Edison career event connects BIOPC students with local professionals

Our career and college readiness team at Edison Senior High School – Nora Guerin and Andrew Peterson – recently joined other Edison staff to host the school’s first annual “Achieving My Potential” event, a highly engaging career exploration event designed to strengthen college and career-going culture for Edison BIPOC students.

Local professionals who reflect the racial, ethnic, and spoken-language identities of Edison students were invited to come and share their career journeys, professional training and lived experience with young people via a career panel and one-on-one lunchtime conversations. Edison students also provided input into the careers that were featured, based on fields they were most interested in.

Over 45 Twin Cities professionals volunteered for the event, which kicked off with a panel of seven participants speaking candidly about their experiences as people of color in the legal field, dentistry, journalism, mental health services and many other professions.

All volunteers then gathered with students in the Edison gym, where each volunteer had their own table to share lunch and conversation with students. Students were encouraged to meet with a wide variety of volunteers to make connections, learn about specific fields, get advice on careers and required training, and ask their questions.

Volunteers included planning analysts, teachers, artists, accountants, pilots, marketing managers, attorneys, human service professionals, clergy, educators, IT specialists, community health workers, software architects, real estate brokers, bankers, athletes and many more.

Thanks to all of these dedicated professionals for helping students to imagine new opportunities, expand their horizons and start on career paths they are invested in and excited about!

Learn how you can get engaged with Achieve Twin Cities as a career event volunteer or internship employer.