We’re excited to share our new episode of Design Education, featuring an engaging conversation between Dr. Robert Balfanz and Doug Elmer, Vice President of PREP-KC, a Missouri-based nonprofit expanding access to meaningful career pathways for students across the Kansas City region.

This episode explores what it truly takes to provide students with the career exposure, experiences, and real-world applications they need to make informed and prepared choices on the path to adult success.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How PREP-KC builds career pathways from elementary school through postsecondary education
• What meaningful career exploration looks like at each stage—elementary, middle, and high school
• How education systems can keep pace with rapid labor market changes, including the rise of AI
• Key lessons, obstacles, and advice for communities looking to replicate and sustain this work

This conversation offers both practical insights and real optimism about what is possible when communities commit to long-term, student-centered career pathways.