American Access Institute Selected for AWS Education Equity Initiative to Expand Career Readiness Technology

September 16, 2025

American Access Institute (AAI) announced today that it has been selected for the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Education Equity Initiative. Through this initiative, AAI will use AWS AI and cloud technology to further expand its Catapult Initiative, a career-readiness program designed to help teens and young adults facing adversity—including foster youth, justice-involved youth, and other underserved populations—explore meaningful career pathways and prepare for future success.

Launched in 2024, the AWS Education Equity Initiative supports organizations developing innovative digital learning solutions that improve educational access and outcomes for underserved learners around the world.

"Being selected for the AWS Education Equity Initiative represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen Catapult's technology infrastructure and expand access to career-readiness resources for young people who may not otherwise have these opportunities," said Dr. Pamela M. Donnelly, Founder of American Access Institute.

Catapult combines interactive career exploration, mentorship tools, and workforce readiness resources to help students make informed decisions about their futures. The platform incorporates labor market information and guides students through practical pathways, including trade education, military service, technology upskilling, entrepreneurship, and higher education opportunities.

Using AWS cloud services, AAI plans to continue enhancing Catapult's scalability and capabilities, including AI-powered career exploration tools and real-time progress tracking for mentors and educators. AWS services such as Amazon SageMaker, Amazon RDS, and Amazon CloudFront help support a dependable, secure, and personalized learning experience.

AAI is currently accepting applications from schools and nonprofit organizations interested in providing pro bono access to Catapult for the youth they serve.

About American Access Institute

American Access Institute (AAI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing barriers to career readiness and opportunity for teens and young adults facing adversity. Through innovative technology, virtual mentorship, and workforce readiness programming, AAI helps young people explore pathways to sustainable careers and greater economic mobility.

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Powered by AWS cloud technology through the AWS Education Equity Initiative.