Reality Town Labs
Workforce Experiential Lab Series: Reality Town® – Career Pathways & Financial Literacy
A Community-Based Youth Workforce Development Initiative by Women of Toledo
Building on the success of the LeadHerWay Youth Summit: Reality Town® – Real Life. Real Choices in the Fall 2025, Women of Toledo (WOT) and its youth division, Young Women of Toledo (YWOT), will launch in 2026 the Experiential Lab Series a quarterly, 3-hour seminar providing hands-on workforce development and financial literacy training across Lucas County neighborhoods. Each lab session will serve at least 40 youth ages 14–26, reaching more than 160 participants annually (quarterly programming) through localized, community-accessible programming.
Modeled after the Reality Town® R.E.A.L. Simulation Curriculum, now licensed locally by WOT, each Lab immerses youth in real-world financial and career decision-making scenarios. Participants assume the role of working adults managing paychecks, transportation, housing, childcare, and budgeting, helping them understand the link between education, employment, and lifestyle choices. Guided by HR professionals and workforce mentors, youth develop essential technical, financial, and interpersonal skills needed for job readiness and long-term economic stability.
The program's overarching goal is to equip Greater Toledo-area youth, particularly from underrepresented communities, with the foundational skills, confidence, and readiness needed to secure sustainable employment and contribute to the regional economy.
Reality Town 2025
Modeled after the Reality Town concept, the LeadHerWay 2025 Summit is an immersive financial literacy and workforce development simulation designed to empower youth through hands-on, real-world experiences. This one-day summit offers a dynamic and engaging environment where participants step into the role of a 30-year-old adult, complete with career choices, salaries, and real-life responsibilities. Participants will receive a mock paycheck and are tasked with budgeting for monthly expenses such as housing, childcare, transportation, insurance, and groceries—all while navigating life’s surprises and prioritizing needs over wants. With the guidance of mentors, they will visit over 20 booths representing local businesses and services to simulate financial decision-making in the Toledo community. This life-changing experience cultivates essential skills in financial literacy, goal-setting, problem-solving, and strategic thinking within a high-energy, game-like environment.