Orlando chose tech

A few months ago, we launched a career workshop to help our youth explore future paths. Led by longtime volunteer, and now board member, Donna Whitman, the students were asked to interview someone working in a field they were drawn to.

Orlando chose tech.

That led him to Jeff, our Salesforce consultant. For over a year, Jeff has been helping Unidos build systems behind the scenes, all while hoping to mentor a young person from the community, someone he could train and one day help launch into a career.

When he met Orlando, something clicked.

What started as Orlando’s career interview, part of his assignment for our workshop, turned into something more. After their conversation, Jeff gave Orlando a ride home and later called us to say, “He’s amazing. A perfect fit.”

Now, Orlando is interning with Jeff at The Shea Center, working a few days a week on real projects like organizing their contact database. This fall, he starts his first semester at Saddleback College, with plans to transfer to UCI and study computer engineering.

A workshop led to a conversation. A conversation led to an opportunity. And behind it all was a community, quietly doing the work of believing in young people, and making sure they’re seen.


Maritza Rebollar
Youth Director