By Gabriellah Agar

At the Steering Committee Meeting in December, the theme was Career and College Readiness, and attendees had the opportunity to hear from a variety of youth representatives and experts on this important topic. Click here if you would like to view the full meeting!

Youth Co-Chair Sammy Lee expertly led the meeting, ensuring that all attendees had the opportunity to participate and learn. The keynote speaker Jonathan Lucha from Marin's Community School kicked things off and shared valuable insights on how to prepare for success in the working world. Specifically focusing on how to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindsets of students in grades 7th-12th.

In addition to Jonathan Lucha's presentation, we heard from a variety of speakers who are actively working to support youth in Marin in pursuing their goals. Josh Rowe and Alison Paxtor from Career Explorers, Sarani Puri from Homework Helpers, and Zac Resneck from Crossroads shared their experiences and offered helpful advice for other young people.

In addition to these presentations, Amanda Gong, a member of Marin 9 to 25’s Youth Visioning Workgroup, provided information about the Youth Resource Guide and Wellness Campaign, which offers support and resources for young people in Marin County. These programs and initiatives demonstrate the commitment of Marin 9 to 25 to creating positive and equitable outcomes for youth in the community.

Career Explorers is a program designed to help young people (ages 15-22) gain skills for career readiness through trainings, mock interviews, and resume building. The program recognizes the importance of youth entering the workforce in order to foster more creative ideas and outreach to grow the organization.

Homework Helpers is a program held at a local library in Marin that helps youth who struggle with English. The program is held every Saturday and is always looking for volunteers to support their efforts.

The Crossroads Program at Marin Academy is a year-round academic support and enrichment program for middle school students in San Rafael public schools. The program works with ambitious and motivated students entering 7th grade over the course of two years, focusing on reinforcing academic skills, building self-confidence, developing aspirations for college and careers, and promoting leadership, integrity, and a love of learning.

Overall, the Career and College Readiness meeting was a valuable and inspiring event for young people in Marin County. The dedication of Marin 9 to 25 to supporting and empowering the next generation is truly admirable, and we can all learn from their commitment to creating a brighter future for all young people in the community.

If you are a youth in Marin (ages 9-25) or know someone who is interested in joining please reach out to Lauren Jacobson at Lauren.jacobson@bluepathhealth.com to learn more.