Training Academy

At Austin17House, we believe every young person deserves access to basic needs and the skills to thrive. The Training Academy is built around this idea, helping each participant uncover their strengths, passions, and sense of purpose.

**See funding levels & explanations below**

Why Our Youth Need Support 

Since opening our doors in 2017, we have had the privilege of learning from and meeting thousands of local youth and their families. In doing so, we have learned that the needs of our youth and our community members are multi-faceted. Many families in our community struggle to meet their basic needs, and this directly affects their ability to function day to day. When access to healthy food, stable housing, or consistent routines is limited, it impacts everything from a child's ability to focus and manage emotions to a teen's readiness to take on responsibility. Without early opportunities to learn essential life tasks like cooking, cleaning, or managing time, young people often rely on quick fixes or systems that meet immediate needs but do not build lasting skills. Over time, this gap can lead to behavioral challenges, emotional stress, and a missed connection to the pride and satisfaction that come from doing things for yourself.

How Austin17House Steps In: What the Training Academy Offers

The A17H Training Academy is a hands-on learning experience for youth ages 15 to 18 (and motivated 14-year-olds). It helps teens build real-world skills in life, communication, and workplace readiness. The Academy includes structured sessions, weekly real-world activities, mentorship, and self-reflection—designed to help youth feel confident, capable, and ready to take on the adult world.

Curriculum: Workforce Basics at Austin17House 

The Workforce Basics program includes three interactive, youth-centered core sessions, participation in real-world activities, mentoring, and personal development workshops:

• Adulting 101
  We’ll review the everyday tools teens need to navigate life. They learn how to manage time, budget, show up prepared, and take responsibility. These are the skills that support independence.
• People Skills 
  Strong communication, active listening, and teamwork help youth build relationships, handle conflict, and take on leadership. These skills are valuable in every job and in life.
• Workplace Readiness
  Workplace readiness means knowing how to show up on time, follow through, accept feedback, and contribute to a team. These habits help teens get hired and succeed wherever they go.

 Ways You Can Help. Time, Talent, and Treasure

At Austin17House, we believe that programs like this are most powerful when they’re rooted in the community, and that’s where you come in. Whether you're donating time, sharing your talent, or contributing treasure, your involvement makes a difference. 

Giving Levels

One-Time Giving: Your one-time gift helps prepare teens for life, work, and leadership.

$25.00 - Confidence Kit

• Help a teen show up feeling their best. This gift covers hygiene supplies and snacks for a participant during one training session.

$50.00 - Fuel for Learning

• Support a full group dinner. This gift provides a healthy meal for 5 youth during a training session.

$100.00 - Tools for Growth

• Set teens up for success. Your gift funds journals and printed materials for 10 youth throughout the training.

$250.00 - Growth in Action

• Sponsor a hands-on “Level Up” workshop. This covers supplies, planning, and facilitation to bring real-world topics to life.

$500.00 - Pathway Sponsorship

• Support 10 weeks of hands-on career exploration for 1 youth. This helps cover staffing and materials for real-world learning stations.

$1,000.00 - Full Circle Impact

• Transform a teen’s future. Sponsor one participant’s full 10-week Training Academy experience, including core sessions, mentorship, career activities, workshops and the final showcase.

Monthly Giving: Become a Sustaining Supporter and invest in youth every month.

$10.00 - The Spark

• Covers basic supplies for hands-on activities in one session.

$25.00 - The Mentor Match

• Supports regular mentor check-ins for one youth for a full season.

$50.00 - Tools for Growth

• Provides snacks, materials, and hygiene items for one participant