The Perkins Grant, officially known as the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, funds programs that prepare students for life after high school and community college. These initiatives provide career readiness workshops and CTE (Career & Technical Education) programs that connect classroom learning with real-world skills.

At Careers by the People, our mission is unique: unlike many career speakers who primarily focus on educators, we speak directly with students. By combining Perkins Grant funding with engaging, student-focused workshops, schools can help young people explore career paths and gain the confidence to enter the workforce.

Why Perkins Grant Programs Matter

Perkins Grant career readiness programs give schools and community colleges the resources to:

• Provide tactical career exploration workshops for students using real world examples
• Strengthen ties and workforce understanding between classrooms and employers
• Support underrepresented students, including low-income individuals and those with disabilities, GenZ, First-Generation and more.
• Ensure graduates are workforce-ready with both credentials and practical skills

In locations such as Los Angeles, Orange County, Oahu, Hawaii and the Boston area, Perkins funding makes it possible to host high-quality, student-focused career readiness programs.

Workforce Alignment

Career readiness workshops funded by Perkins Grants assist employers in growing industries such as:

• Healthcare
• Information technology
• Advanced manufacturing
• Renewable energy

This ensures that students are learning the in-demand skills that local businesses need. In regions like Los Angeles and across the West Coast, Perkins programs help close skill gaps while giving graduates a head start in their careers. As they will learn soft/professional/power skills; Networking, LinkedIn, public speaking, teamwork, leadership skills will be emphasized.

Equity and Access for All Students

Perkins funding expands access by prioritizing underserved groups. By covering cost for career readiness workshops, schools remove financial barriers and create equal opportunities for:

• Low-income students
• Students with disabilities
• First-generation and underrepresented groups

This focus ensures every student, regardless of background, can prepare for a meaningful career.

[H2] Experiential Learning Opportunities

Career readiness is more than just classroom theory. There is more to it than just RIASAC. With Perkins-funded programs, students gain:

• Internships and apprenticeships

• Job shadowing experiences

• Industry-standard training using real-world examples and stories

• Understanding and real-world examples of networking

These career exploration opportunities for high school students make them more attractive to employers and confident about their next steps.

Take the Next Step

If your high school or community college is seeking a career readiness speaker in Los Angeles, Orange County, Boston, Oahu, Hawaii or beyond, Perkins funding can make it possible.

Learn more about our career readiness workshops or explore the Careers by the People book to see how we help students take charge of their futures.

Contact us today to discuss how Perkins funding can bring impactful, student-focused career workshops to your school.