CAREER-READINESS WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY LOCAL NONPROFITS; YOUTH IN SAN DIEGO PROMISE ZONE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE

The series of events includes: 

  • Job-Readiness Workshop (March 22, 10 a.m.-Noon) – A virtual workshop held via Zoom, in collaboration with SBCS and Second Chance, to provide resume-building and other helpful tips to prepare youth for employment. Youth ages 16 to 24 years old are encouraged to participate; register by visiting sandiego.gov/jobready.
  • Virtual Job Fair (March 24,10 a.m.-1 p.m.) – Nearly 30 employers offering full and part-time jobs as well as internships, including the City of San Diego. Youth ages 16 to 24 years old can register at sandiego.gov/jobfair and participate via Zoom.
    • For job fair attendees without internet access, the City will provide in-person support at three locations: Park de la Cruz Recreation Center at 3901 Landis St., Sherman Heights Community Center at 2258 Island Ave. and the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library at 5148 Market St. Attendees will receive on-site computer access and technical help to allow them to connect virtually so they can participate in the job fair and leverage other SD Access 4 All resources. 
  • F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Expo (April 24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.) – This in-person career expo, in collaboration with D.E.T.O.U.R. at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, 151 YMCA Way, will help girls from elementary school age through high school explore career or academic interests in science, technology, education, arts and mathematics. Youth can register at sandiego.gov/careerexpo. 

“These are tremendous opportunities for young San Diegans to build their resumes and their confidence by putting them face-to-face with employers willing to give someone their first job,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Offering virtual and in-person support allows us to meet youth where they are, and helps them start off on the right foot as they consider options to create a bright future for themselves.” 

These career and employment opportunities are the first major effort for the City’s new Digital Navigator program – a team of 13 employees who provide individualized assistance and resources for San Diegans who need internet access, a web-enabled device, or coaching to improve computer and internet skills.

Participants in the three events will be eligible to win free raffle prizes, including the opportunity to win one of more than 100 refurbished laptops during the March 24 Virtual Job Fair.

Several community organizations and Promise Zone partners are helping organize and host the job fair and career workshops, including San Diego Workforce Partnership, Computers 2 Kids, the San Diego County Office of Education, D.E.T.O.U.R., the San Diego Futures Foundation, Second Chance San Diego and SBCS. 

The Digital Navigator Program is the latest push to help close the digital divide that leaves an estimated 53,000 San Diego households without internet access. Through its SD Access 4 All initiative, the City has installed open public Wi-Fi at more than 300 locations citywide, added 2,000 laptops for checkout by library patrons, and offers 2,000 mobile hotspots for checkout from libraries, which provide free at-home internet service for up to 90 days.

“For the first time, there is a team of digital navigators whose goal is to assist unserved and low-income households in San Diego with resources that will enable them to strive in the digital world," said Armando Haro, Digital Navigator. "Access to internet and digital devices has become a necessity in the modern world. Digital navigators have made it their duty to have all San Diegans obtain the tools necessary to navigate efficiently and effectively." 

The City and its community partners will be doing significant outreach to encourage youth living in the San Diego Promise Zone, which includes the City’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, to take advantage of these opportunities. An informational flyer and social media toolkit will be distributed to schools, community groups, libraries and recreation centers within the Promise Zone to encourage registration.