For the 2022-2023 school year, Sharefest’s Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) expanded to six Continuation High Schools in the South LA and Harbor areas of Los Angeles: Avalon (Wilmington), Angel's Gate (San Pedro), Patton (Harbor City), Simon Rodia (Watts/South Gate), Moneta (Gardena), and, new this year, William J. Johnson Community Day School (San Pedro). In three of the schools (Angel’s Gate, Patton, Moneta) our Career and College Development Courses were a required weekly class during the school day – meaning, every student in the school benefited from YLA programming. In the other schools, the courses were available at the end of the day as electives.

We enrolled 385 students in the YLA, exceeding our goal of 350. Of these, 253 (66%) completed a full semester sufficiently to earn credit towards graduation. Over 85% of students said they were more likely to attend school because of the YLA, and 93% agreed that the course increased the likelihood that they would graduate high school. Importantly, 91% of students said that there was at least one Sharefest staff person they felt comfortable talking to about their life. For youth completing at least one semester of programming, our measurable outcomes included:

• 77% of students removed a barrier to college/career success, such as high school graduation; development of a career plan; entry into college, trade school, or career-path employment. We had 68 students graduate high school.

• 62% increased the size of their supportive network.

• 94% increased their resiliency as measured by the Shift-and-Persist assessment.

We expanded our summer program for new graduates from 4 to 6 weeks and included the opportunity for students to receive payment through a partnership with America’s Job Center of California, turning an intensive voluntary workshop into a paid internship where students are expected to learn professional skills. As a result, the summer program expanded from 11 to 29 students and participant engagement was very high. Feedback from participants included:

“Because of Sharefest I am leaving with confidence, I am leaving with supporters, and I am overall leaving with me knowing what I want to do with my life now.” - Natalie, newly employed teacher at the Boys and Girls Club.

“I would tell myself to self-advocate … advocate for yourself, ask the questions, and be confident … and never let someone get you down” -Vincent, current Cedar Sinai Intern.

“Thank you for taking the time and the patience to teach me and all these other students about the fundamentals of being an adult. They don’t teach you these things in school. There are no topics on credit cards, debt, (or) building credit… I’m just going to be forever grateful to my mentors and to this company as a whole.”

“Sharefest has honestly been a really big role model for me. I don’t really live with my family; it feels good having someone there checking in on me that I am ok… feels good that I have someone to fall back on”

We exceeded most of our outcome goals. A smaller percentage of students expanded their social network than projected. This may have been due to the assessment tools we used and/or their administration. This was our first year utilizing this array of evaluation instruments and the analytic tools in our Apricot 360 database. With the support of an external consultant, we have gone through the results to find ways to improve the data quality. We have refined some of our intake questions and survey protocols in order to strengthen the validity and value of the results.

Nevertheless, in analyzing the data from our first two years of our workforce development program, we have seen that students appreciate two distinct kinds of benefits from the program: Socio-emotional development (e.g., learning how to stay calm and control anxiety) and practical concerns, such as financial literacy, job searching and college access. This is reflected in our student evaluation surveys. Asked to name helpful things they learned, student responses include:

“That it's okay to ask for help if your struggling with something. How to save up my money and learning about financial literacy. I also learned how to tie a tie.”

“Sharefest improved my teamwork skills. They taught me how to be patient. They also taught me not to judge so quickly.”

“The first thing that Sharefest helped me with was how to bank and manage money better. Another thing that Sharefest helped me with was expanding my career interests. The last thing that I was helped with was how to be more professional.”

“Going to Sharefest helped me have some sense of direction in my life. While I am still nervous for the future, I have learned that I can set myself up to have a fulfilling life.”

“Thank you for taking the time and the patience to teach me and all these other students about the fundamentals of being an adult. They don’t teach you these things in school. There are no topics on credit cards, debt, (or) building credit… I’m just going to be forever grateful to my mentors.”

“Sharefest has honestly been a really big role model for me. I don’t really live with my family; it feels good having someone there checking in on me that I am ok… feels good that I have someone to fall back on”

One of our most exciting developments is a new partnership with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, which has created an internship program designed to give young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds experience in the construction industry through the hospital’s building partners. We have two students currently in the program. They are getting paid as they are immersed for weeks at a time at leading commercial construction firms, learning about design, sustainable development, and building technologies, as well as the career opportunities available to them. It is a transformative experience that we hope to expand in the future.

It will always be a challenge to work within the LAUSD, and particularly in continuation schools. They are extremely under-resourced and under-supported by the district, which puts a strain on the administrators and teachers with whom we work. At William J. Johnson Community Day School, there was a change in leadership and, as a result, we are not continuing there in the 2023-24 school year.

As we move forward, we continue to see our alums grow and succeed. Ever Macabasco, YLA alum, recently shared her experience at our annual gala:

“After years in the foster care system, living with different family members, surrounded by drug use and experiencing sexual assault, I believed my situation was my fault. When I found myself in a mental hospital diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I had no idea what my future would hold and I was overcome with helplessness.

Today, you’ll find me as a social butterfly at Cal State Dominguez Hills where I am pursuing a degree in Psychology. I’m currently working at the Immigrant Justice Center Law Offices, making sure that people who are undocumented still get to go to school. I hope to someday run a nonprofit for foster youth who struggle with mental illness.

This turn-around wouldn’t have been possible without the love of my grandparents who took me out of the foster care system, and Sharefest who taught me that a better future was within my reach.

When I met Sharefest, I wasn’t in great shape as my grandfather was in the hospital. I was hesitant to get too involved because I didn’t know if I could trust them. I started to talk with [Sharefest Instructor] Ms. Phonnyta and was able to get vulnerable with her. I shared with her that I wanted to go to college and she helped me get to where I am today. Sharefest has done so much more than help me get into college. Ms. Phonnyta helped me sort out legal stuff to become my own guardian after my grandpa died. Ms. Phonnyta taught me how to live for myself and achieve my dreams. I’ve been able to turn a dream into something because I wanted that change for myself. Sharefest has taught me not to be ashamed of my story and I am so grateful to be able to share it.”

We are deeply appreciative of LA2050 for making our participants’ dreams come true.