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Home » Our Work » United for Student Success » Student Programs » Youth Career Connections

Youth Career Connections

Making Connections Count

Impact since 2016

Since the start of the program, we’re proud to have worked with OC school districts and United Way corporate partners to achieve the below impact for the benefit of OC students. THANK YOU to everyone involved!
Students and teachers received work-based learning experiences
10,672
Volunteers and corporate partners
1,687
Workplace mentorships provided
1,418
Corporate classroom speakers
236

Making Connections Count

Youth Career Connections is Orange County United Way’s work-based learning program that infuses classroom learning with real-world experiences. We connect students directly to employers so they are prepared for lifelong success by graduating both college- and career-ready.

Bringing experiential learning to and extending student career exploration beyond the classroom helps put students on a path toward academic and economic success.

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Key Industries of focus

Arts, Media & Entertainment
(Digital Arts Media)
Business, Marketing &
Finance
Engineering, Design &
Architecture
Health Services & Medical Technology
Information &
Communication
Technologies

Our program offerings

Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Corporate Classroom Speakers

Professionals working in our key industries visit local classrooms to share their career journeys.

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Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Industry Site Visits

Companies in our key industries open up their doors to host local high school students and provide the opportunity to learn about potential career pathways.

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Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Workplace Mentorships

High school seniors intern for 4 weeks at a local company to gain on-the-job experiences, learn workforce employability skills, and explore career possibilities.

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Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Summer Career & Life Prep Academy

Through workshops and guest speakers, students gain valuable employability and leadership skills while interacting with industry experts to expand their personal network.

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Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Start-Up Bootcamp

Students interested in becoming entrepreneurs learn the fundamentals of starting their own business via personalized coaching in this five-month program.

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Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

First Responders Academy

High school students can get hands-on experience during this two-day academy where they learn CPR, receive partial EMT training, enjoy an ambulance ride-along, and more.

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Our program offerings

Corporate Classroom Speakers

Professionals working in our key industries visit local classrooms to share their career journeys.

Scheduling is flexible. We’re looking to coordinate speaker sessions between September to April, Monday to Friday between 8am and 3:30pm at schools throughout Orange County.

Companies in our key industries open up their doors to host local high school students and provide the opportunity to learn about potential career pathways.

 

Scheduling is flexible. We look to coordinate industry site visits between September and April.

High school seniors intern for 4 weeks at a local company to gain on-the-job experiences, learn workforce employability skills, and explore career possibilities.

 

Workplace mentorships are 4 weeks long and take place between June and July (20 hours a week).

Through workshops and guest speakers, students gain valuable employability and leadership skills while interacting with industry experts to expand their personal network.

Students interested in becoming entrepreneurs learn the fundamentals of starting their own business via personalized coaching in this five-month program. From learning how to create a business model and plan to pitching to investors and showcasing their product, students vie for a spot at local pop-up markets and the top student wins a scholarship to help them start their business.

Thanks to our partnership with Falck Mobile Health, local high school students can get hands-on experience during this two-day academy where they learn CPR, receive partial EMT training, enjoy an ambulance ride-along, and more.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM AN
INDUSTRY SITE VISIT

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Hear from participants

Workplace mentorship workshops
Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections
Youth Career Connections Startup Bootcamp
Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Co-Chairs

Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Marilyn Monroe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Marilyn Monroe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Orange County United Way Youth Career Connections

Marilyn Monroe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

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Learn more or get involved

If you are a student, parent, or teacher who wants to learn more or you’d like to volunteer and support, please contact:

 

Yahaira Ortiz

949.263.6142

Yahairao@UnitedWayOC.org

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