Co-Lab has a new home
— and a cohort starting this summer.
The career pathways program co-created by and for young adults has found a permanent home at Saint Paul Promise (SPP), in partnership with Wilder Foundation and founding partner ECMC Group.
"When young people are seen, supported,
and in charge of their growth,
they change their own lives and
the communities around them."
A natural next chapter in a
cradle-to-career ecosystem.
Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution. Let’s create something meaningful together.
Saint Paul Promise has spent years building a cradle-to-career ecosystem in Saint Paul — connecting families to early learning, stable housing, and economic opportunity at every stage of life.
$1.8M over three years from ECMC Group
Co-Lab's founding partner is seeding this next chapter with a $1.8 million, three-year investment — backing the program's proven model and SPPN's ability to take it further.
"Co-Lab is exactly the kind of program Saint Paul Promise has been working toward — one that meets young adults where they are and connects them to a future they can see for themselves."
— Tiffany Scott Knox, Managing Director, Saint Paul Promise
Two cohorts. One shared belief.
-
A community place-based partnership in North Minneapolis that shares our commitment to supporting young people and families.
-
The second Co-Lab cohort under SPPN launches this fall — continuing the program's growth across the region.
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Javaris Bradford, Program Manager
Javaris brings nearly a decade of education, grant management, and youth programming experience to Co-Lab.
"The alumni from past cohorts aren't just proud of what they've accomplished at Co-Lab, they want to come back and hand that experience to the next group. That's real impact. My job is to make sure we keep this momentum for future generations."
The results speak for themselves.
93%
Completion Rate
100%
Of partners eager to return
16 - 24
Young adults served per cohort
Young adults leave Co-Lab with confidence, clarity, and a plan. If your organization has been part of a cohort — as an employer, educator, mentor, or community partner — you helped prove that this model works. That foundation is what made this next phase possible.