EXP Insider Newsletter - April 2020
My LinkedIn account is seriously blowing up. 89 invitations to connect since last Friday!
Perhaps the 204 EXP students who participated in last week’s virtual Skills Workshop took to heart my mantra, “your network is your net worth!” Or, maybe it was the gift card we offered to the first three who created a profile and invited someone to connect. Either way, anything that motivates 17-year-olds to start growing their professional networks is a success in my book. And, motivated they are! I’ve been watching them begin to add connections and follow companies that interest them. These amazing youth won’t let a global pandemic hold them back for long.
The resilience and flexibility of our students inspires me daily. It challenges all of us to rise to meet them where they are. Right now they are sitting at home, safe but anxious about their futures. So, EXP has adapted our workshops and guest speaker series to be delivered through Google Classroom and YouTube. Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers who have stepped up to share their career wisdom in this new format. Your willingness to step out of your own comfort zones and face a Zoom gathering of teenagers makes you true heroes. (Note: we need more heroes in the coming weeks!)
Coronavirus has made us humble. It’s also demanded us to be nimble and innovative. Can’t gather with 700 of our closest friends for our 20th Anniversary Oceans of Opportunity? Instead, let’s celebrate our students, volunteers and partners with a YouTube Premieres show on June 2nd; 6 p.m. (Come in your PJ’s.) Too dangerous to deliver on-site summer internships? Pivot toward consulting projects delivered virtually to employers, resulting in resumes tailor made for the jobs of the future.
All this change, all the time, is exhausting. We couldn’t do it, if not for YOU, members of the EXP family, who have been supporting us through it all. Our teacher partners, thank you for sharing your Google classrooms. Our volunteers, thank you for pausing your own professional fire-extinguishing to help us build our virtual library of content to support students today and tomorrow. Our donors and sponsors, at a time when budgets are stretched, thank you for continuing to invest in our mission and keep our flame bright through this dark storm. We’ve got this, together.
Stay safe. Stay strong. Stay home.
Amy
P.S. As of today, Alyssa J. from Carson High School has 28 LinkedIn connections and is now following Google, Boeing, Bill Gates and UFC/MMA. Watch this girl; she’s going to save us all.
Announcing a New Venue for Oceans of Opportunity! No commuting required
COVID-19 or not, the show must go on! With social distancing mandates expected to remain in place a bit longer, EXP is preparing to take our 20th Anniversary Oceans of Opportunity directly to you, wherever you are, on June 2nd at 6:00 pm! It promises to be a fun, fast-paced, interactive benefit production presented through YouTube Premieres. Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss the show.
Save the date now, and prepare to kick back and enjoy a spectacular Oceans of Opportunity benefit event. Just like the on-site event, we will recognize EXP scholarship students who shine, educators who inspire, volunteers who motivate, and business partners who set the spark and keep the flame burning. We are also recognizing the generosity of our sponsors who's funding supports EXP's year 'round career education programs for all the students we serve.
Join our growing list of sponsors before May 12th. Contact Marilee Potthoff in the EXP development department at marilee@expfuture.org.
P.S. Look for our official event sizzle reel in your email box soon!
Remote Learning with EXP Virtual Workshops and Speaker Series
Barstow High School Virtual Career Workshop session
In recent weeks, we were able to innovate our signature career readiness workshops and industry guest speaker series online to keep our students on track while sheltering at home.
"Distance learning has been a challenge for everyone involved, but despite the circumstances, EXP's virtual guest speaking series has been phenomenal!," said Nicole Hamasaki, Environmental Careers Academy teacher at Leuzinger High School. "We appreciate the EXP team's persistent efforts to find creative ways to allow our kids to hear from industry professionals, and bring a little bit of life to their learning."
Our next task is building out virtual internships and job shadow days to preserve the promise of our summer internship program, which has been threatened by this pandemic.
Join our running list of virtual speakers! Contact Dr. Dennis Johnson today at dennis@expfuture.org.
Kevin Patel, founder, One Up Action
Luis Amezcua, senior campaign representative with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign
Dr. Geoff Dilly, professor of marine biology, California State University Channel Islands, along with this student Saffron Hullinger; and
Fernando Corona of Remote Helpr, who shared LinkedIn best practices with our students.
A Warm Welcome to Telebah Woods!
We are proud to announce that Telebah Woods has joined the EXP Team as a member of our Board of Directors.
Telebah has an extensive background in the banking industry, with more than 14 years of experience with Bank of America. She is currently Bank of America’s Senior Vice President, Strategy Execution Manager, Consumer Lending – Southwest Division. She also has a passion for the work of EXP.
“EXP’s mission mirrors my commitment of mentorship for our youth and provides me an opportunity to lead from the front," said Telebah.
Congratulations and welcome, Telebah! We look forward to doing great things together!