October marks the kick-off of our new program cycle, and we are excited to keep providing amazing opportunities to the young people of San Francisco. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our program has been able to provide participants job-readiness training, access to high-level professional development workshops, and opportunities to grow leadership skills as ambassadors for Enterprise for Youth.
Diversity and Equity in our Job-readiness Training
Before youth can participate in an internship program, Youth Council, or any of the other valuable trainings and experiences, they have to complete our starter program where they learn fundamental skills like interviewing, writing resumes, and job research. The Enterprise for Youth journey begins with our job-readiness training program.
This October, we welcome over 100 San Francisco youth from all over the city, representing 24 different schools to begin their career journey with us. Our job-readiness training is provided in both English and Spanish. This year marks our largest and most diverse cohort in some time as we continue to focus on diversity and equity representation within our programs.
Salesforce led-Design Thinking and UX/UI Workshop for Enterprise for Youth Participants
Forty-two youth participated in a three-day intensive workshop offering students the chance to work alongside Salesforce staff members to develop a prototype for a mobile app.
The workshops focused on how technology can have a social impact. The apps that the youth designed focused on COVID-19, air quality, and housing. Youth worked independently and in small teams to create their own apps based on one of these topics. The workshop seemed to spark interest in some for a career in UX/UI design! We are very grateful for the close partnership with Salesforce and all of the support and inspiration they have offered our youth.
Youth Council
This year, 37 returning youth will participate in a series of workshops to build community, develop their leadership tool kit, and plan events that promote youth workforce development among their friends, classmates, and community. Youth Councilors build their networks by engaging with Enterprise’s Young Professionals Group and have access to a number of exciting job shadows. Previous job shadow sites have included LinkedIn, Salesforce, and the SF Giants headquarters.
These are just a few examples of the types of opportunities and career access that comes with being part of Enterprise for Youth.
We extend an enormous thank you to the Program Team of Josh, Krista, Mario, Lauren, and Meghan for organizing and leading all of these great opportunities. I can’t wait to share more of our work throughout the year!
Carlo Solis, Senior Program Director