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Destination DC’s NextDC foundation says youth internships and field trips reached thousands
Summary
Destination DC leaders described NextDC youth programs that provide internships, field trips and scholarships; the committee pressed for unduplicated counts and stronger data sharing with DC Public Schools to track outcomes.
Destination DC described NextDC—the organization's nonprofit foundation—as a youth workforce pipeline that complements DC high‑school career academies. Elliot Ferguson and NextDC staff said the foundation has provided internships, scholarships and work‑based learning.
Claire Carlin (identified by Destination DC during testimony) described NextDC’s role as an intermediary with DC Public Schools and said, "Since 2015, we've hosted 924 students on educational field trips, provided 217 internship placements, 3,200 work‑based learning opportunities, and reinvested over $3,000,000 in combined financial and in‑kind support." Committee members sought a clearer breakdown of unique participants and school rosters; Councilmember Bonds asked staff to provide unduplicated student counts and recommended linking NextDC data to the Deputy Mayor for Education's database.
Committee members also emphasized tracking outcomes—how many participants obtain jobs or continue to training programs—so workforce investments can be evaluated in budget deliberations. NextDC agreed to follow up with more precise counts and proposed coordination points with the Deputy Mayor for Education and DCPS.
