This Job Fair Helped Over 1,400 Simi Valley Teens Get Ready for the Real World
Daniel Jordan 
Simi Valley YES Board Reaches Over 1,400 Students With Job Readiness Help
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — At last week’s Simi Valley City Council meeting, members recognized three outgoing Youth Employment Service (YES) Advisory Board members. But their year of service speaks for itself.
In the past year alone, the YES Board hosted job readiness workshops for more than 1,400 high school students and co-led the city’s 37th Annual YES Job and Career Fair. Community Services Coordinator Ryan Fowler highlighted their accomplishments during the council meeting.
Fowler stated: “Led Interview Skills Workshops to more than 1,400 high school students. Successfully hosted the 37th Annual YES Job and Career Fair in partnership with the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and Simi Valley Public Library.”
In addition to the job fair, the board held several workshops focused on financial literacy and post-graduation pathways. This included a financial literacy session with JPMorgan Chase and an “Alternatives to University” workshop with the Simi Institute for Careers and Education.
These free events are aimed at helping Simi Valley teens navigate life after high school, whether they plan to go to college, pursue a trade, or enter the workforce.
Outgoing members honored at the meeting included Rita Longo (Simi Valley Unified School District), Rekha Tignak (Youth Representative), and Nicole Kim (Youth Council Representative). Their service helped guide YES programs, which directly influence hundreds of local students each year.
The board also hosted two volunteer fairs, one in the summer and another in November, which gave students additional opportunities to build experience and serve the community.
As Fowler said during the meeting, “I would like to thank each of them for their contributions. It has been a privilege working with them.”
Their work shows how focused mentorship and real-world opportunities—offered through city programs—can make a difference in preparing students for the road ahead.
