What if the key to a young adult’s career fulfillment lies beyond the conventional norms?
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In the diverse tapestry of Colorado, a groundbreaking story of education and a new path to the career is unfolding. Join CareerWise and Pinnacol Assurance as they redefine the narrative around how work-based learning can multiply career and education opportunities for young people and develop new talent pipelines for employers. This short documentary film produced by Listen Productions follows two talented youth, Naarai and Leswin, through a transformative journey as they figure out how the apprenticeship program they undertake today will shape the future of which path they will take tomorrow. It’s a relatable, dynamic tale with high stakes that puts audiences in the shoes of both Naarai and Leswin, who go against the status quo to prove that something different from the standard college path can be just as rewarding and a better choice for them to achieve the future they desire. This story urges us to amplify these voices in a story that’s both relevant and crucial.
A short documentary film
We welcome you view the trailer and full film below
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Apprenticeship is not a diversion from higher education—it’s a rigorous education option that combines theoretical learning with practical learning that focuses career and education objectives.
a Colorado collab
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Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado’s largest workers’ compensation insurance carrier, administers one of the most robust youth apprenticeship programs in the state. We offer high school students a unique chance to combine education and work during a three-year apprenticeship that is designed to create meaningful career opportunities for the next generation of graduates.
Meet the apprentices
Naarai Navarro
Apprentice
Naarai Navarro is a former apprentice turned associate underwriter at Pinnacol Assurance. She was hired as an apprentice in 2018 and accepted a full-time position as a bilingual business development representative in 2021. Since promoted to her current role as an associate underwriter, Navarro writes and reviews workers’ compensation policies and analyzes and resolves customer policy issues. Navarro is a well-versed public speaker — she testified in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP Committee), and her story was featured in The Denver Post. Navarro actively shares her experience with high-profile audiences to advocate for increased access to apprenticeship programs in Colorado and the nation. While working as an apprentice, Navarro graduated high school in 2020 from John F. Kennedy High School in Denver, Colorado and earned a Property-Casualty Insurance Fundamentals Certification and a community interpreter certification. She is currently working towards an associate’s degree in business at the Community College of Denver.
Leswin Jaimes
Apprentice
Leswin Macedo-Jaimes, an 18-year-old Denver, Colorado native, graduated from Denver West High School on May 23, 2023. Leswin is a bilingual individual, fluent in both English and Spanish. Their journey led them to join the United States Marine Corps recruit training program, commencing on June 26, 2023, and culminating in graduation on September 22, 2023. Leswin is currently an active-duty United States Marine, specializing in Motor Transportation Operations as their military occupational specialty. With a deep passion for the automotive industry, they find joy in automotive mechanics and operating vehicles. Additionally, Leswin’s interests include engaging in outdoor physical fitness activities such as biking, hiking, and leisurely walks.
learn more about the impact of apprenticeships
Meeting individuals’ unique aspirations and contributing to a skilled, diverse, and well-prepared workforce.
The creative Team
Mitch Dickman
Director | Producer | Editor
Mitch has been leading Listen Productions since it was founded in 2006. While on this journey, Mitch has been a part of hundreds of projects spanning all genres, formats, and styles. He was named one of the “Top 10 Documakers to Watch” by Variety Magazine. Recent credits include Silent Rose (Producer/Director – Topic Streaming 2020), Casting Jon Benet (Producer – Netflix – Sundance 2017), Speaking is Difficult (Cinematographer – Sundance 2016), Rolling Papers (Producer/Director – SXSW 2015), Being Evel (Line Producer – Sundance 2015) and Hannah Ranch (Producer/Director – NY Times Critics Pick 2014). Mitch holds a BFA in Film/Television with a minor in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Denver (where he currently sits on the advisory board and teaches as adjunct faculty).
Alan Dominguez
Producer | Editor
A Chicanx border crosser since birth, Alan’s documentaries and narrative films have been screened and distributed in three different continents and in three different languages all of which have highlighted the unique fabric and landscapes of the Southwest USA. His work has been broadcast on Hulu, World Channel, Rocky Mountain PBS, Colorado Public Television, Third World Newsreel, and Latino Rebels. Additionally, Alan’s films have been screened at Festival Internacional de Cine en Morelia, New York Latino Film Festival, XicanIndie Film Festival, among others. Alan’s films have received support from American Masters, Firelight Media, PBS, Imagine2020, Arts in Society, National Association of Latino Independent Producers, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, World Channel, the Western Conservation Trust, the University of Michigan, and the Colorado Historical Society.
Anthony Morgan, Jr.
Producer | Story editor/advisor
Anthony is a proud Baltimorean and is a versatile connector of people — a coach, writer, storyteller, entrepreneur, and philosopher. As an internal marketing strategist and lead storyteller at HIBRED Solutions, he passionately drives people’s transformation through branded storytelling. Anthony crafts authentic narratives where a film seamlessly integrates a brand without compromising creative integrity. His intentional approach positively shapes perspectives and fosters meaningful connections within organizations. At the heart of his work is the belief that the power of storytelling connects people globally.
Stefanie Olivan
Assitant Editor | Student @ CEC Early College of Denver
Stefanie Olivan, hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, spent her formative years in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Currently, she is a 19-year-old student passionately pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film, with a specific focus on directing and screenwriting, at the University of Colorado Denver. Her dedication to honing her craft is unwavering.
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