About Connecting to Success

Connecting To Success is a high impact workforce preparation program in a business conference format. Over 100 volunteer mentors from the business community lead students through role-playing, case studies, group discussions, and individual assessments to build workplace professionalism, and the ability to influence others as responsible adults.

Connecting to Success was developed in the Santa Clarita Valley through the partnership of the Valley Industrial Association of Santa Clarita (VIA) and Junior Achievement of Southern California (JA). Since 2003 VIA and JA have partnered to deliver this unique and innovative program to high school juniors in the Santa Clarita Valley. Beginning with a few hundred students from Valencia High School, Connecting to Success has grown into a program that is replicated in communities across the nation. This year five high schools and nearly 2,800 students will participate in Connecting to Success in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Participating High Schools in 2008-09:

• Canyon
• William S. Hart
• Bowman
• Golden Valley
• Saugus
• Valencia
• West Ranch

Julie Weith, Custom Human Resource Solutions and VIA Chairwoman of the Board –
“I’ve been involved with Connecting to Success from its inception and get great personal satisfaction out of knowing that I am able to make a positive difference in creating the path to successful futures. As a business leader in the Santa Clarita Valley, I am proud to participate in the CTS program as a way of preparing our youths to enter the workforce as well as setting the foundation for them to become our future business leaders.”

Event Info & Dates

Where: The 6th Annual Connecting to Success will take place at Grace Baptist Church, whose Elders, Staff, and Congregation have generously offered their campus free of charge.

When: Connecting to Success will take place on two dates from 8:00am to 2:00pm, serving between 900 and 1,000 students each day. The event dates are:

• October 2, 2008
• January 29, 2009
• February 12, 2009

Facilitator Training Dates:

• To be announced!

What is Learned:

Connecting to Success was derived from Junior Achievement’s Success Skills program, specifically designed for High School age young adults. Students use role-playing, case studies, group discussion and individual assessment to build workplace professionalism, and the ability to influence others as responsible, professional adults. Students undergo individual interpersonal skills assessment and have benchmarks set as a result. They then practice and develop these skills as volunteer mentors from the business community demonstrate their relevance to school, work, and life.

Connecting to Success enhances students’ learning of these crucial concepts and skills:

Concepts - Attitude • Building rapport • Business • Careers • Choices • Citizenship • Communication • Ethics • Innovation • Interpersonal skills • Interviews • Job application • Leadership • Opportunity costs • Resumes • Skills portfolio • Teamwork

Skills - Active listening • Analyzing behavior • Asking questions • Assessing • Brainstorming • Building self-esteem • Consensus building • Critical assessment • Encouraging interpersonal relations • Interpreting data • Interviewing • Listening • Resolving conflict • Role-playing • Teamwork • Using etiquette • Writing

Breakout Sessions – Volunteer mentors teach these concepts and skills through the following breakout sessions.

Ethics
Through case studies and personal reflection, the students will explore their beliefs, values, and ethical principles as they relate to the world of work. The students will assess their current level of knowledge about school and workplace expectations. They will also analyze ethical dilemmas common in school and the workplace . . . and develop their own personal code of ethics.

Working in Teams
The students will apply teamwork skills by performing an activity that requires working together to reach a common goal. The students will recognize that collaboration is necessary to achieve desired results. They will also identify factors that enhance or impede team performance. Finally, the students will apply guidelines for effective team performance to their own school or work situations.

Communicating Your Value
The students will learn to communicate their skills and experience using a variety of career preparation tools. The facilitators will show the students how to complete job applications, prepare work histories, write effective letters and resumes and organize their skills portfolios. The students will also learn techniques for presenting themselves effectively and practice preparing for interviews with peers.

Connecting to Success Agenda

Opening General Session – Dan Williams of the Destiny Foundation prepares students for the day by challenging them to examine their motivations and plans for the future and how they can use their lives to positively impact those around them.

Breakout Sessions – Each student then filters through a series of breakout sessions, consisting of roughly 40 students and 2-3 facilitators (volunteer mentors from the business community). The breakout sessions are:

• Ethics in the Workplace


• Working in Teams


• Communicating Your Value

Connecting to Success Leadership Committee

Randy Moberg, Vice Chair Education, VIA and

LBW Insurance & Financial Services

Julie Weith
Custom Human Resource Solutions

Adriana Estrada
SCV School & Business Alliance

Kathy Norris

Valley Industrial Association

Sabrina MacDougall
Junior Achievement

Tracy Moscoe
Valencia High School

Paul Priesz
Valencia High School

Elizabeth Wilson

Valencia High School

Rose Mathias

Golden Valley High School

Mitch Krayton

Community Volunteer

Daniel Williams
Destiny Foundation

Debra Warren

West Ranch High School

Jeannine Fleming

West Ranch High School

Bill Bolde

Saugus High School

Mike Nugent

Bowman High School

Larry Oshodi

William S. Hart High School

Paul Simmonds

Lockheed Federal Credit Union

Bob Babko

West Ranch High School