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The Teen Volunteer to Career Expo, co-sponsored by Your Future is Our Business (YFIOB) & Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL), is a one-of-a-kind virtual event exhibiting presenters, community organizations, and online resources to empower teens with community service opportunities. Get virtual access to local leaders sharing real-life stories of how volunteering can connect, inspire, and inform your future career path. Meet with community organizations in breakout rooms to discover volunteer opportunities and work-based learning experiences that match your interests.

Wednesday • September 30 • 4:00 - 5:15 PM

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Maritza Tamayo-Sarver Director of Business Operations at Talk-a-While, Child & Family Therapy Center: Maritza Tamayo-Sarver is the Director of Business Operations at Talk-a-While, Child & Family Therapy Center in San Jose, where she focuses on developing programs and services that help the mental well-being of children, adolescents, and their families.  She was born in East Los Angeles to immigrant parents, and was the first-generation U.S. born children to attend college.  She received her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, and a Law degree from Case Western Reserve Law School.  Her extensive volunteer experiences range from rural El Salvador to the Board Room.  She is active in the socio-emotional development of young children and adolescents through programs like Project Cornerstone, and by serving at schools as a parent volunteer, Board member, and leader of a school Foundation.  She follows Mr. Rogers motto, that when things feel scary, you “Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.” 

Carissa Lemos, Interim Principal Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary: I grew up in California before moving to Seattle to attend college. Growing up and especially in college I had the opportunity to travel quite extensively and have lived abroad in a number of contexts. I stayed in Seattle for a while after college and eventually moved back to California in order to work in an outdoor program and work in the adventure industry. That was really my first taste of education and from then on I've been hooked. I now serve as the Interim Principal at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary. I absolutely love what I do. My passion is supporting students, families, and staff in dreaming about the big picture, and understanding the ways in which all of the smaller pictures of life can contribute to it. I'm passionate about design thinking. In my spare time I enjoy the outdoors, gardening, reading, and otherwise adventuring.

Laurel Maxwell, MAH: Laurel grew up in Santa Cruz. Prior to beginning her career as a teacher, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic training Dominican educators. Her time as a volunteer made her realize being part of a community starts with compassion amid differences. This led her to work in the field of Special and Bilingual Education for seven years in multiple schools across Northern California. She currently works as a Guest Services Manager at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH). Laurel is passionate about disability advocacy, traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors running or backpacking, and writing poetry.

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