California Career Development Conference (CA CDC) 2025

Jobs 4 California Graduates (J4CG) California Career Development Conference (CA CDC) represents so much more than a competitive event. It reflects a unified community where schools, JAG students, JAG Specialists, and volunteers have untied to make magic. It is with immense pride and excitement that we highlight the remarkable achievements of the JAG students who participated in the CA CDC. The conference was an opportunity to bring JAG students from across California together, to compete and engage in workshops and team building activities.

It was a great pleasure and an honor to have Frida Medrano Ibarra, JAG National Career Association (NCA) President, as the Keynote Speaker for the event. Frida is dedicated to inspiring her peers being guided by Nelson Mandela's quote “I never lose, I either win or learn” which reflects the belief that difficulties and setbacks can provide opportunities for learning and growth.

Held on February 27, 2025, this event was a celebration recognizing our amazing JAG students’ accomplishments and excellence through activities and competitive events that helped them develop leadership, decision-making, team building, and communication skills. We had over 130 JAG students come from all over the state, Assurance Learning Academy, Alta Vista Innovation High School, San Diego Workforce Innovation High School, Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), and San Gorgonio High School. The day was filled with multiple activities from competitive events, engaging workshops lead by our Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers (Culinary Arts, Construction, and Robotics), teachers from CRCD (Financial Literacy), JAG Specialists (Cricut 101 and Balloons Design), to an opportunity to participate in the CPR training and receive industry-recognized certification. A vast area was set-up for team building activities where students were able to network and participate individually or in teams in several games such as trivia, financial literacy knowledge bowl, table tennis, giant tower game to name some of the activities.

The JAG students are a commitment to personal and professional growth, a testament to the unwavering support of their mentors, JAG Specialists, and administrative teams. One of the most impactful aspects of the conference was the opportunity for students to build confidence and self-belief in their abilities through competitions focused on Career Preparation, Prepared Speaking, and Employability Skills. These experiences were not only informative but also empowering by equipping students with the 21st Century skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive job market. The conference also served as a platform for JAG students to connect with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. From team building sessions to interactive workshops, the JAG participants had the opportunity to gain work experience from experienced professionals, ask questions, and gain valuable insights into various career pathways. These connections are invaluable as the JAG students continue to pursue their academic and professional goals, providing them with a supportive network to lean on as they navigate their journeys.

As we celebrate the success of our 2nd California JAG Career Development Conference, we also recognize the incredible impact it has had on the lives of our JAG students. For many, this event was a pivotal moment in their educational and professional journey, igniting a passion for learning and a sense of purpose in their chosen fields. So much so, that we currently have seven (7) JAG students from our network of schools competing at the JAG National Career Development Conference in April 24-26, 2025, in Indianapolis, IN. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the JAG students who participated in the 2nd California Career Development Conference organized by J4CG. Your hard work, dedication, and achievements inspire us all.

Through our team's hard work, collaborative efforts, and achievement of shared goals, we were able to foster a positive and engaging event for all the JAG students across California. The J4CG team would like to thank our JAG Specialists, CTE Teachers, administrative teams, and volunteers, for all your support. A special “Thank You” to our School Development Vice President, Craig Beswick, for his invaluable support and dedication to the growth and success of our J4CG Program.

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