Founded in late 2016, Topic Runway Initiative (TRI) was created in response to the opportunity gap in the United States. Scholarly literature paired with our own field research point to certain systemic weaknesses that we feel are worth addressing today. Socio-economic factors such as community segregation, family stability, and education level dramatically limit learning opportunities, and the widening disparity between the “haves” and the “have-nots” seems to underlie many of our country’s issues and debates. TRI’s intent is not to pick any sides; it is merely to inform and empower people to make decisions, communicate effectively, and grow from experience. This is a simple right to which everyone should have access, no matter your economic status or education level.

Whether someone is looking for a first job, transitioning careers, or wanting another educational experience, TRI intends to address everyone with a simple framework - engage people both emotionally and intellectually in a collaborative environment. By utilizing people's strengths to frame something of interest, we can create memorable learning moments that have a unique, marketable quality to job recruiters and admissions departments. Ultimately, we believe that targeted skill exposure and practice will build individual mobilities, stronger workforces, and healthier communities.

The mobility ladder below illustrates potential TRI user impact: