ABOUT US

We nurture resilience. We build community.

For more than 30 years, Alexandria Seaport Foundation has been dedicated to helping disconnected young adults, ages 18-23, chart more stable and brighter futures for themselves through our immersive Apprentice Program, which provides life skills mentoring, workforce readiness, and pathways toward employment opportunities, trade schools, or post-secondary education.

What We Do

Seaport is a safe, encouraging place where Apprentices can forge relationships with staff, volunteers, and each other. The small class size fosters these bonds and builds trust as they move through the six-month, paid Apprentice Program.

By learning traditional boatbuilding, woodworking, and on-the-water navigation, Seaport Apprentices develop confidence, discipline, resiliency, and problem-solving skills. Apprentices work alongside carpenters, boat builders, and sailing instructors who teach and challenge them each day.

The process of building beautiful, wooden items from toolboxes to boats in our waterfront workshop and learning to sail on the Potomac River gives Apprentices the opportunity to take on new tasks where they learn to appreciate their own abilities and potential for success.

Seaport’s comprehensive curriculum also includes financial literacy, nutrition, anger management, applied math, literacy, workplace etiquette, professional communication, plus career exploration and counseling.

Who We Serve

Seaport Apprentices are young adults from the VA-DC-MD region who are disconnected from education systems, the workforce, and their communities. Many are having difficulty finding their place in the world as they move from adolescence to adulthood.

They may have dropped out of school, been unable to find work, been involved in the criminal justice system, have mental or physical health challenges and/or have significant family care-giving responsibilities. They typically come from under-resourced households and unstable environments. They are all seeking brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Our Impact

Graduates of the Apprentice Program have developed the necessary skill sets to lead more productive, self-sufficient lives as young adults, contributing to their communities and workplaces, and supporting their families. We introduce them to a range of potential career paths and work with them to identify options that are good fits with their interests and abilities.

Our graduates seek out various career paths. Some enter the construction field or the maritime industry, with some becoming shipwrights. Others have pursued the military, auto mechanics, interior design, finance, culinary arts, and apprenticeships in welding, carpentry, and electrical. Others have pursued education by earning their GED and attending community colleges or four-year colleges.

The Seaport Foundation’s important work takes place at the McIlhenny Seaport Center, our iconic floating building on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront. This location serves as a beacon to the community reflecting the work of the Foundation, and a soothing, beautiful environment in which apprentices can learn, heal, and look toward the future with hope and inspiration.

We invite you to stop by for a visit and meet some of the Apprentices who are impacted by the Seaport Foundation’s nationally recognized program.