The Career Literacy for the Advancement of all Youth (CLAAY) program is a project of Duquesne University's Center for Competitive Workforce Development (CCWD). This program kicked off in Fall 2003 with the goal of impacting the regional economy by providing high school youth in the 'invisible middle' with career information, activities, and guidance to help prepare them to realize their future career goals.

The economic competitiveness of the Southwestern Pennsylvania region is dependent upon a highly prepared workforce. Research done at CCWD indicates that the educational attainment and career readiness of regional high school students does not meet the current or future demands of the region. Further, African Americans are disproportionately affected by this trend. In essence, the future economic success of the region and its workers are invariably linked and at risk. The Center for Competitive Workforce Development found that one of the factors associated with this risk was a student population cut-off from many of the resources needed to produce a successful workforce.

The CLAAY program was created as direct response to this problem. Research to target methods of solving the region's economic crisis led CLAAY to identify barriers to educational attainment and career achievement that impacted all future members of the workforce, but African Americans in particular.

CLAAY attacks these problems in two fundamental ways, through Career Mentoring and Basic Skills development. CLAAY utilizes trained adult mentors to help students overcome the barriers to 'job readiness'

Mentoring takes place during the school year from September through May. Mentors spend an hour twice a month with students and utilize the CLAAY curriculum and toolkit to guide students through themes of career literacy. The curriculum was created in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Public Schools Department of Career and Technical Education.

CLAAY further supplements the enrichment experience for students with special events that occur throughout the year. These include a Job Shadow Day, a summer SAT Preparation Session, Quarterly Parents' Meetings, various career workshops given throughout the year, guest speakers, a summer picnic, a legal case study done in partnership with a local law firm, and an annual recognition event.

CLAAY provides high school students that are 'on the bubble' with career information, activities, and guidance that help students to realize their future career goals. Students will have the tools needed to shape their career futures and the economic future of southwestern Pennsylvania.