The Legacy Project: Career Ready Collective
The Legacy Project: Career Ready Collective is a community-driven, career development program to prepare high school students for the future of work. Through interactive sessions and hands-on activities, students build professional skills, increase their confidence and gain exposure to a wide range of career pathways.
Participants are inspired by nationally recognized speakers and engage with business professionals in the Greater Des Moines region. The program emphasizes real-world application, helping students better understand what it takes to succeed in today’s workplace.
Following expansion in 2025 to Cedar Rapids and Pella, which utilized the curriculum and participated in livestreamed sessions, the Career Ready Collective grew its presence across the region and state. Students and parents have given the program overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 94%a of participants saying they would attend again and/or invite a friend.
Program Details
Programming is delivered over six weekly summer sessions. Participants will receive a stipend for the events they attend. Registration and parent/guardian permission forms are required.
Sessions focus on building foundational professional and life skills including:
- Professional presence and communication
- Time, stress and energy management
- Career exploration and networking
- Personal finance and goal setting
Programming for the first five weeks will take place Fridays from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Principal® corporate offices, with one session moved to Thursday due to a federal holiday. An optional lunch begins at Noon. The program concludes with a celebration event on Friday, July 24, from Noon – 2 p.m.
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2026 Schedule of Events
Friday, June 12:
- Breakout Session Topics: Demonstrating Leadership through Professional Presence, Meaningful Communication for Connection and a Professional Networking Event
Thursday, June 18:
- Breakout Session Topics: Personal Finance, Foundations for Goal Achievement and a hands-on financial literacy challenge
Friday, June 26:
- Breakout Session Topics: Showcasing Your Strengths, Knowing and Telling Your Story and a College Fair
Friday, July 10:
- Breakout Session Topics: From Chaos to Calm: Time & Stress Management, Knowing and Sustaining Boundaries and a Career Fair
Friday, July 17:
- Breakout Session Topics: Interview Like a Pro, Mastering Care-Frontation and a Mock Interview Experience
Friday, July 24:
- Celebration Luncheon, Certificate Ceremony and Small Group Reflection
Have any questions? Contact Krista Van Hooser-Perin, Director of Workforce at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, for more information.
After registering, if you are 18, complete the permission form linked below. If under 18, have a parent/guardian complete the permission form linked below.
Parent/Guardian Permission Form
The Career Ready Collective is funded by the Legacy Project, a fundraising initiative of the Principal® Charity Classic with support from Sammons Financial. To learn more about how you or your organization can support the Legacy Project please contact Principal Charity Classic staff at info@principalcharityclassic.com.