Work Proudly: Where Career Development Meets Education
By Marcia Wall, MA, CCSP, GCDF
Program Manager & Career and Academic Consultant
Over the past two years, the Work Proudly Program has continued to grow in response to the evolving needs of the individuals and families we serve. While career development has always been at the heart of our mission, our work increasingly recognizes that meaningful career success is often directly tied to educational opportunities and ongoing professional development.
Today, Work Proudly is more than a source of career coaching and job search support. We are also an educational resource, helping participants build the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to navigate their careers over the long term. Rather than simply helping someone land their next job, our goal is to empower participants to understand the career development process so they can continue making informed decisions throughout their lives.
This educational approach is woven throughout the program. Participants learn how to explore career options that align with their interests, strengths, values, and health needs; develop effective job search strategies; write stronger resumes; prepare for interviews; build professional networks; and better understand today's workforce.
As participants' needs have evolved, so has the scope of the program. Educational planning has become an increasingly intentional part of the support we provide. Participants may receive assistance identifying GED resources, evaluating certificate and training programs, exploring continuing education opportunities, connecting with community-based educational resources, and making informed academic decisions that support their long-term career goals.
We also recognize that some of the best learning opportunities exist beyond our own services. Whenever appropriate, participants are connected with high-quality educational programs that complement their career goals, including LEAP to Confidence, Stanford University's Designing Your Career, SCORE's nationally recognized small business mentoring and educational resources, the California Community Colleges Launch Apprenticeship Network, and other organizations providing specialized learning and professional development opportunities.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
This expanded educational focus is already making a meaningful difference.
One Work Proudly participant, Karina, came to the program after several years away from the workforce while caring for her daughter with cystic fibrosis. With a love of numbers and an associate degree in mathematics, she identified bookkeeping as a flexible career path and recently completed QuickBooks training to help her take that next step.
Read Karina’s Story HERE
Another participant, Jessika, came to Work Proudly feeling stuck and needing direction. With support from the program, she went back to school and earned her GED, something she had once believed was out of reach. Today, she is continuing to pursue her career and build a better future for herself and her children. Read Jessika’s Story HERE
Stories like these remind us that career success is often built one step at a time, and that education can be a powerful catalyst for new possibilities.
A New Title Reflecting an Expanded Role
This evolution is also reflected in an important title change. Marcia Wall, CCSP, GCDF, Program Manager of the Work Proudly Program, has served as the program's Career Consultant for the past two years. To better reflect the expanding scope of her work, that role has been renamed Career and Academic Consultant.
The updated title recognizes responsibilities that have become an integral part of the program and reflects Marcia's professional background spanning K-12 education, higher education, adult basic education, career and technical education, educational consulting, and more than two decades in career services.
As the Work Proudly Program continues to grow, our commitment remains the same: to meet participants where they are, provide individualized guidance, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to build meaningful, sustainable careers.
We look forward to continuing to empower participants not only to find employment, but to confidently navigate their careers for years to come.