Project Launch: RAW's college access AND career access program

In 2001, RAW’s art therapy staff began working after hours to help teens navigate the complexities of the college process. In a community where dropout rates were almost double the state average, many teens did not see higher education as a possibility. Raw Art Works believed it could change that reality. Twenty-five years later, that belief has grown into a thriving college access and career exploration program: Project Launch.

Today, 100% of RAW seniors graduate from high school, and more than 96% of RAW graduates attend college or pursue a workforce development program. RAW staff and a team of one-to-one volunteer mentors provide support and structure to empower each teen to find the path that is right for them. Project Launch supports seniors in writing strong resumes and essays and in submitting job, college, and scholarship applications. Staff also support parents and guardians by guiding them through the financial aid process and helping them manage college costs.

For teens for whom college is not the right choice, Project Launch offers career-oriented workshops and field trips, empowering youth to explore training and workforce opportunities. The program also builds essential life skills related to self-advocacy, mental health, time management, personal finances, and “adulting.”

Project Launch is more than a post–high school preparation program; it offers real-life opportunities that help youth move forward in life and strengthen their ability to navigate the adult world.

How Project Launch Has helped RAW Youth over the years:

• What changed this year is my drive to succeed.

• Launch helped me to broaden my horizons, and I'm less scared now of going to college than I was before I started Launch.

• I became more open to different kinds of colleges, and gradually became less afraid of the transition to college.

• It motivated me a lot and made me think realistically about college.

• Launch helped me get connected with adults who want to help me, and it also made the college application process easier.

• The Launch program helped me this year throughout the whole college application process. Along with Launch and my mentor, I was able to come up with the college that was right for me.

• Launch was SO helpful because I had no idea what I was doing, but everyone at RAW were experts. I also was able to come to my mentor with any question I had about college.

• I became such a more organized person because of Launch.

• Launch helped me with everything about college. It helped my writing skills, it helped ensure I had a good-looking resume, it gave us insight into financial aid, how important scholarships are, and that all opened my eyes. I always thought college would be a walk in the park, and that essays or how well my portfolio or resume was put together didn't matter. Obviously, that has changed drastically. I feel much more confident in my work and plan to take what I've learned through Launch into college and the rest of my future.

• Prior to Launch, I thought that college was a very scary topic, but with every new piece of knowledge of learned, the topic became less intimidating.

• Launch helped me with the questions I was too nervous to ask, and answered them in a way I could understand.

• Launch helped me a lot this year because they kept up with me. Without Launch, I wouldn’t have done anything about college.

• Project Launch helped me feel more confident and determined as I began applying to schools, for scholarships, and financial aid. From the very first meeting, there was just a really positive vibe that practically screamed, "You can do this!”