Taotal Tasi (People of the Ocean) Maritime Career Pathways

500 Sails will improve local long-term employment prospects for native young people entering the workforce. Currently, poor local employment prospects are draining the native community of its young adults who are choosing to leave the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in search of better opportunities. 43% of Native youth in the 15 to 19 year age group emigrate out of the CNMI before they enter the workforce. This project will provide the Native community with a new Maritime Training Center that provides training and education, leading to culturally and financially rewarding jobs in the maritime professions. This project aims to ensure that CNMI has a healthy, thriving native community that has successfully integrated traditional cultural values into modern life.