SANTA ANA, Calif., April 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Orange County Bar Foundation (OCBF) and the Junior League of Orange County, Calif., Inc., (JLOCC) have joined forces to present "Career Day," to be held 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, April 18, at the Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana.
According to JLOCC committee chair Shiao-wen Huang, approximately 60 Latina girls are anticipated at the fourth annual OCBF Higher Education Mentoring Program event, which is one of the projects supported by the membership of the JLOCC.
"Career Day is a wonderful experience," said Martha Madrid, OCBF Associate Director. "The girls hear from successful women and learn about career opportunities that they may not have ever considered; it's an exciting day with interactive workshops, mock interviews and a fun fashion show. OCBF is proud to have the Junior League as a partner in sponsoring the Career Day."
A panel of speakers scheduled for the occasion includes attorney Eva Casas-Sarmiento, J.D., Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Araceli Reyes, Santa Ana Police Officer Rosa Ponce De Leon, Nurse Practitioner Susan Medley, and Project ProSearch partner Sara Palmer, a JLOCC member. The speakers will share what their careers involve and the education required. They will also discuss what motivated them to pursue their career choices and give advice regarding the field they chose.
A fashion show presenting an array of affordable workplace attire will be presented by Working Wardrobes, with Megan Harless as its moderator. For more information regarding specific educational and career opportunities, representatives from the fields of fashion, hairdressing, social work, finance, small business and other areas of specialization will be available at career tables.
The mission of the Higher Education Mentoring program is to encourage and support Latina girls in overcoming obstacles to achieve higher educational degrees and reach their career goals. In partnership with the Orange County Bar Foundation, the JLOCC works actively with the Higher Education Mentoring Program, serving girls in their junior and senior years of high school in the Santa Ana area. The program is designed to lend educational support so these promising young women can graduate from high school, enter college and prepare for professional careers.
JLOCC members provide girls in the program with tutoring in the areas of math and science. They also assist with the college application and the personal essay process. The JLOCC also helps in planning monthly workshops for parents/guardians and program participants. Workshop topics range from fostering excellent study skills to applying for financial aid. In addition, program participants tour local colleges and participate in resume writing workshops and mock interviews. At the end of the year, the JLOCC co-sponsors a graduation event where seniors of the program receive college starter kits with school supplies and dorm essentials for their next steps in their journey to higher education.
About the Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc.
The Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc., is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and the leadership of trained volunteers. The JLOCC has contributed to Orange County by helping found organizations such as Orangewood Children's Home and the Volunteer Center of Orange County. As a solely educational and charitable organization, the JLOCC's trained volunteers actively support the community through collaboration with organizations that promote and support the health, safety and education of women and children. Funds raised annually by the JLOCC directly impact the community through collaborative projects with partner organizations and support JLOCC's mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community. This year's projects include the Kinship Project and Bridges to Higher Education, two programs offered through Orangewood Children's Foundation; Higher Education Mentoring Program (in partnership with the Orange County Bar Foundation); Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Emancipated Youth Program; and Bear Hugs, a JLOCC project supporting emancipated teens in Orange County. A 501(c)(3) organization, the JLOCC reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins. Originally founded in 1956 as the Newport Harbor Service League, the JLOCC is a member organization of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. To learn more about the JLOCC, call (949) 261-0823 or visit www.jlocc.org.
About the Orange County Bar Foundation
The Orange County Bar Foundation, Inc. (OCBF) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to keeping at-risk youth out of jail, in school, healthy and drug free through education, counseling and mentoring. The OCBF has been a leader in the field of juvenile crime diversion and citizenship education for 30 years consistently achieving positive results in the community we serve. The OCBF has provided thousands of Orange County juveniles and their families with the necessary skills to deter delinquent activity, to set goals, and to plan for a positive and productive life free of crime. Since 1990, the OCBF has provided delinquency and substance abuse prevention as well as diversion services in both English and Spanish to Orange County residents. For more information, please visit www.ocbarfoundation.org.