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Public Service Pathway: Preparing Youth for Safety and Service Careers

CCE’s Public Service Pathway prepares young people for meaningful careers in safety, service, and civic leadership roles. Through structured pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship experiences, youth explore public service professions, gain hands-on experience, and receive the supports they need to succeed in career-aligned pathways.

This pathway fosters strong community ties by helping young people build the skills, confidence, and purpose needed to serve their communities. Grounded in CCE’s collaborative approach, the Public Service Pathway reinforces the importance of civic responsibility, leadership, and community engagement.

CCE apprenticeship graduates

Preparing the Next Generation of Civic Professionals

The Public Service Pathway supports youth interested in careers such as:

  • Public safety roles
  • Municipal service positions
  • Community-facing careers requiring leadership, discipline, and civic awareness

Each participant receives coaching, mentoring, and opportunities to develop career readiness while contributing to their local community.

Integrated Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Opportunities

CCE’s Public Service Pathway includes two key stages aligned with workforce development models: pre-apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships.

Old City hall front

Public Service Pre-Apprenticeship

Participants enrolled in the pre-apprentice program:

  • Explore public service careers
  • Receive training that builds foundational knowledge
  • Engage in applied, experiential learning opportunities
  • Connect with community mentors
  • Participate in elective, credit-bearing classes during the school day

The pre-apprenticeship experience helps youth understand the expectations and responsibilities of public service roles, while developing strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

Group of people picking up trash in a public park

Public Service Apprenticeship

Upon completing the pre-apprenticeship, participants may enroll in the Public Service Apprenticeship Program, which includes:

  • Supervision and mentoring
  • Paid on-the-job training
  • Weekly salary (up to $600) for a 35-hour per week apprenticeship
  • Real-world responsibilities aligned with municipal and civic sectors

Career Outcomes

Completion of the two-year apprenticeship, along with passing the civil service exam, leads to:

  • Guaranteed civil service employment with the City of Boston

Participants may also pursue:

  • A career as a police officer (by taking the police exam)
  • Other public safety or municipal service careers

Supporting Youth to Serve Their Communities

The Public Service Pathway is designed to:

  • Foster civic-mindedness and responsibility
  • Build a skilled public service workforce
  • Develop strong relationships between youth and municipal partners
  • Strengthen local pipelines for public service careers
  • Support long-term engagement in community leadership

This pathway creates opportunities for young people to enter stable, meaningful careers that directly benefit the communities where they live and learn.

Teens in a library

Together, let’s build a brighter future for our communities through collaborative education.

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