• 2026 HIVE Pathways Application

    Complete your application to be considered for HIVE Pathways—required documents must be collected and verified at orientation (not enrollment).

  • 2026 HIVE PATHWAYS APPLICATION
    HIVE Pathways is a career and income-development program offered by the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance (BWWA) through our Economic Agency Formation framework. The program supports participants in strengthening their career direction, professional skills, income opportunities, workplace readiness, technology and AI skills, résumé and interview preparation, professional relationships, and next-step planning.

    HIVE Pathways is more than a résumé or job-readiness class. Participants will examine their current economic and professional position, identify the skills and assets they already have, explore career and income opportunities, and create a One-Year Economic Agency Plan connecting their career, training, income, family stability, and longer-term goals.

    How the Program Works


    HIVE Pathways includes:

    • Seven weekly, in-person HIVE Pathways sessions
    • Individual coaching and support
    • Career, income, and training assessments
    • Development of an Individual Employment Plan and One-Year Economic Agency Plan
    • Assistance with professional materials, interviewing, technology, AI, networking, and opportunity access
    • Possible placement in an approved partner certification or specialized training


    Participants must complete the required HIVE Pathways sessions and enrollment activities before moving into a partner training. Selecting a training on this application does not guarantee placement. Training placement depends on eligibility, career alignment, provider requirements, available space, funding, and successful completion of required HIVE Pathways activities.

    Two Cohorts Available
    BWWA will offer only two HIVE Pathways cohorts during this program period.

    Cohort 1 Application Deadline: August 15th, 2026

    Cohort 1 sessions will be held on Wednesdays from August 19th through September 30, 2026, from 5:00–7:30 p.m.

    Applications received after August 15 will be considered for Cohort 2. The Cohort 2 schedule will be provided to applicants selected for that cohort.

    The core HIVE Pathways program and HIVE Pathways certification will be available in both cohorts. However, the same partner certification and specialized training opportunities offered with Cohort 1 may not be available for Cohort 2. Partner offerings are subject to provider schedules, available funding, space, and other program requirements.

    Who May Apply
    Applicants must:

    • Be at least 18 years old
    • Live in Minnesota
    • Meet applicable program and funding eligibility requirements
    • Be willing to complete enrollment, assessments, required documentation, seven HIVE Pathways sessions, coaching, and planning activities
    • HIVE Pathways may be a good fit if you are unemployed, underemployed, recently laid off, returning to the workforce, working below your skills or experience, preparing for a career change, seeking advancement, or strengthening the professional systems that support your self-employment.

    BWWA was created to center the economic realities, advancement, and leadership of Black women, with a particular focus on Foundational Black American women. We welcome applications from all eligible Minnesota residents who can benefit from the program. Men are welcome and encouraged to apply.

    WHY THIS APPLICATION IS DETAILED / BEFORE YOU BEGIN

    This is a detailed enrollment and baseline application, not a simple interest form. Your responses help BWWA verify eligibility, create or update required Workforce One records, complete the initial assessment, begin the Individual Employment Plan, identify support needs, document partner-training interests, and establish a starting point against which progress can be measured.


    Before beginning, gather: your legal identity information; Social Security number and verification; proof of name, age, and Minnesota residency; citizenship or right-to-work information; work and education history; household and income information; current goals; and business information if self-employed. You may upload approved documents securely or bring originals to enrollment for verification and copying.


    DEED-funded services cannot begin until required eligibility documentation is received and the participant is enrolled. The application may be submitted while a document is pending, but BWWA must complete verification before
    services begin.


    Your initial skills, goals, confidence, barriers, and training interests are a baseline—not a test you must already pass. BWWA will revisit key measures at midpoint and completion to document changes resulting from the program.

    You are not expected to have everything figured out before applying. Please answer each question as honestly and completely as possible. Information collected for enrollment will be kept confidential and used only for eligibility determination, program administration, required reporting, and connection to appropriate services.

    Submitting an application does not guarantee enrollment or placement in a partner training.

  • PARTICIPANT IDENTITY AND CONTACT

    Please use your legal name where requested because the information may be used for eligibility and enrollment records. Fields marked required must be completed before submission.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Preferred Contact Method*

  • ELIGIBILITY, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

    BWWA collects the information in this section to determine eligibility and complete required public-workforce enrollment. Current DEED ACP guidance requires verification of name, date of birth/age, Minnesota residency, Social Security number, and citizenship or right-to-work status before enrollment. Required documents may be uploaded securely now or presented at enrollment for copying and verification. Applicants may submit the form while a document is pending, but BWWA cannot finalize applicable DEED enrollment until the required verification has been received.
  • Do you currently reside in Minnesota?*
  • Are you a U.S. citizen?*
  • If no, are you authorized to work in the United States?*
  • If you are not a U.S. citizen, how will you provide current I-9/right-to-work documentation?*
  • Proof of Social Security number*
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  • Government-issued photo identification or another DEED-approved document showing your full legal name and date of birth*
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  • Does your legal name match across all eligibility documents?*
  • If no, how will you provide proof of legal name change?*
  • Are there required documents you cannot provide today?*
  • Expected date to provide missing documents
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  • I have received or been given access to the current DEED Privacy Notice / Equal Opportunity notice.*

  • REFERRAL AND BWWA ENGAGEMENT HISTORY

    Your history with BWWA helps us understand your journey and provide appropriate context. Prior participation is not automatically a positive or negative factor in selection.
  • Were you referred to BWWA?*
  • How did you hear about this opportunity?*
  • Have you previously participated in BWWA programs, events, grants, coaching, or services?*
  • Which BWWA experiences have you participated in?*
  • Have you received a grant or financial support through BWWA or the HOPERAH Fund?*
  • Have you served BWWA as a coach, instructor, facilitator, contractor, or guest speaker?*

  • CURRENT POSITION AND HIVE PATHWAYS FIT

    HIVE Pathways serves people at different employment and self-employment stages. Your current position and immediate goal help BWWA tailor the curriculum, coaching, certification options, and support plan. Business ownership does not create a separate program lane in this application.
  • Which statements best describe your current situation? Select all that apply.*
  • What is your most important need right now?*
  • Which HIVE Pathways outcome would make the greatest difference for you right now?*
  • Do you currently have employment income, self-employment income, or active business revenue?*
  • Do you currently own or actively operate a business, work as an independent contractor, or earn income through self-employment?*

  • DEMOGRAPHICS, HOUSEHOLD, INCOME, AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

    This information supports eligibility, reporting, accessibility, and service planning. It is kept confidential and is not scored as evidence that one applicant is more deserving than another.
  • Race / ethnicity*
  • Gender identity*
  • Veteran status*
  • Disability status*
  • DEED family status
  • Household income sources. Select all that apply.*
  • Are you currently receiving public assistance?*
  • Are you currently or have you previously been involved at any stage of the criminal justice process?*
  • Current housing status*
  • Do you need childcare or dependent-care support to participate?*
  • Do you currently have reliable childcare/dependent care?*

  • EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS, EMPLOYMENT, AND BENEFITS

    This section helps BWWA understand your current earning position, transferable experience, and the opportunities or system that may support your next move.
  • Are you currently enrolled in school, training, or a certification program?*
  • If enrolled in college or another postsecondary program, are you receiving financial aid?
  • Current employment status. Select all that apply.*
  • Which benefits are available to you?
  • What are you currently seeking?*
  • Are you currently working at, below, or above your level of skill and experience?*
  • During the past two years, have you worked for the same employer for longer than three consecutive months?*

  • BUSINESS BASELINE

    Complete this section if you currently own or actively operate a business, work as an independent contractor or sole proprietor, or earn self-employment income. BWWA uses this information to understand your current economic position and tailor HIVE coaching; it is not a separate business-program application.
  • Do you currently own or actively operate a business?*
  • How are you currently paid by the business?
  • Which business basics are currently in place?
  • Have you previously applied for business funding or capital?

