Junior Achievement of Central Maryland Inc. (JA), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people to succeed in a rapidly changing economy, hosted its second annual “Her Path to Promise” program designed to assist young women transitioning from foster care through initiatives like college preparation, career exploration and mentorship.
The educational program hosted 20 participants from the organization Women in Transition, a local non-profit helping young women transition from foster care successfully. It was held at Towson University last weekand provided three days of interactive self-assessment, college prep, career exploration and mentoring from female professionals.
“Her Path to Promise is an inspiring initiative that helps young women recognize their strengths and abilities, allowing them to enter the workforce with confidence,” said Jennifer Bodensiek, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Central Maryland. “The interactive sessions and exposure to different career paths demonstrated the opportunities available to them, and we appreciate the efforts of everyone involved to make this possible.”
The in-depth panel discussion featured Kim Campbell, Director of Human Resources for Basys software company; Colette Colclough, Vice President of Human Resources at Maryland Public Television; Angenella Fleming, Human Resources Director for Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated; and Jennifer Stano, Employment, Classification and Compensation Manager for Towson University.
The young women were also gifted with professional attire from Potential Me, an organization dedicated to providing disadvantaged women with the tools needed to obtain financial independence.
Businesses from the local area participated in a career fair, which gave the young women access to a variety of industries. Representatives from Chesapeake Human Resources Association, Barcoding, Clapp Communications, EZ Shield, PayPal, Northrop Grumman, Toyota Financial Services, Humphrey Management, Coca-Cola, MACPA, COMPASS Cyber Security, Maryland Live!, and Wegmans were all in attendance.
“I strongly believe in getting off on the right foot, regardless of your station in life – everyone who wants a chance to be successful should be afforded just that,” said Rachel Fink, Director of Human Resources at EZ Shield, and career fair volunteer. “It was important to me to participate in JA Her Path to Promise because, as someone who has struggled to find my own way early on, I will always be grateful to those who took the time to mentor me and help me get on the right path.”
About Junior Achievement of Central Maryland
Junior Achievement of Central Maryland is part of the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JACMD provides hands-on programs that show more than 46,000 K-12 students each year the realities of how careers, money and business ownership work. JA experiences are proven to give students the edge in college completion, career readiness, earning potential, and business start-up. For more information, visit www.jamaryland.org.
