The Boys & Girls Clubs of America are better known for homework help and volunteering opportunities than for cutting-edge career development. But ask the kids in some of the Boys & Girls Clubs across states such as Indiana, Montana, and Washington, and they might say they’re surrounded by high-tech tools that help them envision their future.

Lana Taylor, executive director of the Indiana Alliance of the Boys & Girls Clubs, says her staff began to look for ways to reengage students—especially middle schoolers—as the pandemic eased and kids returned to in-person programs. Since most kids love technology and hands-on learning, Taylor thought it was only natural to develop programming that uses both.

In February 2022, the Indiana Boys & Girls Clubs launched a partnership with immersive technology startup Transfr to introduce students in 10 of its clubs to new career and workforce opportunities. The collaboration dovetailed with a new emphasis on workforce readiness at the Indiana Department of Education. Now, the partnership between Transfr and the clubs is expanding to 21 additional clubs across Indiana, thanks to a grant from the state.

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