How the PAST is preparing students for the future
Spotlight on the work of the PAST Foundation, an Ohio-based organization chosen for the 2025 Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator. It equips young people with hands-on experiences and industry-recognized credentials for careers in STEM fields.
In the year 2000, two anthropologists, a documentary filmmaker, a graphic designer, and a historian teamed up with an international group of research scientists to launch an innovative organization. Their mission was to bring together anthropology with science and technology to drive improvements in education and link learning to life.
The result was the PAST Foundation – it stands for Partnering Anthropology with Science and Technology. Twenty-five years later, the nonprofit based in Columbus, Ohio, has collaborated with more than 500 business and industry partners and reached more than 2.75 million students and 22,000 educators.
Its programs target youth aged 16 to 30 from underserved communities, equipping them with hands-on experiences and industry-recognized credentials for careers in STEM fields. That includes an internship program for students from 15 to 19 which helps them develop skills through real workplace challenges.
The PAST Foundation has been chosen by the Global Business Coalition for Education to take part in the 2025 Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator. With employers across all sectors in the United States struggling to find young talent with the expertise they need, the Accelerator is part of a nationwide drive to ensure that by 2030 all young Americans will have the skills needed to find work in a rapidly-changing job market.
The Accelerator equips nonprofits with the tools and support they need to make a real difference in the lives of young people from underserved communities.
Marcy Raymond, Chief Strategy Officer at the PAST Foundation, said: “We are working to bridge the gap between education and workforce readiness for underserved youth. By being part of the Accelerator, we hope to enhance our programs with innovative strategies and partnerships that prepare young people for the evolving job market.
“PAST Foundation is excited to collaborate with other innovative nonprofits and industry leaders to enhance our youth workforce development programs.”
A cornerstone of the organization’s work is a series of early college experiences for high school students in rural and urban areas. Among them is the Early IT Microschool, which takes high school students who will be the first in their family to attend college and fast-tracks them into IT careers – through a curriculum that combines college coursework from the University of Cincinnati with practical, industry-aligned skills training.
The Accelerator provides access to a robust network of organizations dedicated to similar goals
Marcy Raymond, Chief Strategy Officer of PAST Foundation
Another approach is EcosySTEM, which collaborates with non-profit partners and school districts in Central Ohio to create a network of interconnected STEM education and career development opportunities. This gives students access to continuous support from early education into career placement.
The foundation’s Power Up Your Potential internship program for youth aged 15 to 19 encourages participants to explore multiple STEM career paths. Interns work directly with clients to produce custom solutions, gaining valuable project-based learning experience.
Industry-recognized certifications are integrated into all programs, covering high-demand areas such as drones, computer-aided design, additive manufacturing, media production, and cybersecurity. There is an emphasis on soft skills development through workshops, teamwork exercises, and leadership training.
Abut 7,000 school students take part in the PAST Foundation’s summer program. And the organization is adding additional microschools, including new ones covering medical technologies and semiconductor technology.
A strategy to expand and enhance the STEM sector microschool programs will be bolstered by taking part in the 2025 Youth Skills and Employment Accelerator.
Raymond said: “The Accelerator provides access to a robust network of organizations dedicated to similar goals, facilitating an exchange of best practices and innovative strategies. This collaborative environment would enable us to learn from other successful models and potentially form strategic partnerships, enhancing our capacity to reach more students.
“Participation would elevate our visibility and credibility nationally, attracting more partners, funders, and participants. This increased recognition would reinforce our position as a leader in STEM education for marginalized communities.”
The PAST Foundation and the other organizations chosen for the 2025 Accelerator will join the alumni network of 28 previous participants which collectively have positively impacted more than 250,000 young people. When they complete the program, nonprofits and their leaders stay in the growing network – helping them to work with others and get peer support.
Businesses that support the Accelerator have opportunities to enhance brand recognition and strengthen community ties. They can also provide pro-bono products and services to support participating organizations.
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