Behind the Scenes of FORWARD: Volunteers in Action

At CareerSpring, expanding access to career opportunities is made possible by our Network of volunteers. As part of the selection process for our FORWARD Program, all qualified applicants are given the opportunity to interview. Because of the scope of interest in FORWARD, we turned to our Network of Board Members and Advisors to support the effort, offering them a meaningful way to get involved as volunteers and providing applicants with real-world interview experiences.

For these volunteers, it is more than just a chance to support a CareerSpring initiative—it’s a fulfilling opportunity to connect to the next generation of FGLI talent. Over 80 volunteers raised their hand to help interview over 600 applicants.

FORWARD interviewers represent members of our Network partners and Advisors across the nation who are united by a passion to help positively shape Advisee’s career journeys. “For an applicant, FORWARD is often their first professional interview and opportunity to meet with a professional,” Kate Hurlock, our FORWARD Lead, explained, “Our Interviewers don't just assess candidates, they encourage them, challenge them, and remind them they belong in these spaces. Many deepen their involvement with CareerSpring as Advisors, which says everything about who they are, and what this community represents. I'm deeply grateful to each of them. Their time changes trajectories. We couldn't run the FORWARD program without them.”

Rosemary J. Powers (pictured here), Advisor, Regional Advisory Board Member, and President of Cristo Rey Boston High School, volunteered to become one of our FORWARD interviewers. After completing a handful of interviews, she expressed how inspired the candidates left her, “I’ve been consistently impressed by how talented, thoughtful, and hardworking these students are. Given the chance, these students are more than ready to succeed—and often exceed expectations.”

What drew her to initially participate as a FORWARD interviewer was her desire to connect 1:1  with Advisees. She shares, “As a first-generation, low-income student myself, I didn’t have access to strong mentorship or clear early career guidance, and I floundered more than I needed to in my 20s…I was drawn to the opportunity to play a more direct role in helping students navigate those pivotal first steps.”

Through FORWARD, CareerSpring has a direct hand in providing meaningful early career opportunities for our Advisees in 10 cities across the nation—a vision made reality because of our Employer Partners, donors, and volunteers. We are continuously grateful to our Network for generously sharing their time, talent, and expertise. Together, we’re expanding access for FGLI students nationwide.