CAC: Embracing New Beginnings

The Career Action Center (CAC) is poised to embark on an exciting new chapter of programming within Poughkeepsie High School this year. Since 2014, the CAC has been committed to empowering PHS students with a full service job and career planning services through its Drop-In Center and individual mentoring – through its Mentoring Program. 
            Every year, the CAC’s Mentoring Program is open to 30 juniors and seniors who are mentored throughout the school year and work individually with Mentors to accomplish personal, academic, and career-related goals. This involves exclusive opportunities to connect directly with various members of the business community through guest speaker series, student interviews, and visits to employer sites. One of the Mentoring Program’s key focus is to provide PHS students with adequate knowledge to enable them to make a well-informed decision on exploring post-secondary pathways options. One of the ways the CAC does this is by offering each Mentoring student the opportunity to participate in paid work experiences, such as internships and job shadows within their direct field or occupational interest. The CAC offers additional supportive services such as interview and work attire and bus tickets to further support the success of our students throughout the Mentoring Program.
            This year, in support of the Poughkeepsie City School District’s (PCSD) Pathway Transformation Initiative, the CAC will increase its students served through the Mentoring Program from 30 to 50 juniors and seniors to specialize work experiences and post-secondary opportunities within the Arts, Business Entrepreneurship, Communications, Computer Science, Education, and Health Science. 
            Moreover, thanks to the support from the City of Poughkeepsie’s Youth Activities and Opportunities Grant, we are proud to have been able to expand CAC programming with its first year of its Youth Entrepreneur Program (YEP). Beginning this year, YEP will be open to 30 students throughout all grade levels, to participate in a 4-month program to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship by delving into their very own mock business guided by local business professionals. Each mock business will incorporate various roles which students will have the opportunity to serve in, such as: President/CEO, Vice President, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, Communications, and Events Departments. By the end of the program, each student business will develop a business product to be showcased and sold within the PHS school store. 
By offering these unique opportunities for learning, we aim to support students in their academic endeavors and provide them with the necessary tools and resources to excel far beyond high school graduation. As we embrace the new school year, our commitment to investing in the development of our youths remains unwavering. We are determined to provide them with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in the ever-evolving job market. By actively engaging with local businesses and forging partnerships, we aim to create enriching internship opportunities that expose our youths to real-world experiences and foster their professional growth. At CAC, we cherish the continuity of providing meaningful learning experiences to PCSD students and eagerly look forward to this exciting new chapter. 
If you are interested in becoming a guest speaker or mentor for our CAC, please reach out to Consuela Edwards, CAC Mentor, at cedwards@dcrcoc.org or call 845-454-1700 ext. 1028. For more information about workforce programming provided by the Workforce Development Center, please contact Marilyn Figueroa, Director of Workforce, at mfigueroa@dcrcoc.org or 845-454-1700 Ext. 1042.