Big Futures event supports young adults through career development and power of youth voice
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, we believe in walking beside young adults as they navigate the critical transition from high school to adulthood. Our latest Big Futures Career Development pillar event was a powerful example of that support in action. Focused on Resumes, Interviews & Headshots, this event brought together young people for a fun evening of skill-building, self-discovery, and connection!
With the support of dedicated volunteers from Park Community Credit Union, participants got hands-on help refining their professional presence. At the resume station, youth explored real-world examples of strong and weak resumes to better understand what makes an application stand out. They then had the opportunity to create or revise their own resumes on-site, with one-on-one guidance from volunteers who offered tailored feedback and encouragement.
Over at the mock interview station, attendees were asked to reflect on either a past job they didn’t get or one they hope to land in the future. That job became the focus of a realistic, personalized mock interview led by a Park Community volunteer. Afterward, participants received constructive feedback and even learned how to interview the interviewer—a valuable skill in assessing whether a job or company aligns with their values and goals.
After completing the resume and interview stations, everyone had the chance to get free professional headshots, capturing their best selves for future applications and LinkedIn profiles. For many, this was their first professional photo and served as a big confidence boost!
But the evening didn’t stop at practical skills.
Big Futures participants gather in a circle to launch the “Teen Talks” series at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana.
We also launched our “Teen Talks” series, a new youth-led program within Big Futures. This debut session was facilitated by three inspiring mentees: Autumn Camp, JAH’keem Gladney, and Tyreesha Morris. The topic? Careers.
With questions like… “Is it more important to make money or love what you do?”, “What’s your dream career if you knew you couldn’t fail?”, and “How do you honestly feel about school?”, the group explored big, bold ideas together. They also tackled challenges, sharing personal goals and the barriers they’re working to overcome. Most importantly, Teen Talks created a space where young adults led the conversation, and youth voices took center stage without interruption or influence from adult facilitators.
It was moving to witness the honesty, humor, and wisdom that emerged in the room. Events like this remind us just how powerful our young people are when given the tools, space, and support to lead.
Thank you to our volunteers from Park Community Credit Union for their partnership, and to the C.E. and S. Foundation for funding our youth voice initiatives in the Big Futures program.