JRO serves as facilitator and primary researcher for a diverse Task Force exploring ways to improve the career and financial trajectory of graduating seniors. At present, the Task Force is developing strategies to increase the percentage of students who pursue extended learning (college, certificates, etc.) by identifying which student populations are lagging, what barriers must be overcome to expand opportunity and how to better inform students about career pathway opportunities. As an initial action step, JRO created a mission statement and helped secure resources to fund two “imaginators” who will introduce high school students to career pathways and help them complete financial aid paperwork. The first two schools to be served in the pilot project are North Thurston and Yelm High Schools. The imaginators will operate out of South Puget Sound Community College.
