Hello JFY Community!

As we enter May, we begin the annual celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! Please join us in celebrating the countless contributions the AANHPI community have provided throughout our history, and read on to learn more!

When did AANHPI Heritage Month begin?

Like most commemorative months, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the same year, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 72. Neither of these resolutions passed, so in June 1978, Rep. Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This resolution proposed that the President should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” This joint resolution was passed by the House and then the Senate and was signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978 to become law.

How did AANHPI Heritage Month come about?

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

If you would like to learn more about AANHPI Heritage Month, please be sure to explore the additional resources below!

Federal Asian Pacific American Council

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Community Events

🎉 Lumpia Fest is BACK! 🎉

Scholarship Opportunities

Various Deadlines

Immigrants Rising Scholarship Board

For a vast list of different scholarship opportunities, please be sure to visit Immigrants Rising's scholarship page. There, you will find many different scholarships to apply to, so go check it out!

Immigrants Rising Scholarship Board

Career Development Opportunities

Supported Training & Employment Program (STEP)

We are excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the Supported Training & Employment Program (STEP).

STEP is designed for current or former foster youth aged 18-27 who are transitioning into the workforce. The goal of the program is to introduce these young adults, who are at risk of underemployment, to the professional work environment. STEP offers paid internships and employment skills training to help participants gain valuable experience and enhance their job readiness.

We offer STEP Intern positions in various departments and locations throughout San Mateo County, including the Human Services Agency, Human Resources, Parks Department, Health System, and more! Youth in guardianship who meet the qualifications are also encouraged to apply.

Program Requirements:

• Be between the ages of 18-27.
• Be a current or former foster youth (including guardianship).
• Have been dependent on the court for at least one day after your 13^th birthday.
• Currently live in San Mateo County or have previously received foster care services there.
• Hold a High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Be available and willing to work 20 hours per week (with a maximum of 1,040 hours per year).

If you meet the qualifications and are interested, please APPLY by May 5, 2025, by following this link: STEP Intern - Extra Help.

Supported Training & Employment Program (STEP) - Flyer.pdf

Alameda EMS Corps 2025

San Mateo County Health continues to partner with the Emergency Medical Services Corps Program (EMS Corps) in Alameda County to recruit young adults from underrepresented groups and those with barriers to employment or education in San Mateo County, and train them to pursue a career in healthcare or public services.  

As an Anchor Institution, County Health is invested in building intentional healthcare career pathway programs. This EMS Corps Program is one such program geared to create a pipeline of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). This helps meet the high demand for EMTs, removes economic barriers for residents most impacted, and increases community representation in the medical responder and health workforce. An EMT position is a great start for graduates who have the potential to become paramedics, radiologic technologists, nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers, and more.  Check out Alumni Highlights to see what Brandon, Antonio, and others have to say about this program.

Program highlights:

• Full-time, 5-month training available at no cost to the participant.
• Participants receive $2000/month (total of $10,000) to cover for living expenses.
• Well-rounded to support the participants with tutoring, life coaching, physical fitness, career development workshops, and mentorship. 

Program requirements:  

• Be a San Mateo County resident (age 18-26 years).   
• Have a High School Diploma or GED.   
• Have a valid driver’s license.
• Able to meet the EMT background guidelines.  
• Prior experience in healthcare is not required.

Application Information:

• Application is very simple. Click here to apply: https://alcoemscorps.org/apply/July-2025
• Deadline: May 30, 2025, by 5 p.m.  
• Only FIVE San Mateo County residents will be selected for this cohort.  
• See the attached flyer for more details. 

If you have any questions or recommendations for this program, or other health workforce pipelines, please contact Sonali Suratkar at ssuratkar@smcgov.org (628) 222-3037.  

JFY WORKSHOPS & JOB BOARD

Have any questions? Email us at jobsforyouth@smcgov.org!