Careers in Public Service Day

Innovative Pathways to Public Service Sponsors Careers in Public Service Month – Showcasing Career Pathways into Public Service Jobs for High School Students

Innovative Pathways to Public Service (IPPS) is sponsoring Careers in Public Service Month to increase the awareness about public sector career opportunities to the workforce of tomorrow. During the month of November, local public service organizations and high schools are joining together for Careers in Public Service Day, a series of events across the greater Sacramento region offering 300 students hands-on activities to increase their awareness of diverse careers in the public sector – healthcare, cities, counties, special districts and state government.

IPPS is a cross-sector collaborative of organizations focused on youth and workforce development. IPPS members include leaders from education (K-12, community college and universities), workforce development, municipal and state government agencies, and regional community and business partners that want to align efforts for more intentional, effective pathways into public service.

IPPS is building a new paradigm of effective, data-driven strategies for attracting, developing and retaining talent. The Public Sector Workforce report published through the efforts of the collaborative, determined that 24% of all the jobs in the region are public sector jobs and that many public sector employers face challenges to develop a pipeline of workers ready to enter and advance through the ranks.

Careers in Public Service Month will showcase career pathways into public service jobs for high school students. SMUD is one of several public sector employers involved.

“We hope to have many other opportunities to showcase the important work we do and how young people can make a difference,” said Susan Wheeler, SMUD’s Workforce Outreach Coordinator.

IPPS thanks the AT&T Foundation for its generous support of this career exploration series. Five students will be participate in an extended job shadow or internship in early 2020.

Careers in Public Service Schedule of Events

November 7 – Placer County and Roseville Joint Unified School District

• Where: Placer County Government Center, Auburn Justice Center, 2929
• Richardson Drive, Auburn, CA  95603
• Time:  8:25 am to 1:30 p.m.
• Schools/Students:  45 –  11^th and 12^th grade students from Woodcreek and Roseville high schools
• Public Service Partners:  Placer County Probation Department, Assessor’s Office and Library Services
• Activities:  Explore the services provided by each participating county department. Tour the juvenile institution and court room; tour the Assessor’s office and participate in interactive GIS mapping activities as well as learn about various library programs.
• Contact:  Wendy Williams, Placer County Director of Communications and Public Affairs
• Phone:  (530) 889-4034
• Email:  [email protected]

November 8 – SMUD

• Where: SMUD Headquarters, 6201 S Street, Sacramento, CA  95817
• Time:  9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• School/Students:  47 high school students from Kennedy High School Manufacturing and Design Academy
• Participating Departments:  Grid Operations, Legal, HR, and Customer Service
• Activities: Students will tour the SMUD Headquarters, learn about the culture of the organization and engage in a speed networking activity to meet various SMUD employees and learn more about the career opportunities available at SMUD.
• Contact:  Christopher Capra, SMUD Public Information Officer
• Phone: (916) 732-5111
• Email:  [email protected]

November 8 – Health Care Career Exploration Day

• Where:  American River College, 4700 College Oak Drive, Sacramento, CA  95841
• Time:  9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• School/Students:  40 high school students from Grant and Foothill High Schools
• Public Sector Partners –  UC Davis Health, California Community College Health Workforce Initiative, American River College and Sacramento County
• Activities:  Students will rotate through hands-on stations demonstrating various allied health care careers with professionals from ARC, Sacramento County and UC Davis Health. Students will also hear from a panel of professionals about career opportunities in health care.
• Contact: Pamela Wu, Director, Communications and Media Relations, UC Davis Health
• Phone: (916) 734-9040
• Email: [email protected]
• Scott Crow, Communications and Public Information Officer
• Phone: (916) 484-8647
• Email:  [email protected]

November 13 – City of Sacramento

• Where: City of Sacramento Corporation Yard, 5730 24^th Street, Sacramento, CA  95822
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• School/Students:  50 high school students from the Law Academy at Hiram Johnson High School
• Participating Departments:    Information Technology – 311 Call Center, Park Maintenance, Utilities and Public Works – Signals and Lighting
• Activities:  Students will interact with department personnel to explore the careers available with the City of Sacramento
• Contact: Tim Swanson, City of Sacramento Public Information Officer
• Phone: (916) 808-7212
• Email: [email protected]

November 19 – California Air Resources Board – Monitoring and Lab Division

• Where:  California Air Resources Board Monitoring and Laboratory Division, 1927 13th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
• Time:  8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• School/Students 37 high school students from the School of Engineering and Sciences
• Participating Departments:  Monitoring and Lab Division
• Activities:  Staff will be providing a presentation to the students on the various programs that CARB-MLD are involved in. Students will also tour the Monitoring and Laboratory division to learn what the employees do including air monitoring and consumer products evaluation to protect public health.
• Contact:  Pati Brown, Air Resources Board Public Information Officer
• Phone: (916) 322-2990
• Email: [email protected]

November 19 – City of Elk Grove and Elk Grove Unified School District

• Where:  City of Elk Grove Council Chambers, 8401 Laguna Palms Way, Elk Grove, CA  95758
• Time:  8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• School/Students:  29 students from the Elk Grove Unified School District
• Activities:  Students will meet individually with a city employee and conduct information interviews. Employees will be providing presentations to the students detailing the work done in various city departments.
• Contact:  Xanthi Pinkerton, Elk Grove Unified School District Public Information Officer
• Phone: (916) 261-6219
• Email: [email protected]

November 19 – City of Roseville and Roseville Joint Unified School District

• Where:  Roseville City Council, 311 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA  95678
• Time:  8:45 a.m. 1:30 p.m.
• School/Students – 30 – 11^th and 12^th grade students interested in Engineering careers from Woodcreek, Granite Bay and Antelope High Schools
• Activities:  Students will learn about engineering career paths at the City of Roseville Development Services, Electric Utility, Environmental Utilities and the Public Works departments. Students will learn about Engineering career opportunities in each of these departments through interactive tours and hands-on exercises at the Traffic Operations Center, Building Division and Utility Facilities including the Wastewater Treatment Plan, Water Treatment Plan and the Electric Yard.
• Contact: Brian Jacobson, City of Roseville Public Information Officer
• Phone:  (916) 774-5397
• Email: [email protected]

IPPS is administered by the Institute for Local Government. If your agency or school would like to partner to host students in learning about public sector careers please contact Randi Kay Stephens at [email protected].