By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), alongside Bloomberg Philanthropies, celebrated the new Ward 8 Advanced Technical Center (ATC) and the start of the city-wide D.C. Health Care Employment and Apprenticeship Link (D.C. HEAL) program in October
The programs aim to help Career Technical Education (CTE) and other high school graduates gain practical apprenticeships in health care careers with high growth potential.
Bloomberg Philanthropies, a charitable organization that invests in government innovation, education, public health, environment and the arts, invested $9.5 million in the ATC and D.C. HEAL programs.
“We set out to reimagine the high school experience,” said Mayor Bowser during the livestreamed event. “In so doing, we know that we keep kids engaged, hopeful and focused on their futures. A big part of that is the Advanced Technical Center.”
The Ward 8 ATC, which opened during the 2025-2026 school year, is located at the Whitman-Walker’s Max Robinson Center. The first class began in August with 59 students from 15 schools.
The ATC program is open to all students from public charter high schools and D.C. Public Schools. The District currently offers CTE programs at 32 public high schools, up from 22 in 2015. CTE enrollment has increased 90 percent since 2019, according to the mayor’s office.
“The workforce in the district is changing, but what isn’t changing is what you need to be able to support a family in D.C.,” said Bowser. “You need a couple of good paying jobs as a family, and so we want to make sure that our young people are ready, and this ATC does it.”
ATC students take dual-credit college courses from Trinity Washington University and the University of the District of Columbia and participate in paid internships with employer partners in health care and cybersecurity.
“Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my great grandfather and my grandmother as they spent time in and out of the hospital,” said Jevonte McCullom, a junior at Rob Brown College Preparatory High School and one of the first Ward 8 ATC students. “When they were home, I would spend my time taking care of them while my mother was in med school. That’s when I realized I wanted to be in a career where I can help other people and their families.”
Jevonte said through Ward 8 ATC, he’s on track to becoming an EMT and attending college.
His mom, Sheanna McCullom, highlighted the value of the program’s impact on their family and community.
“When I first heard about ATC coming to the southeast I knew I had to get Jevonte a spot,” she said. “As someone who works in nursing, I know it is important for our youth to learn about these types of careers early on. Now that the Ward 8 ATC is here, this opportunity is changing lives and opening the doors for our kids.”
These programs could largely benefit the more than 20,000 Black youth, ages 0 to 24, that live in Ward 8, according to D.C. Action. D.C. Action is a non-profit organization that uses research and data to help ensure children have a fair chance at reaching their full potential.
“In just three years since the first ATC opened, more than 400 students have earned more than 4,600 college credits, saving families $3 million,” said Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell, D.C. ‘s state superintendent of education. “Demand is growing so fast that this year there are more than 400 students on the wait list for this program.”
The first ATC in D.C., located in Ward 5, has graduated two cohorts and served around 400 students.
D.C. HEAL provides work opportunities for CTE graduates in careers like patient care technician, offering a one-year, full-time apprenticeship with mentorship and a decent wage.
Launched in August with five health care employers and community health centers, the program equips students with technical skills and professional experience.
“This center shows what’s possible when public and private partners work together to expand access to meaningful career pathways,” said Eve Bois, career and technical education portfolio manager for Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Here, students will not only gain technical skills, they’ll earn credentials, they’ll build professional networks and gain real world experience in industries like healthcare.”
Through the District’s Comeback Plan, which includes investing in CTE, city leaders aim to boost the annual median household income of Black residents by $25,000, according to the D.C. Career and Technical Education State Plan 2024-2028.
Opportunities like these can empower young people to make informed choices about their futures—whether entering the workforce, continuing education or pursuing further training—while ultimately strengthening the local workforce.