Kerri De Jager is a Program Specialist at the San Diego Workforce Partnership. Here she tells a little bit about herself, both personally and professionally.
If you had $30,000 to donate to a workforce development program, what would you want done with it?
Providing high school juniors and seniors with an internship is not only crucial for them to think through what particular industries are of interest to them, but is also key in helping to develop essential skills that they will go on to use in their future careers. The earlier we expose them to the world of work, the better off they’ll be for their future. Often times, however, students are unable to accept offers to participate in off-campus experiences due to lack of viable transportation options. Additionally, being under 18 makes them ineligible to utilize a ride share service like Uber or Lyft on their own. So I would want to see as part of a workforce development program, the creation of a ride-sharing service specifically for 16- and 17-year-old students to ensure they are safely transported to their internship locations.
What professional moment or project are you most proud of?
This summer I had the opportunity to oversee an internship program for opportunity youth hosted by Watkins Wellness for 5 weeks. At the end of the program, two of the youth handwrote me “thank you” notes expressing their gratitude for being given the opportunity to participate in the experience. One expressed it was one of the best experiences he has had and another mentioned she felt much more comfortable being in the work environment knowing I was there to help support her along the way. Being in the helping field, you always hope you’ve made an impact on the community you serve but to hear from the youth directly that you have indeed made a difference for them, well there’s no better feeling!
What do you like best about working in workforce development?
Being part of community efforts with other partner organizations who each have similar goals to help provide youth with the tools and opportunities they’ll need to ensure they transition to a meaningful career.