IMPACT Program

At One Dream, we believe students deserve more than help getting in. They deserve someone who stays with them as they move through their next step and into a career that can sustain them.

The IMPACT Program, Investing in Mentorship, Pathways, Achievement, Careers, and Transition, provides tailored support for students pursuing college, skilled trades, technical training, military service, apprenticeships, or other postsecondary pathways that lead to thriving careers.

Our Transition Specialists use a proactive advising model. That means we don’t wait for students to fall through the cracks. We check in, help them plan, solve problems early, and stay connected through enrollment, persistence, completion, and the transition into work.

For students pursuing 2- and 4- year college degrees. 

This pathway is dedicated to helping students navigate college and university systems, ensuring they have access to the resources and mentorship needed to succeed. The program offers:

• Postsecondary Readiness: Transitioning from high school to college can be a daunting experience. Our program ensures that students feel prepared by offering pre-college workshops, summer bridge programs, and comprehensive support in the first year.
• Financial Empowerment & Scholarships: We work with students to identify financial aid opportunities, guide them through the FAFSA process, and help them secure scholarships that minimize their student debt burden.
• Ongoing Mentorship & Support: Our team of mentors and transition advisors continues to support students throughout their college years—connecting them with internships, networking opportunities, career fairs, and job search resources.

 For students interested in hands-on careers, this pathway provides access to industry-driven apprenticeship programs and the skilled trades. Through this pathway, students gain:

• Apprenticeship Navigation: Students receive one-on-one support from our transition specialists who help them navigate the process of entering apprenticeship programs, ensuring they understand the opportunities available to them and how to apply.
• Union Partnerships: We partner with over 15 trade unions to provide students with preferential access to union apprenticeships that offer paid training, benefits, raises, and guaranteed long-term career opportunities.
• Earn While You Learn: Students gain income while they learn, developing skills in fields like construction, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, and more, with a clear path to job security and career growth.
• On-the-Job Support: Our transition advisors stay engaged with students through the entirety of their apprenticeship, ensuring that students have access to wraparound services like financial counseling, academic tutoring, and career guidance. 

The IMPACT Program aims to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Increase access to postsecondary pathways for low-income and first-generation students. 
2. Improve persistence and completion through year-round advising, mentorship, and academic support. 
3. Expand awareness of, and access to, skilled trades, apprenticeships, technical training, military service, and other career-connected options. 
4. Help students complete the pathway they choose and move into thriving, livable-wage careers.  
5. Build financial self-sufficiency and create stronger foundations for generational prosperity.