school seniors with trained college student mentors and career professionals for a structured semester-long experience. Participants build genuine professional relationships, learn how higher education actually works, and enter college with a network — not just a backpack.
What participants leave with:
Workshop program
College students training to teach social capital in high schools
The Capital Workshop is a two-day intensive that trains college students to facilitate social capital conversations with high school seniors. Participants become credible near-peer educators — young people who have recently navigated the transition themselves.
Topics covered: professional identity, networking, navigating institutional culture, college prep timelines, and how to talk about money, class, and career without shame.
Who we serve
Apply to join Bridge as a mentee. Open to juniors and seniors in the Chicago region. No GPA requirement — just commitment.
Mentor a high schooler through Bridge, or apply for Capital Workshop training to become a near-peer facilitator.
Offer a job shadow. Two hours can permanently shift a student's sense of what is possible for them.
Partner to bring Bridge or Capital Workshop to your students. We work with counselors, advisors, and student affairs offices.
FAQ
No. Our programs are open to any student who is curious, committed, and willing to show up. Academic performance is not a selection criterion.
All Empowered Education programs are free to students. Access to mentorship and professional networks should never depend on a family's ability to pay.
We currently operate primarily in the Chicago region but are building toward national and international reach. Virtual participation options are available for select programs.
We welcome partnerships with high schools, colleges, community organizations, and employers. Reach out to start a conversation.
Applications for our next cohort open each fall. Sign up to be notified, or reach out now.