The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has earned a three‑year, $2,063,341 investment from the Danville Regional Foundation to strengthen and broaden service and work-based learning opportunities for high school students, college students and emerging workers across Danville, Pittsylvania County and Caswell County. This major investment will allow IALR to scale five proven programs and introduce three new, innovative initiatives to address emerging regional needs.
The investment will allow IALR to both launch new programs and strengthen proven models, from expanded AmeriCorps service opportunities to high‑quality internships, registered apprenticeships, job shadowing, teacher externships and new strategies to address transportation barriers.
Over three years, these combined efforts are expected to support at least 2,300 participants.
This investment reinforces IALR’s decade‑long record of helping youth and adults explore career pathways, gain hands‑on experience and build durable skills that support long‑term economic mobility. It also builds on ongoing support from local governments, employers, and state and federal partners, reflecting the way IALR weaves together multiple funding sources to increase regional impact.
“We are grateful for this investment as it increases our ability to connect learners of all ages with high‑quality, real‑world experiences that lead to meaningful careers. By expanding what works and launching innovative new programs, we’re building a regional talent ecosystem that meets people where they are and supports their long‑term economic mobility.” Melanie Lewis, Ph.D., Vice President, IALR Advanced Learning
“The Danville Regional Foundation has invested heavily in IALR’s efforts to help this region grow and thrive over the years, and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing commitment,” said Telly Tucker, President of IALR. “This newest investment builds on that strong foundation and empowers us to serve even more students, educators and employers. The impact of DRF’s support can be seen in every corner of the region.” – Telly Tucker, President, IALR
Expansions and enhancements of existing programs
These five areas build on IALR’s strong foundation of service-learning and work-based learning, deepening reach, strengthening infrastructure and widening access.
Service-learning expansion with AmeriCorps
IALR will grow its established partnership with Serve Virginia and AmeriCorps, supporting at least 30 members annually with enhanced training opportunities. This expansion builds on a decade of demonstrated impact through IALR’s Dan River Year AmeriCorps program, which has supported hundreds of students and delivered nearly 200,000 hours of community service. The increased focus on aligning service roles with career interests will deepen member preparation for post-service employment and help opportunity youth build durable skills that improve long-term career outcomes.
Internship growth through regional partnerships
IALR will increase the number of high-quality internships for high school and college students each year. The addition of a three-day bootcamp — featuring AI-driven simulations and workplace readiness coaching — will help interns strengthen their communication, professionalism and problem-solving skills before entering their placements. These efforts build on strong partnerships already in place with local governments and education institutions, which have collectively supported more than 150 interns over the last three years.
Registered apprenticeship expansion and a strengthened pipeline
IALR will expand registered apprenticeship opportunities for youth and adults by supporting employers with launching new programs and strengthening existing ones. As a state-recognized apprenticeship intermediary, IALR will continue helping companies recruit, train and retain apprentices in high-demand industries such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, IT and public safety. The addition of a new evidence-based pre-apprenticeship model will further enhance the pipeline, preparing up to 25 individuals annually with foundational skills and structured exposure before entering a full apprenticeship.
Low time investment work-based learning models
IALR will expand successful short-duration programs — including AspHIRE Mock Interviews and Next generation Of Work (NOW) Teamship — to reach more students with meaningful career exposure. These models require minimal time from employers yet provide students with impactful experiences that build confidence, communication skills and early career awareness.
Reimagined ExCITE teacher externships
IALR will grow its well-established Exploring Careers through Industry Teacher Externships (ExCITE) program by adding an academic year pathway that complements its long-standing summer offering. This approach will make the opportunity more accessible to educators whose schedules, responsibilities or school calendars prevent summer participation. By embedding teachers in local industries, ExCITE helps them translate real-world workforce expectations into classroom instruction, ultimately strengthening students’ understanding of how academic content connects to high-demand careers.
New initiatives launched through this investment
These three components introduce entirely new strategies to IALR’s portfolio of work-based learning strategies to meet unmet needs in the region.
Job Shadowing
IALR will launch a pilot job shadowing program targeting 280 9th and 10th grade students each year. Job shadowing is a short-term commitment WBL experience that connects students to local employers early, helping to develop the requisite relationships and knowledge required for longer-term WBL experiences. By targeting 9th & 10th grade, IALR is also connecting middle school students’ Great Opportunities in Technology & Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) and other career exploration experiences to high school CTE programs (in 11th & 12th grade) through industry experience.
Support for students working part-time jobs
IALR will launch a new pilot program serving 120 high school students annually who hold part‑time jobs. These students can earn a digital work-readiness badge and potentially college credit through online coaching aligned to postsecondary work-based learning courses.
Transportation innovation to remove barriers to work
IALR will design and pilot a new transportation initiative to address mobility challenges for emerging workers. This may include car-sharing models, vehicle access strategies and financial support for driver’s license testing and training.
To support this growth, IALR’s work-based learning team will increase by one full-time position, adding needed capacity to coordinate employer partnerships and deliver these experiences at scale.
About IALR
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
