Roots of Success Executive Director Presents Workshop at CWA’s Annual Youth Employment Conference

by | Jan 18, 2013 | Announcements, Program News

Raquel speaking at podium

Roots of Success Founder and Executive Director Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes returned today from a three-day trip to Southern California, where she attended the California Workforce Association’s annual Youth Conference and led a workshop on “The Missing Link in Connecting Youth with Green Jobs”. The conference, which wrapped up Thursday afternoon with a rousing address by Larry Robbin on the profound impact of workforce development programs, showcased Roots of Success alongside a wide variety of programs and strategies that are making a difference in the lives of youth and young adults who have become disconnected from school or work.

logos tallDuring her presentation, Dr. Pinderhughes highlighted how the comprehensive materials and unique teaching approach of Roots of Success are strengthened by the partnerships our organization has built with programs across the country. “We work with programs that have done the hard work of getting young people in the door and motivating them to stay,” Dr. Pinderhughes explained, “our job is to provide these programs with the training, materials, and wrap around services that will enable them to do their work better.” The informative and engaging workshop brought together representatives from a diverse range of programs serving young people, and ended with an open discussion of how proven tools like Roots of Success can be used to help create a better future for at-risk youth and their communities.

Dr. Pinderhughes also screened a new video featuring Jamie Brewster, Site Manager and Roots of Success instructor for Asian Neighborhood Design’s Employment Training Center, talking about how the curriculum helps his program prepare young adults with barriers to employment for careers in the green economy. The video, which you can watch below, gave attendees a first-hand account of how a workforce training organization like Asian Neighborhood Design can use the curriculum to ensure that their graduates have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to, in the words of Jamie, become “ambassadors of green” in the construction field — and to also share that information with friends, family, and other people in their community.
The Roots of Success team would like to extend a special thank you to all those who engaged with us at the workshop, and we encourage those in attendance to follow-up with us and continue the discussion of how Roots of Success can help prepare students for a successful future. With the start of the new year arrive new prospects for growth, and our team is consistently working to engage with communities who might benefit from our work — you can always call (510) 470-0803 or email info@rootsofsuccess.org if you are interested in having us presents a talk or workshop at your upcoming conference.