Rising Stars Program and Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston partner to launch new Trade Trailblazers program

Starting in summer 2026, Trade Trailblazers will provide students ages 17–18 with the opportunity to explore four to six different union trades through hands-on technical training, safety certifications and career readiness workshops.

The Rising Stars Program, a nonprofit that aims to close the skilled labor gap by connecting young adults with career pathways in construction, is excited to announce a new partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB). The organizations are co-launching Trade Trailblazers, an eight-week summer internship and career exploration program that is designed to introduce Boston teens to careers in the skilled trades.

Starting in summer 2026, Trade Trailblazers will provide students ages 17–18 with the opportunity to explore four to six different union trades through hands-on technical training, safety certifications and career readiness workshops. Each participant will select two trades for deeper exploration, building the foundation for a successful, long-term career while gaining the confidence, professional mentorship and credentials needed to take the next step.

Unlike traditional career exploration programs, Trade Trailblazers engages participants earlier — before many have even chosen a post-graduation path — to ensure they are better prepared and more informed about their options. By combining Rising Stars’ industry connections with BGCB’s strong community pipeline, the program will deliver real-world experience to students while also providing local trade unions and contractors with a diverse, well-vetted pool of young talent at a time when the construction sector faces a growing shortage of skilled workers.

“This new partnership is all about opening more doors for young people,” says David Hutchinson, executive director of the Rising Stars Program. “By teaming up with organizations like BGCB that share our vision, we can provide students with real opportunities to build meaningful careers — and help industries find the skilled workforce they need for the future.”

Expanding Boston’s workforce readiness pipeline

For Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, the partnership represents a powerful expansion of its workforce readiness framework: a continuum of programs that connect academic learning to tangible career pathways. BGCB’s approach emphasizes hands-on learning, mentorship and exposure to high-demand industries that range from healthcare and technology to the skilled trades. Through its Trade Trailblazers program, the Rising Stars Program and BGCB will help ensure that Boston’s young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, gain equitable access to opportunity and are positioned to contribute to the city’s economic growth.

“Trade Trailblazers is about creating access and confidence,” said Andrea Swain, chief impact officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. “When teens can see and experience what is possible in the trades, they begin to envision futures filled with stability, purpose and pride. This partnership with Rising Stars expands our ability to prepare young people for the workforce Boston needs, while giving them the tools and relationships that help them thrive.”

About Rising Stars Program

Proudly supported by 15+ sponsors including Tremco CPG, the Rising Stars Program aims to cultivate a strong, well-rounded workforce in the construction industry by supporting youth entering the workforce, as well as minority- and women-owned businesses, through education and training. Offered in six cities across the U.S., the program is ultimately driving success for those emerging in the construction industry. Learn more at www.risingstarsprogram.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is the leading and most impactful youth organization in Greater Boston, catalyzing far-reaching opportunities for more equitable futures for 6–18-year-olds in 22 communities across Boston and Chelsea. Since 1893, BGCB has focused on making the region thrive and has played an essential role for young people eager to explore their passions, find their purpose and prepare for a life of success and impact. In partnership with the public sector, private enterprise, related non-profits, donors and volunteers, BGCB is aligned behind investing in the region’s urban talent pipeline and making a generational impact that expands beyond the walls of its building and deep into the communities it serves. Helping urban youth to navigate a fast-paced global climate steeped in change, the organization is recognized for fueling the future of the city and the Commonwealth through its innovative “readiness” programs centered on three outcome areas: Academic Success, Health and Wellness and Workforce Readiness. Learn more at www.bgcb.org.