By JC Montenegro, PhD

Terrace Kidz Marketing Project: Building Real-World Career Pathways for Young People

(Boyle Heights, California) – At the Salesian Family Youth Center, we are committed to creating opportunities that prepare young people not only for academic success but also for life and work beyond the classroom. The Terrace Kidz Marketing Project was created with that goal at its core—to provide a career-readiness experience that introduces young people to real professional environments, expectations, and responsibilities.

This is not a simulated workplace experience. It is a genuine collaboration with real outcomes, where young people are entrusted with meaningful roles in an active marketing campaign supporting Terrace Kidz. Through this partnership, participants gained hands-on experience in content creation, social media marketing, event promotion, video storytelling, digital media, and community outreach.

The project gave participants valuable insight into how organizations operate, including planning cycles, deadlines, communication systems, creative development, and public-facing messaging. These foundational skills translate directly into future employment, internships, and leadership opportunities.

Terrace Kidz, in partnership with the Salesian Family Youth Center, described the internship experience as both engaging and impactful. The program provided participating teens with meaningful exposure to real-world marketing while supporting community engagement and strengthening outreach for key events.

One of the program’s highlights was the leadership demonstrated by intern Alizee, who consistently displayed professionalism, preparedness, and a strong desire to learn. Her reliability and enthusiasm made significant contributions to content creation and other marketing initiatives, and she emerged as a role model among her peers.

The project also supported community events, including the Girl Scouts Mother’s Day Event and the Pop-Up Beaded Jewelry Bar. The interns’ creativity, promotional efforts, and hands-on support helped make these events successful. Beyond the marketing experience, the project allowed participants to see firsthand the positive impact their work had on the community.

As with any pilot program, the project also revealed opportunities for growth. Scheduling and consistent participation proved challenging, as many of the young people balanced school, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, and part-time jobs. These competing commitments occasionally affected participation. Moving forward, a more structured framework—with clearly defined expectations, consistent schedules, and milestone-based planning—will strengthen both participant engagement and outcomes for partner organizations.

We also extend our appreciation to Christina Mendoza for her consistent support, responsiveness, and leadership throughout the project. Her coordination and dedication were essential in maintaining communication and keeping participants engaged throughout the experience.

Our sincere thanks also go to Monica, Eva, and Maritza from Terrace Kidz and Monarch Marketing Group for their partnership, mentorship, and investment in this initiative. Their collaboration gave young people the opportunity to learn directly from marketing professionals while making meaningful contributions to a real-world campaign.

At the Salesian Family Youth Center, we believe workforce development begins long before a young person’s first job application. It starts when young people are given responsibility, trusted with meaningful work, and supported as they grow in confidence and ability.

The Terrace Kidz Marketing Project brings that vision to life. It is about preparing young people for real opportunities through mentorship, responsibility, and hands-on experience. Most importantly, it is about creating pathways that empower young people to see themselves as capable, confident contributors in professional environments.