Emilio struggled in school but found passion in a job in advertising through Youth Jobs+.

Like many youth his age, San Francisco Mission District native Emilio Diaz says he enjoyed the social aspects of school, but that “schoolwork was never really my thing.” Fortunately Emilio got connected with Youth Jobs+, which helped him identify his interests and get an internship with advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners. “Where I come from, there’s not really opportunities like that,” he says.

Emilio flourished in the internship, which turned into a full-time, paid apprenticeship after he graduated high school. “Being Mexican-American and so young, coming from the Mission, it’s definitely great to be here,” he says.

Last year, we helped place 7,332  Bay Area youth like Emilio in jobs or paid internships. Learn more here.