At this month's virtual career day, Hope Community School's 11th and 12th graders connected with Jamie Charles, a Human Resources professional at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. Jamie walked the students through her career journey - from McDonald's to daycare to mental health work and now HR - and how each role equipped her with essential skills that continue to serve her today. Jamie stressed every job matters and every experience helps build the foundation for the next step on a career path. A big thank you to Jamie for her engaging presentation and sharing the value of every stage of professional development. If you're interested in joining a career day at Hope, please email info@sparkventures.org! (fb)

Meet Katy, a bright 7 year old in her first year at Entreamigos. When she first joined the Scholarship Program, she was shy, hesitant, and relied heavily on her older siblings for comfort, especially in new and unfamiliar settings. With the patience and support of the emotional intelligence classes at Entreamigos, Katy was given the space to grow at her own pace. She started out quiet and guarded during her classes, but little by little her confidence grew and began to shine. Now? Katy runs into class, waving goodbye to her older siblings, and is more engaged with her peers and learning every day. Her perfect attendance even earned her an award, a testament to her accomplishments and commitment. Entreamigos is doing incredible work to empower kids in their community! (fb)