The Rising Stars Program, a nonprofit that aims to close the skilled labor gap by connecting young adults with career pathways in construction, has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston to co-launch Trade Trailblazers, an eight-week summer internship and career exploration program designed to introduce Boston teens to careers in the skilled trades.
Starting in summer 2026, Trade Trailblazers will provide students ages 17–18 with the opportunity to explore four to six different union trades through hands-on technical training, safety certifications and career readiness workshops. Each participant then will select two trades to explore further.
By combining Rising Stars’ industry connections with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s community pipeline, the program will deliver real-world experience to students while providing local trade unions and contractors with a skilled pool of young talent when the construction industry faces a worker shortage.
Through the Trade Trailblazers program, the Rising Stars Program and Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston aim to ensure Boston’s young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, gain equitable access to opportunity and are positioned to contribute to the city’s economic growth.
