Supporting the Journey

Accessing Apprenticeships

Currently, only seven percent of apprentices in the U.S. are women. While there are many reasons for this gender inequity, including exclusive informal networks and stereotypes about what kind of work is appropriate for women, one of the key reasons is that women simply do not know about apprenticeship as an option. CBF helps to address this barrier in a few key ways. 

Raising Awareness: CBF helps to get the word out about apprenticeship as a viable path to economic security. 

Seeing Themselves: CBF elevates the stories of black women like Cassandra who found success and fulfillment through apprenticeship.

Sharing the Range of Opportunities: CBF helps connect black women with the information they need to make informed choices, pointing them in the direction of high-growth roles that pay well, are lower risk, and offer opportunities for advancement. 

Completing Apprenticeships

Black women face higher barriers to completing apprenticeship due to systematic or interpersonal racism and sexism. CBF provides financial resources and other supports to help them successfully complete apprenticeship programs and secure good jobs.

Career Advancement

Even after completing apprenticeship, there is still a long way to earning and living into their full potential (i.e. achieving Journeyman status). CBF helps black women skill-up, in order to: meet their financial and educational goals, network into better jobs, and support their families.