Calling young job seekers!
The City of San Diego will host its third annual Promise Zone Youth-Led Career Expo on Tuesday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Balboa Park Club and Recital Hall.
Focused on providing youth with education on entering the workforce and uplifting those already in it, the event helps connect those ages 16 to 24 who live or go to school in the San Diego Promise Zone with companies, organizations and nonprofits to explore a wide range of career options.
More than 30 prospective employers will participate including several City of San Diego departments, Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Kitchens for Good, Bill Howe Family of Companies, SeaWorld San Diego, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Mingei International Museum, Electrical Training Institute and the U.S. military.
Numerous job training and career readiness organizations will also be in attendance to help participants discover their interests and prepare for the future. Youth are encouraged to bring their draft resumes to receive feedback, and help will be available for those working on a resume for the first time. They can also participate in mock interviews, receive free professional headshots and enter to win raffle prizes, including refurbished laptops.
New this year, 15-minute “bite-sized workshops” will help young people practice their elevator pitches, learn how to network and more. Anyone planning to attend, including schools and individuals, may register on the City’s Career Expo webpage.
“Career fairs like this one foster an inclusive environment where our youth and young adults can discover passions and be connected to tools, resources and employers to help them accomplish their future dreams,” said Economic Development Director Christina Bibler. “The City takes pride in being responsive to the needs of our youth to deliver an event influenced by them to increase access to job and career opportunities. This ultimately advances our workforce objectives to equip all residents with the skills, credentials and support needed to obtain and sustain well-paying employment.”
“I’m excited for this year’s event and hope students feel their voices were heard and reflected in the workshops and vendors present,” said the Promise Zone Jobs & Education Working Group Co-Chair, Raquel Aparicio. “It’s been inspiring to see young people connect with businesses and organizations to pursue careers and educational opportunities that support their growth and development.”
The San Diego Promise Zone is a federally designated area that extends from East Village and Barrio Logan east to Encanto and brings together more than 85 organizations to provide comprehensive support to more than 80,000 San Diegans. It includes some of the City’s most historically under-resourced communities.
Targeted efforts from the City and community-based organizations have helped the unemployment rate in the Promise Zone fall from 14% to 10% between 2016, when it was established, and 2022. The poverty rate also decreased from 35% to 20% during that time.