Community Impact & Systems Change
At Charting Careers, we believe lasting change happens when youth, families, schools, organizations, businesses, and public systems work together toward shared goals. Through The Collaborative Supporting Youth ("The Collaborative"), we bring partners together to address community challenges, promote prevention & wellness, align resources, and create opportunities for young people and families to thrive.
About The Collaborative
The Collaborative Supporting Youth is a cross-sector network of youth, residents, schools, nonprofits, faith communities, businesses, and public partners working together to strengthen outcomes for children, youth, and families in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
As a core component of The Collaborative, we are building a youth led, adult guided movement. Youth leadership is developed through our Community Youth Coalition (CYC).
The Collaborative focuses on three goal areas:
1. Increase Collaboration & Coordinated Youth Opportunities
We work to ensure that youth and families can easily access the programs, services, supports, and opportunities they need to thrive.
This work includes:
Neighborhood collaboratives, like the Greater Clay St. Collaborative
Youth-serving partnerships and resource coordination
2. Promote Prevention & Wellness
We strengthen protective factors and promote healthy decision-making through collaboration, youth leadership, community education, and prevention initiatives.
This work includes:
Drug Free Coalition Coordination
Take Back Your 10
Youth prevention leadership
Community awareness campaigns
Family wellness initiatives
3. Increase Digital Skills & Access
We help close the digital divide by increasing access to technology, digital skills, and opportunities for learning and workforce development.
This work includes:
Innovation Hub
Community computer labs
Digital literacy programming
Digital equity partnerships
Why It Matters
No single organization can solve complex community challenges alone. By bringing together youth, families, residents, organizations, businesses, and public partners, The Collaborative helps create stronger systems, healthier communities, and greater opportunities for all young people.