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"I am more than who I am on paper."

Find resources to advance your career and tear the paper ceiling, Let's get to work.

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STARs are Rising

You are not alone! There's a growing movement to recognize the skills and potential of the 75+ million STARs like you - workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes, rather than a bachelor's degree. In fact, 4 million STARs have already torn the paper ceiling⁴. proving that STARs have the skills for jobs that pay over $70,000/year. Here you'll find profiles of some of those STARs to inspire you, resources to help you find higher-wage jobs or build new skills, and other ways you can help tear the paper ceiling while advancing your career.

Opportunity At Work STARs

When STARs make themselves heard, 
employers listen

19%

of STARs nationwide publicly describe themselves as a "STAR".¹

72%

of employers surveyed think that the system is biased, unfair, or needs to change.²

95%

of employers surveyed who have seen or heard the PSAs are interested in hiring STARs.³

See The Impact

Paperless Pathways Podcast

Want more stories of STARs, employers, and the paper ceiling? Subscribe to our podcast hosted by LaShana Lewis — a business owner, STAR, and the face of the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign.

STARs Resource Library

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Code the Dream Course Catalog

Code the Dream Course Catalog

Learn JavaScript or data engineering with Python through free, community-based courses.

Code the Dream

Career Exploration

Code the Dream Course Catalog

Code the Dream Course Catalog

Northland Workforce Training Center Programs

Northland Workforce Training Center Programs

Earn free, for-credit certificates in advanced manufacturing & energy in Buffalo, NY.

Northland Workforce Training Center

Trainings & Certifications

Northland Workforce Training Center Programs

Northland Workforce Training Center Programs

Skills Accelerator

Skills Accelerator

Access learning pathways designed for professionals without computer science degrees to upskill for tech careers.

Cognizant

Job Boards

Skills Accelerator

Skills Accelerator

Green Jobs Now

Green Jobs Now

Content series with training programs preparing job seekers with in-demand skills.

Working Nation

Career Exploration

Green Jobs Now

Green Jobs Now

Build Your Resume with Career.io

Build Your Resume with Career.io

Build a resume with Career.io's resume builder — use code TTPC50 for 50% off all subscriptions.

Career.io

Tools

Build Your Resume with Career.io

Build Your Resume with Career.io

ChooseU Career Programs

ChooseU Career Programs

Build skills in manufacturing and become Microsoft-certified with programs in Greensboro and Atlanta.

ChooseU

Career Exploration

ChooseU Career Programs

ChooseU Career Programs

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STARs Resource Library

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Join your peers in
signing the pledge

Tear
the Paper Ceiling

I am a STAR. My skills are real. My experience is valuable. I pledge to see myself clearly and define myself not by what's missing from my resume, but by everything I have to offer.

I pledge to own my story and to speak openly about the skills I've built through work, training, and life experience.

I pledge to stand with the community of 75+ million workers in America like me, and to support them by sharing my own lessons from encountering and overcoming barriers.

I pledge to tear the paper ceiling, to see the world beyond it, and to let all STARs shine.

Sign the pledge to tear the paper ceiling

Let’s send a clear message that it’s time to tear the
paper ceiling.

Thanks for signing the pledge.

You’ve taken the first step in tearing the paper ceiling. Stay tuned for important updates, information and stories related to the campaign.

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