b'Youth Thrive: Turning Opportunities into Action Puentes Youth Leadership and Employment Program increases academic preparedness, provides employment opportunities, and access to knowledge regarding college and vocational opportunities for local high school students. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Puentes Education staff made the difficult decision to transition this summers Youth Program into an online program. Normally, the 33Puente Youth staff Daniel Castro graduates from Pescadero enrolled youth would start orientationHigh School in June 2020.week with a camping trip andEl personal de Puente Youth, Daniel Castro, se gradu de participate in weekly enrichmentPescadero High School en junio de 2020.activities such as visiting universities, kayaking, or going to San Francisco.Puentes Education Team planned out a completely new student curriculum. Orientation week consisted of mini seminars taught by partner organizations: Planned Parenthood for sex education, the San Mateo Credit Union for financial literacy, and Youth United for Community Action for community organizing. A small cohort of older students also completed remote internships with companies and nonprofits around the Peninsula.Puentes Education Director, Lizeth Hernan-The Summer Youth Programdez, and Puentes Education Associate, Max Cohen, co-taught a four-week workshop had an85percent averageseries that introduced them to practical life attendance rate from start toskills such as Financial Literacy, Professional Development, Communications 101, and Adulting 101. Its all stuff thats really important and useful, and its almost never taught in high school or college. People dont teach you about balancing your budget, says Cohen. Youth participant Mariela said, I liked that they showed us all the stuff wed have to know when we are adults, like financial literacywe do need to know stuff about how to save money.Adulting 101, covered responsibilities that teens need to prepare for, such as choosing a health insurance plan and renting an apartment. Hernandez explained the concepts of a deductible and a copayment. They .visited the Covered California web site to shop for health insurance plans that fit with their lifestyle. They also explored how to rent an apartment.Hernandez praised the Puente youth as motivated and resilient. She saw how much effort they put into their summer work. The program had an 85 percent average attendance rate from start to finish.2212'