The McCafferty Career Center officially welcomes
The Professional Pathways 2026 Cohort
On Thursday, May 28th, the McCafferty Career Center hosted its annual Kick-Off Event, marking the start of another summer of professional growth, community impact, and career exploration. From nonprofit advocacy to community health initiatives, thirteen Emmanuel students will spend the summer gaining hands-on experience across Boston through the Professional Pathways Program.
As the program enters its fourth year, The McCafferty Career Center proudly partners with seven different Boston-based organizations; Sociedad Latina, The Food Project, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, Youth on Fire, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), 826 Boston, and Fenway Community Center. Students take on various roles and responsibilities during their time in the program, creating a strong foundation to build on as they continue to enhance essential career readiness skills, self-advocacy, and directly engage and benefit the community.
Made possible through generous funding from the Yawkey Foundation, this program provides Emmanuel students with the opportunity to learn more about the different career possibilities at a nonprofit organization and develop professionally. Students selected for the program receive a $2,000 stipend as well as access to complimentary summer housing through Emmanuel College.
Since the program’s launch in Summer 2023, the number of participating organizations has grown from five to eight, expanding opportunities for students to apply for a variety of roles across nonprofit settings. We hosted our first ever Recruitment Event for Professional Pathways in March, to promote the program and connect students and employers early on in the Spring semester.
During this year’s Kick-off, students were able to meet other program participants, receive professional headshots and padfolios, and discuss expectations and goals for both the internships and the independent course. Many students expressed excitement around getting started and shared a common goal, to build their professional networks, and use their skills to impact the community in a positive way.
The three-month long program will conclude with a Certificate Dinner Reception on the evening of Wednesday, August 5th, where program participants will be celebrated for their hard work and dedication, joined by their site Supervisors and past participants of the program. Be sure to keep an eye out for more information on the Professional Pathways Program as we progress through the summer.
Follow along on The McCafferty Career Center’s Instagram account: @ECCareer, to see updates from our 2026 cohort.
Written by Samantha Moran and Kristen Fraser
