Jamestown Builds a Pipeline of Leadership from Within Through Teen Workforce Program

"Jamestown is my home. I am Jamestown and Jamestown is me.”

One of the things that makes Jamestown programming so unique and successful is our ability to join our youth on every step of their academic and personal development journeys. We have countless youth who joined our programs as elementary school students and went on to work with our Youth Workforce summer camps and eventually become Jamestown staff.

Gibran Gonzalez is just one of the many young people who entered our doors as a student and then became a valuable member of the Jamestown leadership. In his current role as Youth Workforce Manager, Gibran coordinates high school employees, who not only receive valuable work experience and compensation but also a mentor from their community who can connect with them on a personal level.

During the lockdown stage of the pandemic, Gibran and his team had ears, hands and hearts on the ground, providing families with meals and other important resources needed to sustain their livelihood during these uncertain times. Gibran texted his students regularly to gain info about how he could support families, including mental health check-ins.

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To hear more about Gibran’s Jamestown journey, check out his interview below.

Q: What’s an important lesson you learned from Jamestown youth?

A: That every generation keeps getting smarter. These kids are teaching me things week in and week out.

Q: What is your fondest Jamestown memory?

A: My fondest Jamestown memory was the program I was in as a teen. I got the chance to have a place to be me, where I was surrounded by people who were like me, all in the same space. More significantly, I had mentors who had similar life experiences as me at some point in their life. Having a space to go to after school is really important.

Q: What do you want your Jamestown legacy to be?

A: I have said it since I was 15 -- I want to be the Executive Director later on in life. I know that I will have big shoes to fill as the directors before me are people I look up to. I want people to know no matter how bad you had it growing up, you can still be someone that can help others.

My Jamestown Journey

My name is Teya Hernandez, I am a 16-year old High School student at Immaculate Conception Academy and will be a Junior this upcoming school year. As a longtime participant in Jamestown programming, I wanted to share my experience on how it has helped shape me into the person I am today.

My journey at Jamestown began before I was even able to enroll in their after school program at Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8. My older sister was in Jamestown, so I occasionally went to the family events and showcases the organization hosted. As I transitioned into 6th grade, I was excited because I knew I was going to be part of the same fun activities my sister enjoyed during her middle school days. 

At Jamestown, it was really comforting to know I had a place to go and be productive, once school was done. The staff always set homework goals for us and created a safe space for us to hang out and be ourselves. Jamestown after school wasn’t only a fun, safe, and organized place for me to do my homework but really more like a second home. The program staff there helped me tap into my potential as a student.

During my time in Jamestown, I was also able to unlock my athletic potential through Girls Got Goals. My Coach Memo taught me not only everything I know about soccer but valuable lessons like: “You’re a student-athlete, but student comes first,” and “We may not be the best team but we are the hardest working team.”

I believe we were able to successfully secure two championships back to back because of the teamwork and trust we built over time. Looking back at my clumsy 6th-grade self to where I am now, I can definitely say I’ve improved a lot throughout middle school and have continued that momentum into high school. 

Another great activity I was able to participate in was “Tree House.”  There I was able to bond and become closer with my friends through different mental and emotional health exercises such as mindful breathing and meditation. 

Even when school was not in session, I always had Summer Voyage with Jamestown to look forward to. From everyday field trips to the big camping trip, and to the end of summer barbeque. Some of my best memories were made during my time in Summer Voyage. 

After three years with Jamestown, my middle school graduation arrived and I thought my journey in Jamestown was coming to an end. Luckily, during my freshman year of high school, I was able to participate in the Youth In Charge (YIC) teen program. Here, I was able to learn more about a community issue I was passionate about, alcohol justice, and addiction. 

Through YIC, I was able to encounter a wealth of experiences, including a meeting with the mayor, visiting the dome at city hall, meeting community leaders, going to a Giants game to talk with their alcohol and beverage vendors about their policies and safety measures to protect fans and prevent alcohol-related injuries, all while building relationships with other cool youth. In addition to these amazing enrichment experiences, I was also able to join an alcohol awareness coalition funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, to further advocate against youth alcoholism and create social media campaigns around this subject matter.

Currently, I am working this summer for the Jamestown Development and Marketing Department, helping to create content for their digital platforms. I have come a long way and will forever feel like a Jamestown kid. Special shout out to all the staff that has helped and watched me grow over the years, you know who you are. 

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!