Dr. Apryl Shaw serves on the Kollab Youth Advisory Board and is the Senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor at SoCalGas. Her personal and professional journey, coupled with her current role at SoCalGas, make her a valuable asset to the Kollab Youth mission. Her relatable personal story resonates with many teens, while her professional achievements provide them with aspirational yet attainable goals.
“I feel like I am giving back to my younger self when I work with Kollab Youth teens,” said Shaw, who grew up in the Downey/Compton area, and still calls Compton home. “Having examples of people who had found success would have been beneficial to me and my friends while we were younger. I would have loved Kollab Youth as a teen.”
SoCalGas supports Kollab Youth through sponsorships, resources, and representatives who take the time to make a difference in the youths’ experience. With a staff that serves approximately 21 million people, they are a great example of potential professional opportunities for our teens. They have a diverse group of employees, with a variety of skills. They have roles accessible to people with vocational training, college education, and specialized degrees. SoCalGas even has their own teams of lawyers and nurses. According to Shaw, “the world is in an energy boost[CD1] so there are lots of opportunities in the workforce for this generation.”
She went on to describe how SoCalGas’ goals align with Kollab Youth. Because of the previously mentioned “energy transition,” SoCalGas recognizes the importance of investing in education and youth to create a pipeline for the future STEM workforce. This need, along with their ever-present commitment to their local communities, makes SoCal Gas a natural fit for the Kollab Youth mission. Their three core values are: Do the right thing, Champion people, and Shape the future.
"SoCalGas has supported Kollab Youth in numerous ways," said Mary Hewitt, CEO of Kollab Youth. "Their generosity benefits our teens, who get to experience an organization encompassing a variety of industries. At Kollab Youth, we excel at demonstrating to our teens the multitude of choices available in their personal and professional journeys. Apryl and SoCal Gas provide us with endless opportunities to achieve this."
Shaw has presented masterclasses and hosted a special session on the topic of diversity, inclusion, access and collaboration. Kollab Youth is dedicated to teaching teens about these topics and Shaw says she wants the next generation to “approach everyone with curiosity, fascination, and respect.” She feels like this generation will benefit most from their accessibility to information. Shaw also said that one of her main goals is to exemplify the fact that there are many pathways to success.
She has also had the chance to mentor multiple teens during their Kollab Youth sessions. She describes this one-on-one time as the most rewarding part of her journey with Kollab Youth. She uses words like “sharp” and “determined” to describe the Kollab Youth teens she has come in contact with.
“It is great being able to see their progress in real-time,” Shaw said about her time spent with mentees. “All these teens are leaders in their own ways. I want them to know how to be respectful. And they need to understand the soft skills they are learning and practicing are what will carry them through their careers.”
The advantages of having Dr. Shaw and SoCalGas as part of the Kollab Youth team are substantial. It will be exciting to watch this relationship continue to grow and evolve, enhancing the lives of local teens and providing opportunities!
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