For many of California’s students, school feels irrelevant to their future success, leading many to disengageβ€”or drop out altogether.

The Magnolia Project is a new approach that bridges K-12 students’ education today with their dreams for the future by connecting their schools with local businesses:

SCHOOLS

Magnolia Project partners with schools and districts to embed career exploration and apprenticeship pathways into the school day and year.

β€œGuerneville School loves our partnership with Magnolia Project. It gives our students real world, life and work experience, and they enjoy every minute of it. It prepares students for the workplace, it connects them with their community. It builds their confidence all the way around.”

– Sarah Deering, vice principal, Guerneville School

BUSINESSES

Magnolia Project upfront training and ongoing support that makes it easy and rewarding for trusted industry mentors within local businesses to guide students through hands-on experiences.

β€œThe Magnolia Project opens a little window into our world for high school students to see what it's like to work for a small scale organic family farm. Students are so interested and engaged with learning a little bit more about where their food comes from. I love having them on the farm, I love their energy and curiosity. And even if they decide farming is not for them, that experience is just as valuable.”

– Kristin Morrison, Preston Farm and Winery

Read more about the challenge we’re addressing, and our solution to solving it.

The Magnolia Project connects hundreds of middle and high school students in grades 7-12 across Northern California (including Sonoma, Marin, and Napa counties) with dozens of local businesses, where they build durable skills through personalized career exploration as well as hands-on experiences alongside trusted industry mentors.

Our Programs

  • Career Exploration Pathway

    β€œThe Magnolia Career Exploration Pathway has prepared me for success in college and career because I have learned various skills such as patience, communication skills, social skills, and more.”

    -Kyra, Guerneville School

  • Apprenticeship Pathway

    β€œThe Magnolia Project Apprenticeship Program was the most important two weeks of my whole high school career. It showed me what I would like to pursue in the future and gave me hands-on experience.”

    - Luciano, Marin Oaks High School

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