Leading companies partner with NAF, to build a future ready workforce – aligning their industry expertise, community leadership, and pipeline development needs with NAF’s proven educational design.
Structured relationships between NAF academies and corporate partners create a dramatic impact for students beyond what a great school, part-time job, or even a strong coaching relationship can achieve on its own. Companies partner with NAF not only to have a lasting, positive impact on student outcomes, but to help shape their future workforce, build a positive culture in their organizations, and fulfill their corporate social responsibility goals.
NAF’s work with other education leaders also helps realize our shared vision of a world in which all young people have the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to thrive. All of this work would not be possible without the support of our generous funders. Click on the logos of the highlighted partners to learn how they work with NAF.
In 2014, Lenovo began its partnership with NAF to bring mobile app development curriculum to NAF academies. Through the Lenovo Scholar Network, NAF students develop mobile apps and create business plans to bring their apps to market, enabling the next generation of developers and entrepreneurs. In 2017, Lenovo expanded Lenovo Scholar Network to serve more students and hosted dozens of internships for the first time. Lenovo also hosts work-based learning events called “Lenovo in the Classroom” – bringing business professionals into NAF academies across the country.
Optum is participating in NAF’s latest initiative – the NAF Future Ready Lab. This innovative internship concept was designed by NAF and will be piloted in the summer of 2017 in select cities throughout the United States. The NAF Future Ready Lab powered by Optum is the first of its kind in healthcare. The Lab provides high school students an opportunity to complete a project of value for a corporate sponsor. Through a multi-week experience, dozens of student interns are provided professional skill-building workshops, project mentors, and college exposure.
World Wide Technology has partnered with Jennings School District in St. Louis to lead the charge in reimagining the high school experience for students throughout the region by offering rigorous and relevant STEM pathways. They have supported NAF’s work-based learning efforts through a variety of meaningful experiences while engaging their employees to help foster public-private partnerships to support NAF academies and, in turn, transform their communities.
