Annual Project Access Teen Conference Set For August 15 at the PBS SoCaL Studios

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., August 1, 2014 – More than 40 Orange and Los Angeles County teens living in low-income housing communities will be on set this Friday, Aug. 15 at the PBS SoCaL studios in Costa Mesa to participate in the 8th Annual Project Access Teen Conference.

Among the activities planned for them at the “Road Trip to Your Passion” event, teens will learn about working in a television studio and about careers in broadcast and media.

Later they will have an opportunity to speak with professionals in a variety of other fields, including representatives from Athletes First, Taco Bell and Western Digital, to learn how they began their careers.

Also participating are make-up artist Tiffany Shibazaki and law firm Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, represented by Project Access board member Mark Skaist, who is a partner and Co-Chair of its Corporate and Securities Practice.

In addition to question and answer sessions, the teens will be using electronic tablets to facilitate the learning experience.

Additionally, the teens will be videotaped for inclusion in two public television initiatives highlighting Project Access and its programs. The PBS SoCaL Community Champions project recognizes individuals and/or organizations that make an extraordinary impact on the lives of others through their everyday efforts, within the diverse Southern California communities.

The American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen project is a long-term public media commitment supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to help communities implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis.

The teen conference is a component of the Education for Youth initiative of nonprofit Project Access, which strives to be the leading provider of vital health, education and employment services for families, children and seniors living in low-income housing communities. Its goal is to help keep family members employed, children in school and seniors active.

Other event sponsors include Boomers, Bruxie, Chick-fil-A, K1 Speed and Knott’s Berry Farm.

“We are pleased to provide this important educational program for the teens living in low-income housing communities with Project Access Resource Centers in Orange and Los Angeles County” said CEO Kristin Byrnes. “It’s our goal to help them prepare to succeed as young adults.”

Project Access serves nearly 11,000 individuals at over 50 properties in California and Colorado and is expanding to multiple cities throughout the western region, including sites in Arizona.

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