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When They're Just Not That Into You
Getting teens to focus on their future can be tricky under normal circumstances, let alone a time hard-hit by a global pandemic. This era of uncertainty triggers a wide variety of responses, and for some, the response is to go quiet and withdraw. Pivotal coaches share their secrets for getting clever and engaging scholars during these tough times.
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Ashlee Jemmott Joins Pivotal as Director of Strategic Partnerships
Pivotal is thrilled to welcome Ashlee Jemmott as Director of Strategic Partnerships. In her new role, Ashlee will work towards creating positive change within the foster care ecosystem. We caught up with Ashlee to learn more about her journey into nonprofit work and the road that brought her to this new role at Pivotal.
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Pivotal Coaches Provide Additional Academic Support
By Christine Salinas
With COVID-19, high school students everywhere are dealing with a lot more than they are used to. We caught up with Chelsea Kolander, Pivotal’s High School Coaching Coordinator II, who shared valuable insight into how high school students from foster care are doing and how Pivotal is supporting them.
Pivotal: Being a high school student these days is tough already and COVID-19 has made things even harder. How are our high school scholars generally...
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With College Tours Grounded, We Get Creative
Even under normal circumstances, foster youth don’t have families to take them on college tours. Each year, our high school scholars rely on Pivotal to help them explore their collegiate options, take them on local campus tours, and arrange introductions to professors and staff who can answer questions for youth.
But, as we continue to shelter-in-place, how do we help our kids explore colleges when everything is shut down? We get creative!
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Pivotal Receives a $50,000 Grant Award from The Upwork Foundation
We are proud to announce that Pivotal is the proud recipient of a $50,000 grant from The Upwork Foundation. The award supports our Path to Self-Sufficiency for Foster Youth Program, which provides focused academic and employment coaching to over 300 high school and college participants in Silicon Valley, and prepares and places 115 scholars into paid summer internships.
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Pivotal Voices: From Podcaster to Aspiring Policy Maker
by Sarah Gentle
Not even a week after moving back to San Jose from Chico post-graduation, I received a text from my lifelong mentor Savonna, casually asking me if I would like to participate in Silicon Valley Community Foundation's podcast series to talk about Pivotal. As a former foster youth, Pivotal participant, and aspiring policy maker, I immediately agreed and I’m so glad that I did.
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Leap Into a New Year with Pivotal CEO, Elise Cutini
By Janelle Blakely & Christine Salinas
We’re excited to share some of our plans for 2020 with our supporters, and who better to present them than our CEO, Elise Cutini! Read on to learn how she’s leading the 2020 charge to provide deeper services to our community’s foster youth (and a few words about her weekend passion).
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Pivotal's Internship Showcase Event is Just Around the Corner!
Pivotal’s ANNUAL INTERNSHIP SHOWCASE is just two days away!
Wondering what a Pivotal college summer internship looks like? Well then. How about you join us at our 2019 Internship Showcase, held at Adobe Headquarters this Thursday, October 24, 2019, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. There's still time to RSVP!
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Foster Youth Recognize the Change-Makers in Their Lives
Emmanuel “Manny” Amador is a Pivotal Board Member and former foster youth who spearheads the selection process for our highly anticipated 2019 Masters of Change Awards. We caught up with Manny, who shared his thoughts about this awesome award.
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