Supporting Young Women’s Career Aspirations
Author: Ashlyn Lower
Corporate Responsibility
Published:
Tuesday, 09 May 2023
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Image caption: 2023 Cohort of CCYW Students
At JA, we spend every day thinking about the futures of the young people in our community. We strive to inspire and prepare young people to be confident and successful members of society. JA is and always will be for EVERYONE. However, we would be remiss to not call attention to some of our more specific programming.
Women, young and old, still face many unique challenges, and JA strives to give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed in business and in life. We have created programs like our Career Connections for Young Women (CCYW) to empower the young women in our communities to chase their dreams and build the capabilities and skills to reach them.
Led by the fearless Dr. Celia Lofink, Assistant Dean Career Ready Program; Clinical Assistant Professor of Management, our CCYW program includes 10 weeks of career exploration taught through job shadows, career panels, college visits, and a group project. Through this unique program, students are immersed into a world of opportunities.
“Women at a young age should know their full potential and know that they are just as good as anyone…. This program has taught me things that I will use in my future, maybe even for the rest of my life.”
-Quandaysha, New Britain High School, CCYW 2022
Image caption: Students at Phoenix Manufacturing in Enfield, CT
Providing First-Hand Experiences
Our inspiration for young women reaches far past CCYW. We work with incredible women across the state, from Board Members to volunteers, to help encourage the young women in JA to think outside of the box.
This year, students explored the machining floor, inspection areas, and offices of Phoenix Manufacturing in Enfield, CT. During their welcome, Owner and CEO Krystyna Paluch and her daughter Martha, who serves as Vice President of Administration and Compliance, spoke to students about Phoenix’s commitment to offering opportunities to young adults entering manufacturing and the critical role technology plays in the industry. Students learned about the importance of quality and just how carefully employees complete their assignments to ensure the best and safest products are supplied to build aircrafts.
It is through these types of partnerships, job shadows, and exposure to powerful women like those mentioned above that we help create powerful, confident women prepared to navigate their futures with boundless possibilities.
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