American Access Institute

AAI accelerates workforce readiness so that youth facing adversity transition out of care with a clear, actionable plan for their future. We empower community partners with the tools, technology, and professional support to transform trauma into trajectory.

Building Scalable Career Pathways for America's Next-Generation Workforce

AAI collaborates with the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies on generative AI and has earned multiple Amazon Web Services Education Equity Awards, which helped fund upgrades to the Catapult Initiative's 24/7 technology. Deloitte provides pro bono strategic consulting, and an AAI board member who works at Microsoft leads the organization's ethical AI governance. Together, these resources power trauma-informed professional development, 24/7 mentorship technology, and backend data analytics that drive systemic change.

Who AAI Serves

American Access Institute partners with mission-driven organizations that open doors for teens and young adults facing adversity, including:

Community-based nonprofits supporting youth facing adversity
Foster care programs
Juvenile justice and diversion programs
Charter and alternative high schools
Sobriety, recovery, and reentry organizations
Programs for pregnant and parenting teens

Workforce development programs led by cities, counties, and regional agencies
Youth employment and apprenticeship partnerships
Mentorship and leadership growth initiatives
Independent-living service providers
And many more organizations that help teens and young adults explore career pathways with confidence.

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Transform Youth Workforce Readiness

Be the First to Read AAI's In-Depth Report on What Works

Workforce Readiness for Youth Facing Adversity: Evidence, Responsible AI, and Scaling What Works combines two years of AAI cohort data with a review of rigorous research from youth programs across the U.S. and internationally. The report explores what helps young people facing adversity build lasting careers.

Opt in, and AAI will send the full report to your inbox on release day:

Evidence Review: Clear takeaways from leading studies of youth workforce programs nationwide and abroad.

Responsible AI in Practice: How AAI translates those findings into technology that pairs advanced AI with human-centered, trauma-informed support.
Scaling What Works: A practical path, grounded in the research and AAI's own results, for funders, practitioners, and decision-makers ready to grow effective programs.

“Education is salvation from exploitation.”

Dr. Pamela M. Donnelly, Founder

AAI believes career readiness protects young people. When teens and young adults facing adversity see a clear path to good work, they gain options, confidence, and the power to say no to anyone who would exploit them. The Catapult Initiative gives partner organizations the technology, training, and data to build that path together.