knowledge of careers, inc.

Across the United States, few comprehensive high school career development programs exist, making professional exposure a haphazard process that is entirely dependent on the social circumstances of each child. Such conditions lend themselves to inequity. Knowledge of Careers Inc. (K.O.C.) was founded in 2015 with two main goals: 1) provide underprivileged youth an avenue to explore and gain insight into novel careers; and 2) emphasize the importance of academic success by highlighting its relationship to professional success. Frequently, underprivileged youth are disengaged with high school because the information they are taught is not explained as it relates to careers, their future and professional success. To expose our kids to careers we partner with a wide range of local professionals who give in-school presentations about their professions, the path they took to get there, and the importance of high school academics. Over the course of our multi-year program our teens are exposed to careers through weekly presentations, are given the proper tools and channels to network with speakers, will arrange internships in their field of interest, and are guided through the college application process in tandem with existing college counseling programs. Our program is founded on the interconnected values of academic success, professional excellence, leadership, career exploration and social justice. The program attempts to keep the spectrum of careers as broad as possible in the hope that each child will be introduced to, and become interested in, at least one career, of which they were previously unaware. We have had presentations from professionals ranging from Architects to Pediatric Neurosurgeons and Engineers. When arranging speakers we focus on having at least one speaker from all eight of our professional categories: Academic, Cultural, Industry, Medical, Public Service, Science, Transport and Technology. Contact Us info@knowledgeofcareers.org