To inspire young women to focus on career planning, financial independence and improving academic performance, The Junior League of Hartford in partnership with Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, developed a new program entitled “Career Connections for Young Women” (CCYW). The program targets Hartford-area high school women from both urban and suburban communities and teaches these women about career options and critical skills needed to succeed in the workplace and in school.

In February of 2015, The Junior League of Hartford and Junior Achievement launched the pilot Program for CCYW. Fifteen high school women from seven different high schools participated in the program. They attended seven weekly sessions facilitated by members of The Junior League of Hartford and other professionals. The sessions covered topics such as soft skills, conflict management and resume writing. To enhance their learning experience the students created their own resume, participated in mock interviews and had the opportunity to interact with panels of female professionals from The Junior League of Hartford and other organizations.

The CCYW program began its second year in January of 2016 with JLH members facilitating a module entitled “Conflict Management and Communication.” New additions to the 2016 program include personal finance modules, a job shadow and a group project in which students in groups of four to five will research a chosen career cluster with the help of a JLH career advisor and present their findings to their peers. The CCYW program has created a diverse range of volunteer opportunities for The Junior League of Hartford.