During our May Community of Practice gathering, Catalyze hosted a conversation on sensible scaling, exploring what it takes to grow impact while maintaining quality, strong partnerships, and long-term sustainability.

Round 3 celebrates local innovation and partnership, investing in programs that connect Birmingham youth to real-world career pathways.

For the past five years, Catalyze has supported innovators across the country working to connect learning with opportunity. At SXSW EDU 2026, we were excited to bring that community together in Austin — sharing lessons, sparking new partnerships, and learning alongside educators, employers, and practitioners building the future of career-connected learning (CCL).

As the Catalyze team heads to SXSW EDU next week, we’re carrying a set of questions rooted in career-connected learning – particularly how we move from early curiosity to meaningful exposure to real opportunity.

Insights from the 2025 Impact Report.

Today, the Catalyze Challenge announced the launch of Round 5, a multi-phase national funding opportunity designed to support bold, early-stage ideas that help young people explore careers, build real-world skills, and discover their purpose. With $4 million in grants and awards, Round 5 aims to expand access to high-quality career-connected learning (CCL) pathways in communities across the country.

When partners take the time to get aligned from the start, everyone benefits. In this Q&A, we unpack how vision-setting shapes stronger employer partnerships and more meaningful learning experiences.

Strong programs start with shared purpose. In this post, we look at how employers and learning providers can collaborate to create experiences that honor learner aspirations while addressing real-world workforce challenges.