About the World of Work Foundation
The World of Work Foundation was established to ensure that every child—regardless of zip code, socioeconomic background, or circumstance—has the opportunity to discover their unique strengths, interests, and values, and connect them to purpose, career, and contribution.
Born from the acclaimed World of Work Initiative in the Cajon Valley Union School District, the Foundation represents the next chapter of a San Diego–grown innovation that has become a national model for student-centered, career-connected learning. What began as a groundbreaking districtwide approach to integrating career development from transitional kindergarten through high school has evolved into a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to scaling equitable access across the region and beyond.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between K–12 education and the modern workforce by expanding access to high-quality, paid youth apprenticeships and hands-on career exploration experiences. We believe that purpose and possibility should begin in the earliest grades—and that students thrive when learning is relevant, experiential, and aligned with real opportunities in their communities.
Through strategic partnerships with school districts, higher education institutions, industry leaders, and workforce agencies, the World of Work Foundation is preparing the next generation of talent for careers in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, life sciences, health care, and other high-demand sectors vital to San Diego’s economic growth. Our programs empower students to earn while they learn, gain industry-recognized credentials, and build the confidence and skills needed to succeed in work and in life.
Over the past decade, the World of Work model has earned national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education, Getting Smart, and the Aurora Institute as one of the nation’s most effective and scalable frameworks for preparing students for the future of work.
With continued support from visionary partners such as the Prebys and Girard Foundation, the World of Work Foundation is expanding this impact—serving thousands more students across San Diego County and setting a new standard for what career-connected education can look like: equitable, experiential, and rooted in purpose.
Because when purpose starts early, potential knows no limits!
It started with a simple question in the Cajon Valley Union School District: What if every student discovered their purpose before they graduated?
In 2016, our educators set out to transform traditional education by bringing career awareness and self-discovery into the classroom—beginning in kindergarten. Guided by the RIASEC framework, we connected academic learning to real-world pathways, helping even our youngest learners explore who they are and how they fit into the world of work.
What began as a local initiative quickly became a movement. Classrooms became career labs. Students met industry professionals, participated in hands-on simulations, and saw themselves in roles ranging from engineers and artists to nurses and builders. Partnerships with families, community organizations, and employers turned abstract lessons into living experiences.
Today, the World of Work has grown beyond Cajon Valley—sharing its model with districts across the country. The vision remains the same: Happy kids, engaged in healthy relationships, on a path to gainful employment.