by Lindsay Park

On 26 July 2018, the Downey MADE Work Experience Program came to a close with a Culmination Celebration. Eighty students (up from 35 last year) bedecked in sharp suits or company t-shirts gathered in the courtyard nestled between Downey City Hall and the public library to showcase their summer work experience and network with the 47 employers with whom they were placed.

The MADE Work Experience Program at Downey Unified School District (DUSD) offers juniors practical, interactive seminars that cover skills necessary for success in the workplace. From the hustle and bustle of a law office to working with robots at a space center, or handling Coca Cola products at a major distribution site, these students obtained diverse experiences that will better prepare them for the future. Students who complete all six work readiness seminars during the school year are eligible for six weeks (total of 100 hours) of paid work experience in the summer. This year marks the third year of the program through funding from the California Career Pathways Trust grant.

At the Culmination Celebration, student workers demonstrated great poise in the face of employers and notable individuals such as Mayor Pro Tem Rick Rodriguez and DUSD Superintendent Dr. John A. Garcia Jr. Equipped with large poster boards and informational brochures, they deftly fielded multiple questions about their work from passersby who were curious about their experiences.

Evan Saracay and Rahul Vanmali, class of 2019, explained their time at the Columbia Memorial Space Center. “I really loved the emphasis on what a rich history Downey has in aerospace, and I thought it was really unique as well that we got to meet a real astronaut on a day at work,” Evan said. “He was explaining to us how he would walk by that place—when they were building airplanes—and he could literally reach his hand through a fence and touch a missile. And that was during around World War II, so it was interesting learning how important that stuff is and sadly a little forgotten. I feel like we should definitely have that a little more emphasized to our younger generations who don’t know what Downey really was.”

Rahul particularly enjoyed educating children on the “engineering behind going into space,” and teaching them the mechanics of how certain things like the wings of a plane work.

With these highlights also came some hurdles. In Evan’s case, “the most challenging thing was trying to find a way to explain things to children. We got to work with really young children—one time we had a group of preschoolers. Trying to keep them entertained was one thing as well, but trying to explain things in a way they’ll understand and be interested was another. So it was really interesting; we had to not simplify things, but say it in a way they would be interested in.”

For Cheyla Farias—intern at the Law Office of Blanca Pacheco—work experience was different, but no less impactful during those six weeks she spent in the office. “Everything was perfect there,” Cheyla said. “There was not a day where I didn’t feel professional.” In addition to enjoying the overall atmosphere and routine of everyday life in a law office, Cheyla also found that her “skills have developed more.” She explained, “Some of them were already inside me but I didn’t show them because I was too afraid. For example, my self confidence—before I guess you could say I was shy, and I was too afraid to ask questions. My coworkers were all great teachers. I developed the skill of accepting and learning from criticism as well as problem solving.”

Then there were students like Katherine Trujillo, who worked for the Downey Chamber of Commerce. Her challenge rested in “managing my time wisely and expressing myself when talking to other people, just getting my point across.” Despite this obstacle, she learned, “If you want to get somewhere in life, you have to communicate your way to the top. Communicate with a lot of people and make sure you understand where they’re coming from and where you’re coming from, just have a middle.” In the end, Katherine said, “I think I’m more confident now in the way I talk than I used to be before, and I feel like it’s going to help me along the way because now I know I need to speak up.”

Noteworthy of this six-week program was student Roop Badesha’s involvement with Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, as it’s the first major brand and distribution site to accept interns from Downey Unified. Initially invited for a trial two-week work experience, Roop impressed Coca-Cola staff who then reached out to request that he stay for the full six weeks. During that time, Roop explained, “I took care of the sensory room, I tested the Coke through the machines, and also I prepared samples for the workers to taste test it.” Throughout this process, Roop’s favorite part was “seeing the Coke being made” and learning about the contents of a product he regularly consumes. However, he was no stranger to challenges and primarily wrestled with “getting used to working with people not your age because most of the people were older than me.” These obstacles did not deter Roop from “gaining work experience and becoming more comfortable with people” he didn’t know.

Some themes were consistent throughout each of the student’s varied and vast experiences as interns: operating in a workplace provided them the opportunity to develop their own voices, build self confidence, and communicate more effectively.  

Bayha Group is a partner with DUSD under the California Career Pathways Trust grant and provides program direction and coordination for the Downey MADE program. The Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board  (SELACO WDB) played an integral role by serving as the program’s employer on record and supporting industry engagement efforts. Thank you to all the program sponsors, participants, businesses, and supporters.