When Sade Switzer first encountered CARA, she was working at Metropolitan High School, a community partner of Phipps Neighborhoods. CARA’s training courses stood out as a resource that could help build a shared understanding of college access across an entire organization. During this time period, as Sade explained, “we were kind of in different schools, in our own ecosystems, doing our own thing.”
Years later, when Phipps Neighborhoods made postsecondary pathways a larger organizational priority, Sade was promoted to Director of College Access across programs and knew CARA was the right partner to help bring that vision to life. As the organization strengthened its college and career pathways work, CARA became a key partner in helping staff develop the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to support students as they navigate their futures. The College Access Team at Phipps expanded in the past two years from being a team of two individuals to a team of six, and CARA has been instrumental, as Sade mentioned, in “Meeting my team where they are, and bringing them up to where I need them to be.”
For Sade, one of the greatest strengths of the partnership has been CARA’s ability to meet staff where they are and build their expertise over time. Phipps’ college and career team is made up of professionals with deep strengths in case management and youth engagement, and CARA has helped them develop the specialized knowledge needed to guide students through complex postsecondary decisions. As Sade mentioned, the partnership goes beyond delivering a curriculum; it focuses on strengthening practice. During early professional development sessions, CARA helped staff think critically about the environments where learning happens, encouraging them to consider whether physical spaces and program structures truly supported students’ engagement. Together, the teams built a scope and sequence tailored to Phipps’ students and staff’s needs. When Phipps identified areas where staff needed additional preparation, CARA responded with customized professional development, scenario-based learning, and practical guidance.
Today, CARA’s College Inquiry curriculum and professional development are embedded across multiple Phipps programs, including three community school high schools, Work, Learn, Grow, and Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) programming. Through these efforts, students engage in lessons that help them explore college, careers, and the many decisions involved in planning for life after high school. As Phipps continues to build its college and career team, Sade sees CARA as an important partner in developing a strong foundation for new staff and ensuring that young people receive consistent, informed support. Through shared learning, training, and collaboration, CARA and Phipps help more students imagine and successfully pursue the next steps in their journeys.