The JA Fellows program is expanding to Mid-City in partnership with Avenues for Success (AFS). The cohort of 22 juniors launched this November as part of the after-school college access program that serves first-generation students at Hoover High School.
Students will develop their work readiness skills, build confidence in professional settings, and identify potential career pathways based on their unique strengths and interests. In partnership with local businesses and community partners, JA Fellows facilitates career exploration experiences and provides professional mentorship.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Junior Achievement, as it expands students’ access to career exploration opportunities, critical resources, and professional mentorship. By connecting them with professionals, local businesses, and offering insights into companies, students experience first-hand the impact of social capital and its role in accessing resources and pursuing pathways they may not have otherwise considered,” said Claudia Martinez, Director of Career Pathways and Social Capital for the Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment at San Diego State University.
The program culminates into a multi-week paid work-based learning experience where students are placed with a local company gaining hands-on experience in a career field they are interested in. JA Fellows aims to prepare young people to succeed in the modern workforce through access to social capital and professional networks in leading San Diego industries.
“We are so excited to expand the JA Fellows program to Hoover High School in partnership with Avenues for Success, creating more opportunities for young people to discover their potential and explore what’s possible for their future,” said Madeline Bowen, JA San Diego Program Manager. “This is a step closer to ensuring every young person has the opportunity to develop essential skills, engage in work-based learning experiences, and envision themselves thriving in careers they may have never imagined.”
JA Fellows first launched at Lincoln High School in Southeast San Diego in 2021 and later at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter in the South Bay in 2022. Over 100 students are actively enrolled in the program across the three schools and has over 230 alumni members.