Day: June 30, 2025

From Classroom to Clean Water

water industry students

ARROYO VALLEY STUDENTS DIVE INTO CAREERS IN WATER

This summer, five outstanding students from Arroyo Valley High School participated in a transformative paid internship with the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department. The students were all part of the CORE Academy at Arroyo Valley High School. The CORE (Constructing Opportunities for Renewable Energy) Academy students are introduced to a variety of skills and certifications that emphasize real-world, occupationally relevant knowledge, skills, and experiences in environmental resources, energy and power technology.

Over several weeks, the students immersed themselves in the world of water, gaining firsthand insight into the wide range of careers that keep our water systems running.

From SCADA operators and environmental engineers to public affairs specialists and water treatment operators, the students explored the essential — and often unseen — roles that make up the water industry. They shadowed professionals, toured facilities, and even engaged in hands-on learning, helping them understand how water is sourced, treated, and distributed throughout the region.

Each student left the program with a deeper appreciation for water as a resource and the critical work involved in protecting it. They also had clear direction on how to obtain jobs in the field, with all 5 of them ready to enroll in the prestigious water program at San Bernardino Valley College in the Fall. Their time with the Department not only opened their eyes to potential future careers but also empowered them as informed young leaders ready to advocate for sustainable water practices in their communities.

SBMWD - June 2025

 

A Letter from Our Founder: Five Years of Building Bridges — and the Road Ahead

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By Dr. Dale Marsden, Founder, Tomorrow’s Talent

Five Years of Building Bridges — and the Road Ahead

In July of 2020, amid one of the most uncertain moments in modern history, Tomorrow’s Talent was born from a single, unshakable belief: our young people deserve better pathways. Launched in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, we began on a napkin in the kitchen with a vision to reimagine what it means to prepare students—not just for tests, but for life, work, and leadership in the real world.

Today, just five years later, we are proud to reflect on a movement that has grown exponentially. With a dedicated team of 30 professionals and operations spanning San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles counties—and soon, Northern California and Clark County, Nevada—Tomorrow’s Talent has helped more than 2,600 students from diverse backgrounds connect with their future careers. We have made these connections via internships, apprenticeships, job shadows, industry-led projects, site tours, and permanent hires.

While we are proud of the impact we’ve made, there is so much more to do. More than 4.3 million young Americans are currently disconnected from both school and work. Each one represents not just a missed opportunity, but a measurable societal cost—$37,450 per year in public services, and over $170,000 by age 25. When justice system involvement occurs, the costs skyrocket.

Even for college-bound students, the risks persist: over half of all bachelor’s degree holders are underemployed one year after graduation, and 45% remain underemployed a decade later. Tomorrow’s Talent exists to rewrite this narrative.

This summer, as we mark our five-year milestone, we’re also unveiling a fresh brand identity and a new website, anchored in the idea that “your story matters.” Our new look is modern, youthful, and deeply centered on the individual journeys of the young people we serve. Because this work isn’t just about systems—it’s about people. It’s about the student who lands their first internship and sees a future. It’s about the employer who finds purpose in mentorship. It’s about the educator who sees work-based learning as core, not supplemental.

To every partner who’s believed in our mission and helped build this bridge from the classroom to the workforce—thank you. You are a part of something transformational.

As we look ahead to the next five years, we’re doubling down on equity, innovation, and access. We invite you—employers, educators, and workforce champions—to walk with us. There’s still work to do. But if we stay rooted in purpose and bold in our vision, we’ll ensure every young person knows: your story matters, and your future is worth building.