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Gonzales youth present SOAR survey findings, plan workshops for South County Youth Summit
Summary
Youth council members presented results from a SOAR asset-mapping survey showing students want career prep workshops, internships, adulting classes and greater mentorship; council was told $10,000 in Wallace/Hartnell funding supports summit planning.
Jessica Olmedo, a youth council adviser, and youth ambassadors Valeria Cardenas and Emily Mendez presented the Student Opportunity Achieving Rising (SOAR) asset-mapping project to the Gonzales City Council on Feb. 18.
The students surveyed primarily Gonzales High School juniors and seniors and reported that many respondents plan to pursue postsecondary education; others are undecided. The presenters said the survey collected demographic information and asked students about resources they currently use and barriers to career readiness. “Most of the data rated students’ preparedness as a three to four out of five,” the presentation materials showed.
The nut graf: The student-led survey identified mentorship and career-preparation workshops as top priorities; the youth commissioners said they will use $10,000 in regional grant funding to develop workshops for the South County Youth Summit.
Student presenters described survey findings: many respondents named the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and school mentors as the most-used resources for career and college help, while others cited gaps including lack of career readiness, personal support and mental-health services. Among suggested next steps, students asked for more internships, mentorship opportunities, online prep courses, driver’s-license support and financial-literacy workshops.
Valeria Cardenas and Emily Mendez said the survey was distributed via social media and in cooperation with schools; they reported 28 questions on topics including parental education and college intent. The presenters said the survey results will guide workshop topics at the upcoming South County Youth Summit, with adulting 101, career insight and hands-on prep workshops among the top requests.
Council members thanked the youth presenters. City staff said grant funding and the students’ data will be used to structure summit workshops.
Ending: The youth commissioners said summit planning will continue and that survey data will inform workshop content; no formal council action was taken on the presentation.
