Opening Doors, Opening Futures: A Remarkable Fall for CLA Students

This fall, something powerful has been happening across Northeast Ohio, a quiet but meaningful shift as students step into boardrooms, labs, healthcare wings, manufacturing floors, and community-centered workplaces. Through the Career Leadership Academy, our students have been welcomed into spaces that many of them never imagined they would see at this stage of their lives. And each visit has opened a new door.

From the moment they walked into LorMet Credit Union, the energy was unmistakable, students seeing how finance connects to people’s everyday lives. At Cox Communications, they peered behind the scenes of a world that keeps us connected. At the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, they discovered the essential work that keeps our communities safe and sustainable. Jennings provided a meaningful look into the heart of compassionate care, while Cleveland Clinic South Pointe illuminated the teamwork and precision behind modern healthcare.

Secure Recycling, nVent, and MRI introduced students to industries that most had never even heard of, yet left inspired by the passion of the professionals who welcomed them in.

Each host site experience brought something priceless:

conversations with real people who generously shared their career journeys, reflections on their teenage years, and the advice they wish they’d had at that age. Students heard about job shadowing, internships, and future employment opportunities right here in Northeast Ohio. They also built critical leadership, communication, and workplace skills that will guide them as they grow into successful young professionals.

And behind each of these moments is something equally powerful: you.

These experiences simply would not be possible without the incredible support behind the scenes. We have volunteers who show up and give their time, partners who open their doors and provide lunches for our students, and community members who offer financial support to ensure these programs remain accessible. Your generosity and willingness to invest in students you may never meet create life-changing opportunities.

This fall, we have watched students stand a little taller, speak a little more confidently, and begin to see themselves in futures they once thought were out of reach. That spark is because of you.

Thank you for believing in students who are working toward a successful future. Thank you for helping us build it alongside them.

Together, we are not just preparing leaders.

We are changing lives.

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