On-Demand

Episode 1: Start Small, Think Big: Meet the roadtrippers and other inspiring people changing the world on a local, countrywide, and global level. Along the way, the roadtrippers learn making small positive changes in their own communities can slowly add up to changing the entire world around them.

Episode 2: From the Ground Up: How do you build a better world? One small change at a time. The roadtrippers meet with public service professionals doing their part to pave the way to a more just and equitable society.

Episode 3: A New World: Change is always happening—the best we can do is influence it in a positive direction. The roadtrippers meet leaders working to do just that, and reflect back on how they can do the same.

Watch On-Demand

More Roadtrip Nation Specials

 

Career Center series collection of career sector stories produced by Detroit Public TV.

Watch Career Center Series Short Docs

Watch all 8 episodes:

Information Technology

Ep10 | 26m 45s

Careers in Public Service

Ep7 | 26m 45s

Healthcare Careers

Ep6 | 26m 45s

High Tech Manufacturing Careers

Ep5 | 26m 45s

Careers in Transportation

Ep4 | 26m 45s

Careers in Building Trades

Ep3 | 26m 45s

Careers in Sports and Athletics

Ep2 | 26m 45s

Early Childhood Education Careers

Ep1 | 26m 45s

 

Dropping Back In features half-hour programs which introduce people that left school and are now reconnecting to education and training opportunities. The stories show the issues they face and the people and programs helping them to succeed in continuing their education and furthering their work opportunities.

While they face similar struggles, each person’s story is unique, complicated, messy, revealing, and compelling. The result is a series of documentaries that are both enlightening and inspiring and include a diverse mix of people,
programs, experts, and explanations.

Watch Episodes:

Building a Better Life: Between 2012 and 2022, the U.S. is projected to need more than 500,000 new carpenter and construction laborers. Yet, as Stephen Hernandez, director of the boatbuilding apprentice program at the Alexandria Seaport Foundation says, “People don’t work with their hands anymore.” In fact, there are two million jobs available today that are going unfilled because there are no skilled workers available.

Building a Better Life looks at successful apprentice and training-based programs preparing under-educated and unemployed people for available jobs by teaching academic, life, and employment skills while learning a valuable trade. The “Dropping Back In” episode also features Cafe Hope, a culinary apprentice program in New Orleans, and The Makers Coalition of Minneapolis, a training program in sewing manufacturing. The latter of the two began when a local company discovered a successful niche in making domestically manufactured high-end leather goods, but couldn’t find enough skilled workers. Their dilemma led to a partnership with a local technical college to develop a course and train people in need of marketable skills.

Watch Building a Better Life | Construyendo una vida mejor

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Second Chances – High school dropouts, educators, and researchers introduce the economic and personal costs of dropping out, why a high school equivalency is no longer enough, and the benefits of dropouts gaining second chances. Two former dropouts, Kellie Blair Hardt, homeless as a child, now an award-winning teacher, and Hasan Davis, former commissioner of juvenile justice for the state of Kentucky, tell their stories.

Watch Second Chances | Segundas opportunidades

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Complicated Lives – Why does it take many dropouts years to attain a high school equivalency? Why do so many former dropouts struggle in college? The challenges faced by many go far beyond academics. Featured programs include Academy of Hope in Washington, DC, a community-based program that works with inner city adults, and Enemy Swim Day School in South Dakota, where children and parents learn together. Tricia Amos, a member of the Dakota Sioux tribe, tells her story.

Watch Complicated Lives: | Vidas complicadas

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Working for the Future– In order for America’s dropouts to attain college and career readiness, institutions must change. This program looks at innovative programs that are achieving success, including Lake Area Technical College in SD, which works closely with employers to make sure students gain marketable skills; the Academy for College Excellence, a one-semester program developed By Cabrillo (CA) College to assist under-prepared college students and achieving retention and completion rates far beyond traditional community colleges; and the Makers, a coalition of manufacturers and community colleges working to train much-needed workers that can help keep high-skills manufacturing in America. 

Watch Working for the Future | Trabajar por el futuro

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More Than A Statistic – The longer someone is out of school the less likely they are to go back. This program looks at programs designed to get young dropouts back on course. Featured are Pedro Albizu Campos High School in Chicago, where a community-based curriculum incorporates Puerto Rican culture; YouthBuild, a national program combining academics with mentoring and construction career training; and ChalleNG Academy, a National Guard program for dropouts and potential dropouts.

More Than A Statistic | Más que estadísticas

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How can career technical education programs help students explore in-demand career fields while still in high school?

Exploring Career Technical Education programs can lead to a career immediately out of high school. Many students have options to go on for more training and education paid for by their employers.  Career Technical Programs are also available to adults looking to gain new skills or transition to a new career field. BOCES programs are available to high school students and also adults as separate offerings. Also find career training programs by industry and union groups to increase the number of trained people in the field.

 

Welding is a good career track that you can train for while still in high school and leads to a variety of career options.

Students can get hired immediately out of high school for this in-demand career. 

Meet three women that got into the craft brewing industry through a variety of career pathways.

Pursing Your Field of Interest: Co-Head Brewer, Jen Meyers had a passion to enter the brewing industry that was met with resistance. She found by continuing in her efforts she could prove her worth and be known for her skill. More and more women are entering the sector which is encouraging.

Transitioning From the Wine Industry To Craft Brewing: Assistant Brewer Ashley McCaffrey pushes back against the idea that women aren’t in every area of the brewing industry. She finds them in every area of the industry and sees them doing incredible work. She worked in wine industry after getting her degree at Finger Lakes Community College in Vitaculture and Wine Technology and had a few years experience. She transitioned to craft brewing because the work was less seasonal in nature.

Shadowing and Networking for a Career Change: Brewer Nikki Forster describes how shadowing a friend and networking in the business led her to a career change to the craft brewing industry.

 

Machining crosses many career sectors.  You can train in and explore this field while you are still in high school.

Machining is in our everyday lives through the products we use. Many career sectors require machining. High school students can train in this field through career technical education classes, training, and co-op internships to explore their interests.