FROM PREPARATION TO SUSTAINABLE CAREERS
Helping young adults build the foundation for economic mobility.
The gap is not the absence of programs. It is the absence of a coordinated system that supports young adults on the path to meaningful careers and long-term prosperity.
Bridge Over Troubled Water (BOTW) helps young adults navigate the systems and opportunities that shape their future. We connect career preparation, real-world experience, trusted relationships, and practical resources so young adults can better understand their options, make informed decisions, and move toward greater stability and economic mobility.
— HOW BOTW BRIDGES THE GAP
Shared effort. Stronger outcomes.
BOTW’s role is to bridge the gap between young adults and the systems meant to support them by making it easier to navigate resources, access the right opportunities, and move from one step to the next with greater continuity and direction.
Develop greater career clarity, confidence, practical skills, real-world experience, and relationships that help them make informed choices and continue progressing.
Career Builders
Employers
Gain a stronger connection to emerging workers while contributing industry insight, workplace exposure, mentorship, and early career experiences that improve preparation and onboarding.
The Richmond Region
Benefits from a more connected workforce ecosystem where organizations align their strengths, reduce gaps between services, and create clearer routes into careers that support long-term stability and regional prosperity.
— WHY WE EXIST
Richmond has strong resources. Greater alignment can make them even more powerful.
Richmond has no shortage of programs, employers, training options, or community resources. The challenge is helping young adults move between them without losing momentum. BOTW helps young adults navigate those connections, identify the pathways that align with their goals, and move forward with greater clarity and direction.
11.6%
Richmond unemployment, ages 20 to 24. 2024 estimate.
18.2%
Richmond overall poverty rate. 2020 to 2024 ACS.
~12%
U.S. ages 16 to 24 not in work, school, or training. 2024 estimate.
Figures describe different populations and are not BOTW outcomes. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 ACS and 2020 to 2024 ACS; Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, 2025.
— THE BIGGER PICTURE
Young adults are better positioned to thrive when they can see what’s possible and how to get there.
74%
of young people say greater access to information about career and education options would expand the possibilities they see for themselves. (1)
64%
of young adults who did not pursue a nondegree option say they would have considered one if they had known more about these opportunities. (2)
71%
of young adults pursuing nondegree education-to-career options report feeling prepared for the workforce. (2)
— THE LAUNCH PILOT
Connecting learning to real-world experience can create a stronger foundation for career growth and long-term stability.
HVAC
BOTW’s first pilot cohort will connect Career Builders to career exploration, training, and hands-on opportunities in construction and the skilled trades.
Electrical
Plumbing & Pipefitting
Construction
Carpentry