EXP Insider: Celebrating 25-25-25

25th Annual Oceans of Opportunity - May 8

Join us on May 8 at the 25th annual Oceans of Opportunity to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2025! Reserve your seats now to commemorate this amazing milestone, honor the dedication of our partners and volunteers, and celebrate the achievements of our students and alumni.

Join our early bird sponsors and secure your table for our 25th Anniversary celebration! Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Jessica Urena, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org.

 STEM Squad Assembling on March 6

The INSIGHT Into Diversity 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM award-winning program is set to return to Los Angeles Harbor College on March 6! EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day introduces 500+ young women and non-binary students from EXP-supported high schools to STEM-related careers. Students engage through expert panels, hands-on activities, networking opportunities, and “Lunch with a STEM Professional.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available now! Please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org.

A Proud Recipient of the Ready to Rise Grant

We are thrilled to be a recipient of the 2024 Ready to Rise $100,000 grant! Ready to Rise is a private-public partnership with the Los Angeles County Probation Department, California Community Foundation, and Liberty Hill that reimagines youth development and focuses on keeping youth out of the criminal justice system.

In receiving this highly competitive grant, EXP is recognized as a premier career-focused, youth workforce development partner. Helping us expand our mission to prepare students for a letter life.

ICAN Expand Too: Demystifying Apprenticeships

Did you know 90% of apprentices retain employment after apprenticeship completion? Investing in employees through an on-the-job training program builds loyalty and reduces turnover. But how do you get started?

Join our partners, ICAN - Industry Centered Apprenticeship Network, DIAG USA, and the Orange County Regional Consortium, and hear from our keynote speaker, Dr. Kevin J Fleming, and other experts at ICAN Expand Too: Demystifying Apprenticeships on Friday, February 7, to learn how to build and maintain your talent pipeline through a non-traditional apprenticeship.

January is National Mentorship Month

January is Mentorship Month! We celebrate our EXPression program, which fosters relationships between students and experienced mentors who are dedicated to nurturing talent, igniting creativity, and empowering young minds.

This past school year, we expanded the program to include project mentorship, where industry professionals collaborated with students on project-based learning initiatives. By aligning students with professionals in their fields of interest, we provide opportunities to tackle real-world challenges, gain hands-on insights, and explore career pathways.

“Watching these students grow from the first mentorship session to the final project was fun and immensely rewarding,” said CJ Nord, President of Supply Chains for Good. “The future is bright because these students are the future, and they shine!”

We reached more than 500 participants, an impact far exceeding pre-pandemic numbers. This impact would not have been possible without the incredible commitment of our industry partners and mentors, whose support ensures that students gain skills and recognize their limitless potential, setting them on a path toward a more confident future.

EXP Staff Update

You may have seen Lan Nguyen as an EXP volunteer at our recent events. We’re delighted to welcome Lan to our team as development coordinator!

"I'm so grateful and excited to be able to serve alongside this incredible team at EXP and to be a part of the impactful work they are all doing to prepare our youth in Southern California for a bright future!"

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Lan graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature under the Creative Writing Specialization.

Since graduation, she has served communities in Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County through her work in public education and community arts programming. Currently, she works as a substitute teacher for the Long Beach Unified School District and serves as an events assistant at KUBO LB, developing community programming that uplifts Filipino and BIPOC populations in Long Beach.

Upcoming Events

EXP Insider, Generaloakley borenEXP Insider, Oceans of Opportunity, Women in STEM, Women in STEM Career Day, ICAN, apprenticeship, Ready to Rise, National Mentorship Month, Mentorship, CJ Nord