  • ECONOMIC DISRUPTION AND CURRENT SITUATION

    Economic and workforce conditions change quickly. This section helps BWWA understand what has happened, what you have already done, and what decision is most urgent now. You will not be penalized for experiencing disruption.
  • Has your employment, business, or income been affected by any of the following?*

  • PROFESSIONAL ASSETS, STRENGTHS, AND POSITIONING

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  • ACTE AND AI BASELINE

    ACTE stands for Administration, Communication, Technology, and Emotional Intelligence. Your responses help BWWA tailor instruction and measure growth. They are not a test you must already pass.
  •
  • Current AI proficiency*

  • BARRIERS, SUPPORT NEEDS, AND COACHING

    Identifying a barrier does not make your application weaker. This information helps BWWA plan coaching, support services, referrals, accessibility, and implementation resources.
  • What barriers are affecting your goals?*
  • What support would be most helpful now?*
  • Have you participated in career, business, financial, or professional coaching before?*
  • Where would coaching be most useful?*
  • What type of accountability works best for you?*

  • GOALS, IEP FOUNDATION, AND ALIGNMENT

    Your responses in this section become the starting point for your initial assessment, Individual Employment Plan, One-Year Economic Agency Plan, coaching agenda, and program deliverables. Be honest and specific. You will refine the plan after enrollment.

  • PRIMARY GOAL

  • SUPPORTING GOALS

  • SUPPORTING GOALS

  • ALIGNMENT QUESTION

  • Does your current weekly activity support your stated goals?*
  • Does your current network support your stated goals?*
  • Are you connected to people or institutions that can help you advance?*

  • ECONOMIC AGENCY, INCOME, AND OWNERSHIP DIRECTION

    Every HIVE participant completes this section. These questions connect career and income decisions to stability, family responsibilities, future choices, assets, and longer-term ownership within the Economic Agency framework.
  • Which resources could you direct more intentionally over the next one to three years?*
  • Which longer-term priorities matter most to you?*

  • PARTNER TRAINING AND IMPLEMENTATION INTERESTS

    HIVE Pathways must be completed before partner training. Applicants may select a first and second choice, but placement is not guaranteed and depends on eligibility, availability, and funding. Approved tuition may be covered; additional expenses require separate review.
  • Are you interested in a BWWA partner certification or specialized training after completing the HIVE core?*
  • Based on what you currently know, can you complete the full partner-training schedule in addition to HIVE?*
  • Have you identified another training, credential, provider, equipment need, or implementation expense?*
  • If I am considered for a selected training, may BWWA share relevant contact, goals, scheduling, prerequisite, and support information with that training provider?*

  • CAREER & ECONOMIC HUB INTEREST

    Use this section only while the Hub is an active participant resource. Update or remove it when the facility model changes.
  • Are you interested in using the BWWA Career & Economic Hub?*
  • How would you most likely use it?
  • What time of day would you most likely use it?

  • AVAILABILITY, COMMITMENT, INTRODUCTION SESSION, CONSENT, AND SIGNATURE

    We are looking for participants who are ready—not perfect. Please answer honestly so BWWA can determine fit, supports, schedule, and the next enrollment step.
  • Can you attend required sessions, participate in a minimum of ten hours of individualized coaching during the six-month engagement, and complete the required plans and participant products?*
  • Can you attend the seven HIVE Pathways sessions on Wednesdays from 5:00-7:30 p.m., August 19 through September 30, 2026?*
  • Can you attend the HIVE Pathways orientation and final enrollment session on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 5:00-7:30 p.m.?*
  • Do you consent to share relevant wage and program information with Adult Basic Education, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and community-based organizations for service coordination and reporting?*
  • Date*
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