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11 Young Leaders Who Will Help Transform Career Navigation

At a glance

The ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF has brought together a group of 11 young adults who will share insights and expertise to help design innovative career navigation solutions.

Contributors
Alexandra Hodges Associate Vice President
Aundrea Gregg Director
Abra Beu Senior Analyst

Young people face many critical decisions as they explore their education and career paths, and it’s essential that their voices and experiences help shape the tools and resources designed to support them.

That’s why Jobs for the Future (JFF) is thrilled to announce that the ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF has formed two youth networks dedicated to informing and enhancing our work:

  • The Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a group of seven young leaders who will provide invaluable insights to ensure that our initiatives truly reflect the needs, challenges, and aspirations of those navigating their futures.
  • The Youth Participatory Action Research Group (YPAR), a four-member team that will lead a project to help us better understand how young adults use social media to explore career options, find training opportunities, and navigate their career paths.

Both groups are made up of passionate and engaged individuals from across the country who will offer firsthand perspectives on what it’s like to explore career, education, and training options as they navigate the transition from high school to postsecondary work and learning.

Ranging in age from 18 to 24, the 11 participants come from a range of backgrounds. They include high school students, postsecondary learners, participants in short-term training programs, and early career workers. They will serve on the YAC and YPAR from December 2024 through July 2025 and will receive stipends for the work they do in these advisory roles.

Read on to meet them and learn, in their own words, how they hope to help the ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF shape the future of career navigation.

I want to make a difference in how young people approach their futures, helping them find pathways that align with their passions and goals.

Calvin Hoang, 21, Undergraduate, University of California, Davis

NameTitleLocationNetwork‘To improve career navigation for young people, we must…’
A person with long dark hair smiles at the camera, wearing a patterned shirt. The background is white.Britney Bautista, 22Student, College of AlamedaOakland, CaliforniaYAC“Help students build confidence in their skills, and share my own journey to show them that it’s possible to keep chasing their dreams.”
Close-up of a person with short dark hair and a goatee, wearing a beige coat and a neutral expression.Kali Aroche, 23Graduate, University of California, MercedSan Francisco, CaliforniaYAC“I hope to work amongst a team of bright individuals and with JFF to create a platform that streamlines and enhances the experience of locating and obtaining jobs for young adults.”
A person in a black suit and white shirt smiles against a dark green backdrop.Calvin Hoang, 21Undergraduate, University of California, DavisDavis, CaliforniaYAC“I want to make a difference in how young people approach their futures, helping them find pathways that align with their passions and goals.”
A person with long curly hair and glasses smiles, wearing a light green blazer and white shirt, in front of greenery.Jourdan Johnson, 23Production Assistant, Dew Drop InnNew Orleans, LouisianaYAC“As a young Black woman navigating multiple career paths and hobbies, I know it is important to be a voice for my community and individuals alike. I’d like to ensure that our experience is not only noticed but validated.”
Person with short black hair and hoop earrings, smiling, wearing a red blouse and black blazer against a gray background.Layla Milton, 21Houston, TexasYAC“I hope to truly make a difference in the lives of people attempting to reach their goals and better themselves in any way, whether that be through higher education or vocational training”
A person with long blonde hair smiles slightly against a gray background.Danielle Frencl, 22Career Pathways Facilitator, Arkansas State University-Mountain HomeMountain Home, ArkansasYAC“I just hope to be a voice for all young people in small towns that don’t want to move to get a good job and all the young parents that want to grow and better themselves.”
Close-up of a person's face, showing eyes, nose, and upper lip, with a faint mustache.Ivan Contreras, 19Chicago, IllinoisYAC“I want to further explore ways and resources that will help young adults like myself get a head start into their career of choice without having to worry about where to start or how to start.”
A person with long, dark hair smiles at the camera. They are wearing a light-colored top and earrings. The background is softly blurred.Fiona Li, 22Program Manager, SentinelOneDavis, CaliforniaYPAR“Dive deeper into the research of how Gen Z utilizes social media for career development.”
Person wearing a patterned top and decorative bracelet, resting their head on their hand, looking directly at the camera.Sahibzada Mayed, 23Co-Lead, Strategy and Research, Pause and EffectChicago, IllinoisYPAR“I am looking forward to working with a diverse team of youth researchers and collaborating on this project. I am hoping that the YPAR project can also establish a model for how to meaningfully engage young people in efforts that impact their futures and livelihoods.”
A smiling person wearing a blue sweater and a striped tie stands outdoors with arms crossed. Buildings and trees are in the background.Tara Mason, 23Brand Manager Associate, Muses Consulting StudioCinnaminson, New JerseyYPAR“I am excited to share my insights and experiences to help shape the work of JFF!”
Tobias Brown, 19Pre-Law StudentAlbany, GeorgiaYPAR“I hope I help young people impacted by the criminal justice system leverage social media to navigate the job market effectively.”

 

I hope I help young people impacted by the criminal justice system leverage social media to navigate the job market effectively.

Tobias Brown, 19, Pre-Law Student

Help Us Reimagine the Future of Career Navigation

Forming these two groups is an important step forward in the ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF’s efforts to transform the future of career navigation for young people. But we’re just getting started, and we invite educators, industry professionals, and community leaders to join us in this important work.

To stay connected, fill out our web form on JFF.org.

Together, we can ensure that the next generation has the tools and support they need to navigate their careers successfully.

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