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March 1, 2016

SAN DIEGO (March 1, 2016) – CONNECT2Careers (C2C), a youth summer employment initiative of the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), has launched its 2016 summer jobs program. C2C tackles the youth unemployment issue in San Diego by aligning the career goals of young adults with businesses that are investing in our future workforce. The program aims to place 1,000 young adults in jobs this summer.

Applications for the 2016 C2C program open March 1 and will be accepted throughout the summer. The program is open to San Diego County residents ages 16-24. Young adults can visit c2csd.org/youth to apply.

Some benefits of the program include:

  • Pre-placement work-readiness workshops
  • Mock interview practice and résumé help
  • Access to C2C job fairs and specialized recruitments
  • Career insights and essential skill-building
  • Staff guidance and support throughout the application process
  • Staff guidance and support throughout the work experience
  • Paid work opportunities

“Experiences like work-readiness training, peer job coaching and paid work opportunities are invaluable in shaping the outlook for youth in San Diego,” says SDWP CEO Peter Callstrom. “Our goal is to offer opportunities to these young adults who have clearly expressed a desire to work. In doing so, C2C is helping young adults take the next step in their career path and our region as a whole take the next step in developing our future workforce.”

Nearly 6 million young adults ages 16-24 are not working and not in school in the U.S. An estimated 47,000 of these disconnected young adults live in San Diego County.

Last year C2C assisted 447 young adults in finding summer jobs with employers throughout San Diego County. San Diego employers that have already committed to working with C2C this summer include SDG&E, Sharp HealthCare, Cox Communications, SeaWorld, and NASSCO. Work experiences are available across a variety of industries, including government, education, life sciences, technology, education, retail, clerical, hospitality, sports-recreation/leisure and nonprofit. The C2C program staff connects pre-screened candidates with local employers, who hire candidates directly. C2C has the capacity to handle payroll, workers’ compensation and other employer of record responsibilities for employers willing to hire.

This year C2C will be working with Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s office to connect motivated youth to employers participating in the One San Diego 100 initiative. Mayor Faulconer announced the creation of the One San Diego 100 during his State of the City address as a means to bring equality to economic opportunity. The One San Diego 100 calls on 100 businesses to offer jobs and paid internships to local high school and college students, with a focus on students from low-income neighborhoods.

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 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:                     
Desiree Roughton
P: 619-228-2959 / C: (909) 576-6323
desiree@workforce.org

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