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ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville Partnership
Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series
ASPIRE is proud to partner with GEAR UP Nashville to deliver Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series, a student-centered program designed to help recent graduates and career-readiness students prepare for college, careers, and life after graduation.
This partnership brings together GEAR UP Nashville’s commitment to increasing college and career readiness with ASPIRE’s mission to help students build vision, confidence, leadership identity, and practical tools for their next chapter.
Through in-person sessions, career exposure, virtual vision experiences, mentorship, and community connection, Dream BLDRS helps students move from possibility to preparation.
Up Next
Photos from the ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series kickoff event at NKA Gallery in Nashville. The event brought together recent graduates, career-readiness students, community leaders, and partners to launch a summer experience focused on college, careers, confidence, and life after graduation.
Kick Off Event
Friday, June 26, 2026
Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series. Register for Summer Progam
Pre-Conference Virtual Session
Friday, July 17
Build confidence before D.C. through vision, pitches, and etiquette.
National GEAR UP Conference
July 20–22, 2026
Experience the National GEAR UP Conference in Washington, D.C.
Aspire Breakfast Mixer
July 29, 2026
Reconnect, reflect, and build relationships over breakfast.
Upcoming
Prepare for the National GEAR UP Conference with ASPIRE and Dream BLDRS. Join Patrick Walker-Reese for an interactive virtual session covering vision statements, elevator pitches, networking, and conference etiquette.
Aspire x GEAR UP National Conference Virtual Pre-Conference Session
Preparing for Success Before the Journey Begins.
Before traveling to the National GEAR UP Conference, Aspire hosted an interactive virtual session to help students build confidence, strengthen professional communication, and prepare to represent themselves and GEAR UP Nashville with purpose.
Led by Patrick Walker-Reese, the session focused on helping students make meaningful first impressions while developing the mindset and communication skills needed to maximize their conference experience. Through guided activities and discussion, students refined their personal stories, practiced introducing themselves, and learned how to confidently engage with peers, educators, and professionals from across the country.
Aspire x GEAR UP at the National GEAR UP Conference
Expanding Vision Through National Exposure.
The National GEAR UP Conference provided students with an opportunity to experience learning beyond the classroom while connecting with educators, professionals, and student leaders from across the country. As part of the Aspire x GEAR UP Career-Readiness Summer Series, students traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in one of the nation's premier college and career readiness conferences.
Throughout the conference, students engaged in leadership development, professional networking, educational workshops, and career exploration while representing GEAR UP Nashville on a national stage. Aspire extended the learning experience by facilitating a Dream BLDRS workshop that encouraged students to reflect on what they learned, strengthen their personal vision, and translate new ideas into actionable goals.
Aspire x GEAR UP Breakfast Mixer
The Aspire x GEAR UP Breakfast Mixer is an interactive networking experience designed to connect students with the professionals, leaders, and organizations shaping today's workforce. Hosted as part of the Aspire and GEAR UP Career Readiness initiative, the Breakfast Mixer creates meaningful opportunities for students to build relationships, explore career pathways, and gain firsthand insight into life beyond graduation.
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Quick Answers
College Readiness, Career Readiness, and Life Readiness
Join ASPIRE and GEAR UP Nashville for the official kickoff of Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series.
About the Partnership
College Readiness, Career Readiness, and Life Readiness
The ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville partnership brings together two aligned missions: helping students believe in what is possible and equipping them with the tools to prepare for what comes next.
GEAR UP Nashville supports students, families, schools, and communities through college access, postsecondary preparation, and career-readiness resources. ASPIRE builds on that foundation by helping students develop vision, confidence, self-awareness, leadership skills, and readiness for life after graduation.
Together, this partnership creates a bridge between college readiness, career readiness, and life readiness.
Through Dream BLDRS, ASPIRE and GEAR UP Nashville are helping students explore their next steps with greater clarity and confidence. The program combines student-centered development, real-world exposure, career conversations, vision-building sessions, and community support to help students prepare for college, careers, entrepreneurship, and life beyond high school.
With the theme “College and more,” this collaboration reflects a shared commitment to meeting students where they are and helping them move forward with purpose.
About Dream BLDRS
A Student Development Experience by ASPIRE
Dream BLDRS is ASPIRE’s student development experience created to help young people build the vision, confidence, and discipline needed to pursue meaningful futures.
For the Career-Readiness Summer Series, Dream BLDRS is focused on supporting recent graduates and career-readiness students as they transition from high school into college, career pathways, entrepreneurship, and adult life.
The series expands the conversation beyond college readiness alone. It helps students prepare for college, careers, leadership, personal growth, and the real-life decisions that come after graduation.
This is college and more.
Who This Program Is For
Built for Career-Readiness Students and Recent Grads
Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series is built for:
- Recent graduates
- Career-readiness students
- Students preparing for life after high school
- Students exploring college, career, or postsecondary pathways
- Students who want to build confidence, direction, and next-step readiness
- Students who need support navigating life after graduation
This series is especially focused on helping students develop the mindset, communication skills, exposure, and practical tools needed to move forward with purpose.
College and More: A Broader View of Student Success
College readiness matters. Career readiness matters. Confidence, identity, purpose, and community matter too.
That is why the theme for this series is “College and more.”
For students preparing for life after high school, success is not defined by one path alone. Dream BLDRS helps students explore multiple pathways while building the mindset and tools to pursue the future with confidence.
Whether a student is preparing for college, entering the workforce, exploring entrepreneurship, considering a trade, or still figuring out their next step, Dream BLDRS is designed to meet them where they are and help them move forward.
ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville Dream BLDRS Kickoff Event Photos
Photos from the ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series kickoff event at NKA Gallery in Nashville. The event brought together recent graduates, career-readiness students, community leaders, and partners to launch a summer experience focused on college, careers, confidence, and life after graduation.
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- ASPIRE and GEAR UP Nashville kicked off Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series at NKA Gallery, helping recent graduates and career-readiness students build confidence, connection, and readiness for life after high school.
Marketing & Communications
Behind every successful program is clear, consistent communication. Throughout the ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series, a strategic marketing campaign helped build awareness, drive registration, and keep students and families engaged from kickoff through program completion. From event announcements and speaker spotlights to social media campaigns, digital flyers, and recap content, every touchpoint was designed to create excitement, communicate value, and encourage participation.
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- ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville presents Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series featuring EJ Reed, Co-founder and CEO of Slim & Husky’s, for a conversation on Life After College.
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- ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville presents Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series hosted by Patrick Walker-Reese, educator and bestselling author.
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- ASPIRE x GEAR UP Nashville presents Dream BLDRS: Career-Readiness Summer Series, a college and career readiness experience for recent grads and career-readiness students.
