Youth across San Diego County bring ambition, creativity, resilience, and a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to their communities. A new workforce development partnership between Junior Achievement of San Diego County (JA San Diego) and Youth Empowerment (YE) is designed to honor these strengths while expanding access to the skills, networks, and career pathways that fuel long-term economic and social mobility.
Grounded in a shared belief that access to opportunity expands when young people are supported, this partnership brings together two organizations with complementary strengths. Youth Empowerment, a grassroots nonprofit rooted in the communities of City Heights and Southeast San Diego, works with youth impacted by the justice system to transform neighborhoods through mentorship, advocacy, and systems change. Junior Achievement of San Diego County contributes experiential, career-connected learning that translates youth talent and interest into real-world workforce readiness. Together, this collaboration is aimed at creating equitable access to leadership and workforce development opportunities for young people who often face barriers to employment.
Through the JA Fellows program, participants engage in immersive, hands-on learning experiences that strengthen their professional skills, develop leadership capacity, and connect classroom learning to real workplace environments. They’ll gain the tools, professional networks, and confidence they need to pursue sustainable career pathways.
“The goal of this partnership is to expand access to meaningful career pathways that support long-term economic mobility. We want young people to see themselves in careers they may not have imagined, and become equipped with the skills, confidence, and networks to pursue them successfully,” said Madeline Bowen, Director of Workforce & Education Initiatives at JA San Diego.
This collaboration is helping to remove systemic barriers and expand access to opportunities for young people who have historically been underserved. By aligning resources, expertise, and community partnerships, the program aims to foster long-term economic mobility for youth and their families.
“Our young people are incredibly resilient and capable, but too often they are denied access to the networks and opportunities that create economic mobility. We are committed to giving individuals a second chance and a pathway to better opportunities; ensuring that past involvement with the justice system does not define someone’s future,” said Jake Mulcahy, Reentry Workforce Program Lead at Youth Empowerment.
This partnership reflects a strategic investment in San Diego’s future workforce – one that recognizes economic and social mobility is driven not just by programs, but by belief in young people and a commitment to walking alongside them. By aligning community-based mentorship with experiential career readiness programming, JA San Diego and YE are developing scalable pathways to opportunity, strengthening the talent pipeline, advancing equity, and contributing to long-term economic stability across the region.