Amplifying Youth Voices

How Delaware Pathways helped one student develop passions into careers

BY DAN CRUCE AND ANAYA PATTERSON

DELAWARE PATHWAYS is a collaborative public-private initiative focused on workforce development to aid young people in planning their futures. High school students involved in Pathways develop specialized skills, gaining an early start on their career, apprenticeship, or higher education plans. This initiative ensures that students graduate with a clear, actionable path for their future.

At United Way of Delaware (UWDE), our team emphasizes equity and access in our role within Pathways’ leadership. Central to this focus is amplifying youth voices. Given Pathways’ current success and its potential for even greater workforce development impact, we are launching a youth voice series to highlight the diverse benefits Pathways offers our youth. Anaya Patterson, a United Way intern and Pathways graduate, exemplifies this impact.

In Anaya’s words: “As a Delaware Pathways program graduate, I value the opportunity to share my perspective and voice with this crucial program. Today’s young people are tomorrow’s changemakers; supporting them during their formative years is vital. With Delaware’s workforce rapidly evolving, it’s essential for educators and employers to properly prepare and equip young people for future success. Delaware Pathways achieves this by empowering youth and instilling essential ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills, motivating them to explore new industries. Employers must then open doors for young people, allowing them to gain necessary experience. Embracing our youth’s drive, passion, and fresh perspectives can create meaningful change. Pathways and employers collaborating can lay the foundation for youth, helping propel businesses and organizations toward success.”

Anaya continues: “My story is non-traditional. In high school, I initially pursued culinary arts. Growing up, I watched cooking shows and dreamed of attending culinary school to create sophisticated cuisine. However, that path didn’t work out for me. Pathways offered me choices, leading me to audio and video engineering, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This experience introduced me to photography, sparking a new passion. I applied the skills I learned from Pathways in life outside of high school. Community organizations encouraged my creative side, allowing me to produce beneficial products while perfecting my craft.”

Anaya’s story highlights the importance of high school pathways and employers in providing foundational experiences and growth opportunities. While pathways teach valuable skills, it’s equally important for young people to apply these skills. Local businesses, community organizations, and high schools play key roles in integrating young people into the workforce. Early recognition of talent by employers allows for training and conditioning students for the workplace. Young people can achieve remarkable things when given the opportunity.

We thank Anaya for sharing her story and voice. She represents many others. However, much work remains to ensure more youth have similar experiences. This is the core of UWDE’s equity and access work with our Pathways partners. UWDE will continue to amplify youth voices, which are often underestimated. Together, we can change this. You will continue to hear from us and them. We welcome your thoughts, insights, and questions. Collective impact requires a collective effort. You are part of that collective.

Dan Cruce is chief operating officer at United Way of Delaware and Anaya Patterson is a UWDE Intern.