Day 2 - Youth Track

Unlocking Potential: Empowering Youth Engagement

Session: How to Improve Your Title I Youth Program Through Partner Collaboration for Enhanced Outcomes and Engagement.

Youth engagement is a critical cornerstone of educational success, and Title I programs play a vital role in supporting underprivileged youth on their workforce journey. This session, "Unlocking Potential: Empowering Youth Engagement," is designed to equip career coaches, providers, boards and community leaders with the tools and strategies needed to maximize the impact of Title I Youth programs through effective partner collaboration. The main highlights of this session are;

1.        The Power of Collaboration
2.         Innovative Approaches
3.         Youth-Centered Empowerment
4.         Inspiring Personal Growth
5.         Measuring Success

Join us for this session where we will unlock the potential of your Title I Youth program through the power of collaboration. Together, we can empower youth, enhance engagement, and pave the way for a brighter and more promising future for our young learners.

Jernne Evans, Youth Growth and Development Ambassador, Unearthing Future Opportunities (U.F.O) Program
Luis De La Cruz, Workforce Development Director, Eastern New Mexico Workforce Development Board
Krystine Zuest, Coordinator, Unearthing Future Opportunities (U.F.O) Program
Beth Elias, Executive Director, Eastern Area Workforce Development Board

PowerPoint Presentation - PDF

Centering Youth: The Importance of DEI in Growing and Sustaining Your Talent Pool

What are best practices to recruit, engage, support, and retain diverse youth in today’s workplace? How can you make small shifts that result in greater equity and access in your hiring and onboarding processes? Once you bring amazing young people into your organization, how can you support this dynamic talent? Join this panel session that will cover research, practices from the organizations working closely with today’s youth, and the perspective of young people themselves!

You will leave with a literal toolkit of resources, new strategies to support diverse youth and a more equitable work environment, and some provocative ideas about what inclusion means for today’s young workers.

Tobie Baker Wright, Director of C3P Programs, LANL Foundation

PowerPoint Presentation - PDF

Future of Work and the Various Trends We Are Seeing in the Work, Workforce, and Workplace that Impact the Next Generation of Talent

Join Deloitte to learn more about the Future of Work and the various trends we’re seeing in the work, workforce, and workplace that impact the next generation of talent. We’ll explore the “human” skills that our youth need as they experience many twists and turns throughout their careers, such as resilience, adaptive mindsets, and empathy. Participants will leave the session with tactical tips on how to best support their customers as they build their human skills and navigate their future careers.

Blythe Kladney, Manager, Deloitte
Nathan Watson, Senior consultant, Deloitte

PowerPoint Presentation - PDF

Trauma Informed Care and/or Practices Utilized in the State and Schools

School counselors work with students, families, and community stakeholders to help them understand the impact that traumatic experiences have on their academic achievement and social/emotional development. Using a trauma informed approach can help schools, employers, and communities understand the needs of the individuals they serve. In this session we will present Trauma Informed Counseling from its history, its researched backed approach towards students, and how it can be effective in schools, the work place, and in our everyday lives. Understanding how students have been affected by traumatic events helps school counselors provide support and resources to these students.

Charlene B. Chavez, Statewide Transition Director, New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Rebekah Weems, Resource Counselor, Albuquerque Public Schools
Ben Lukoski, Education Administrator, New Mexico public Education Department

Expanding Career Exploration for Youth Through Work Based Learning

The panel for this session will share information about the DWS Pre-Apprenticeship Program and our Be Pro Be Proud initiative. Panelists will discuss their roles and experiences, how the programs operate, and how New Mexico can get involved. Pre-Apprenticeship offers opportunities for youth and young adults to explore careers through hands-on and on-the-job training. It was created to establish talent pools in marketable occupations. Pre-Apprentices receive support in learning about career readiness and employability skills. They are connected with a business who matches their long-term career interests. The business provides meaningful, authentic work experiences while providing mentorship and exposure to industry-specific career pathways. Be Pro Be Proud is a national workforce development initiative addressing a pressing national challenge. There are over 23% of current skilled professions that are at or near retirement age. The next generation of new talent is not sufficient to fill the demand. The initiative targets many key audiences including high school and nontraditional students, current skilled professionals, legislators, parents, teachers, career coaches, and employers to dispel the myths about skilled trade professions. Be Pro Be Proud New Mexico will bring a new generation of pride, progress, and professionals to the skilled trades workforce. This is facilitated through hands on simulators that provide students and the community with an experience of what working in a skilled trade could be like.

Facilitator: Cristy Wade, Pre-Apprenticeship Program Coordinator, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions

Sonia Gomez
Rob Leming, Director of Programs, New Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Sade Smith, Former Pre-Apprentice
Luis Villa, Program Coordinator, Be Pro Be Proud, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions