Slingshot is Redefining Career Paths for Teens | Spokane News

Slingshot is revolutionizing career exploration for teens and college students by ditching the “doctor or lawyer” script and empowering them to chase their passions. Founded in 2021 by Tyler Lafferty, this program uses its IDEAS framework—introspection, design, exploration, adaptability, and service—to help young people connect interests with real-world opportunities. A $120K grant from LaunchNW brought on student coordinator Amari Troutt, who’s forging local biz partnerships to give students hands-on experience. Already reaching 10,000+ youth—with 5,000 new connections last year—Slingshot’s impact is clear: students like Fazul report boosted confidence and better post-high school prep. Up next: expanding into Spokane County Juvenile Court as an alternative to community service, rolling out IDEAS to virtual schools like Central Valley, and hosting a college application workshop. The mission? Equip every young person with the tools to build a future that’s uniquely theirs—and help industries welcome entry-level talent. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2df2f3d31c0887c8