SAN DIEGO – CONNECT2Careers (C2C), a youth summer employment initiative administered by the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), has launched the #MyFirstJobSD video campaign to raise awareness of the need to increase youth employment in San Diego.
#MyFirstJobSD asked a number of prominent San Diegans to reminisce about their first job—what it was, what it taught them and what advice they would give their younger selves. The result is a series of short, inspiring videos that will be released weekly through June 2015 at youtube.com/SDatWork.
“The #MyFirstJobSD campaign is meant to remind us what our first job meant to us and encourage the opening of doors to our future workforce,” says Peter Callstrom, CEO of SDWP. “We are still recovering from a challenging economic downturn that has left our younger workers with an uphill road in terms of employment prospects. There are thousands of young adults who need to be exposed to the career opportunities San Diego has to offer. Summer employment through C2C is a great way to gain experience and for employers to invest in the up-and-coming talent pool.”
The campaign unveiled its first video today, which featured City of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Others who will be featured include:
- Geena the Latina, DJ, Channel 93.3
- Cindy Marten, Superintendent, San Diego Unified School District
- Tony Young, CEO, Civic Link Strategies
- Toni Atkins, Speaker, California State Assembly
- Peter Callstrom, CEO, San Diego Workforce Partnership
- Jerry Sanders, CEO, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
“One of my top priorities as mayor is to create good-quality jobs and fill those jobs with San Diego talent,” says Mayor Faulconer. “That’s why I was proud to support and include CONNECT2Careers as a part of my ‘One San Diego’ budget. I sincerely hope that this first job campaign and my first job story inspires more young workers to apply to CONNECT2Careers today so we can fill more job opportunities with San Diegans tomorrow.”
“I invite all San Diegans to make their own video or tweet about their first job experience and use the hashtag #MyFirstJobSD,” Callstrom adds. “This is an important conversation that we’d like as many people as possible to be a part of.”
Applications for the 2015 C2C program opened March 2 and will be accepted throughout the summer. The C2C program staff connects participants with local employers, who conduct interviews and hire the candidates directly. Last year C2C assisted 334 young adults in finding summer jobs with 176 employers throughout San Diego County. To apply to C2C or commit to hiring through the program, call 619-228-2927 or visit c2csd.org.
CONNECT2Careers
An initiative of SDWP, C2C prepares our region’s future workforce by providing youth with the education, skills and support necessary to obtain and maintain a job and by connecting them to meaningful paid work experiences. For additional information on how to support, partner or hire a C2C job candidate this summer, please visit c2csd.org.
San Diego Workforce Partnership
The San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) is the leader for innovative workforce solutions in San Diego County. It funds job training programs that enable adults and youth to develop the skills and knowledge needed for careers that are in demand. SDWP also provides current and projected labor market research on the region’s workforce trends and key industries. Its vision is to ensure that every business in our region has access to a skilled workforce and every job seeker has access to meaningful employment. For more information, visit workforce.org.
Contact:
Heather Milne Barger
619-228-2904
heathermb@workforce.org