Launchpad is a “learn-and-earn” workforce program that prepares Philadelphia youth to thrive in a rapidly changing economy by building AI fluency alongside the durable and in-demand skills employers need. Students earn credentials through paid, applied work-based learning at every step, preparing them to move on to college, job training programs, or directly into high-wage careers. Our three-year model begins in 11th grade and continues through the critical first year beyond high school—rethinking this pivotal transition so that young people step into adulthood with choice, confidence, and a direct pathway into the future economy.