There's a lot that our communities can do to strengthen our economy while enhancing equity. This kind of work must be centered around workforce training and development, especially in ways that support our youth and young adults. 

That's why I'm happy to share that the Richmond Community Foundation is partnering with West Contra Costa Unified School District to present the 7th Annual Northern California Summit on Children and Youth, "Building the Next Generation Workforce." 

The event is set for May 17 at the Craneway Pavilion, in the Ford building, from 10 a.m. to p.m. Click here to register and get more information. 

This year's event will feature a career fair for students and teachers, an ideal way to incorporate participation from underserved youth and students of color.

The Summit will help ensure that our communities are better prepared for the employment opportunities in our region in coming years, such as health care, information and communications technologies, biotech and other high-skill vocations.  

 

The Summit includes inspiring speakers and presentations from programs throughout the Bay Area, including Marc Philpart from PolicyLink, Sherice Torres from Google, and Joseph Fortuno, a recent graduate of Hercules High School, as well as concurrent sessions and roundtable discussions to tackle challenges and opportunities. 

The afternoon and evening portion of the event will feature a career fair and resource village for students, teachers and parents, including presentations from businesses, community leaders and entrepreneurs, and opportunities for students and teachers to interact directly with them.