Gateway recently partnered with Salesforce’s legal team through Circle the Schools, an initiative started by sf.citi in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the San Francisco Education Fund (SF ED Fund). The program engages local companies in “adopting” public schools and helping to ensure all students have the skills, experience and resources they need to live, learn and thrive in the working world.
The goal of the initiative is to circle all of San Francisco’s 100+ public schools and use this initiative to support SFUSD’s vision of having every student graduate with the skills necessary for the 21st century.
Employees from Salesforce’s legal department will volunteer over the course of the year in several Gateway activities designed to advance students’ college and career readiness.
During Gateway High School’s Pizza & Possibilities speaker series, three volunteers from Salesforce introduced students to their careers, experiences, and lessons learned over a pizza lunch.
Over the next few months, Salesforce volunteers will also serve as speakers for Gateway Middle School’s Career Day and panelists for Gateway High School’s Portfolio Week. They will also participate in a school beautification project and provide lunch for our teachers in appreciation of all that they do for our students.
“It’s incredibly meaningful for our students to have people in their community show up for them, care for them, respect them, and expose them to different ideas and experiences. Talking to students about career experiences for an hour or two may not seem like a big deal to a volunteer but it truly makes a difference in our students’ lives and future trajectories,” says Rachel Kamen, Gateway’s Director of Partnerships.
According the SF ED Fund, company partners expose students to the world of work – connecting them with experiences and role models that open their eyes to the careers and industries available to them right here in San Francisco. Companies also address needs that require concentrated resources and/or people power - like beautifying a school hallway or stairwell.