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With every new season comes an opportunity to grow and change toward the things that make us feel whole. For many, that change may also include graduation. While graduating from high school, college, or another program can feel scary at times, the goal is to leave more empowered and informed than where you began.
As a mom of three, I remember when my two eldest children graduated. The joy was overwhelming as they walked across the stage into new lives as young adults. Neither of them had a plan carved in stone at the time. The thought of their futures resting on an “I don’t know yet” was scary.
Fortunately, tools exist to help people choose and change careers, including The Graduation Toolkit, helping them see strengths in fields they hadn’t considered. And for parents like me, we don’t have to have it all figured out. Just a gentle nudge of support as they navigate their own direction.
Celebrating 500,000 career journeys!
The DeBruce Foundation’s Agile Work Profiler© has been completed more than 500,000 times, while the Career Explorer Tools© have surpassed 800,000 total views, marking a major milestone in expanding career literacy and building confidence nationwide.
Available free of charge, the Agile Work Profiler helps individuals identify their work skills and interests while exploring a wider range of career pathways. Rather than matching users to a single career, the tools are designed to build adaptability and resilience in a rapidly changing workforce.
UMKC Champion’s Spotlight
Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director and COO of The DeBruce Foundation, was recently recognized by University of Missouri–Kansas City for her leadership, service, and commitment to expanding opportunities for students and communities.
“The privilege and the responsibility to invest in students is about mentoring, coaching and developing,” Leigh Anne reflected on the power of career literacy, and investing in future generations through mentoring, education, and community.
Leigh Anne continues to champion pathways that help learners discover their strengths, build strong networks, and prepare for meaningful careers.
Read the full feature from UMKC.
Agilities© training with ProX
The DeBruce Foundation recently partnered with ProX to train coaching staff on how Agilities resources are being integrated throughout ProX’s 5-week student program.
By connecting real-world work experiences with the skills students need to adapt, collaborate, solve problems, and navigate their futures, ProX is helping young people build workplace readiness, confidence, and career clarity. Through this partnership, coaches are better equipped to support students as they gain meaningful professional experience and strengthen durable skills for the future of work.
Learn how Agilities training and tools can help your organization support learners, strengthen teams, and build career confidence. Find additional training opportunities below!
Helping students see what’s possible
In the most recent episode of Empowering Careers, Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight spoke with Jill Cook about the vital role school counselors play in helping students imagine broader possibilities for their futures.
Drawing from her experience as a middle school counselor, Jill shared how exposure to new environments, career pathways, and postsecondary options can spark confidence and hope in students who may not yet see those opportunities for themselves.
Together, the conversation explored how counselors help students identify their strengths, interests, and learning styles, shifting the focus from “What do you want to be?” to “What environments help you thrive?”
The Attainment Network’s L/Earner voice symposium
At the L/Earner Voice Symposium hosted by The Attainment Network, DeBruce Career Corps member Anyshya joined Rebecca Kessler to share what it’s like when learners play an active role in shaping opportunities.
Reflecting on her experience with DeBruce Career Corps, Anyshya spoke about the importance of creating spaces where young people feel heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute ideas.
From testing tools and leading projects to turning ideas into action, her story highlighted the impact of giving youth both a seat at the table and the confidence to use it.
Know a young person ready to grow their leadership skills? Learn more about joining DeBruce Career Corps.
More than one right path for graduates
As graduation approaches, many students are thinking about what kind of future will allow them to thrive, not just what job title comes next. In a new blog post, graduating Howard University senior Leah Kabuya shares how The DeBruce Foundation’s Graduation Toolkit helped her connect her strengths, interests, and financial goals to a broader range of career possibilities.
After taking the Agile Work Profiler©, Leah began exploring organizations and professional environments where her Agilities could translate across multiple roles and pathways, including opportunities she had not previously considered.
“It’s opened my mind to all that I can do,” Leah shares.
Are you looking for resources to build career pathways in your classroom, curriculum, or organization? Register now to explore our career tools!
Educators:
Access free resources and asynchronous training here
Virtual Agilities Tours:
June 2, June 30, July 15, July 28
Virtual Introduction to Agilities K-12 Resources for Educators:
June 17, July 15, August 19
In-Person Agilities Coach Training:
June 4-5, July 16-17 (Kansas City, MO)
August 18-19 (New Castle, IN)
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