Welcome & Resource Fair

9:00 – 10:00am

Kick off your day at the Resource Fair—designed just for you!

Connect with a powerful network of support and discover a wide range of opportunities focused on education, career readiness, and personal growth. You’ll have the chance to engage with organizations and professionals dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and plan for the future.

Featured participants include:

• Kean University EOF & Admissions Office
• Rutgers University – IFF Fellows Program
• Ocean County College
• Age Out Angels
• Care Plus -Enlightenment Peer2Peer Program
• Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
• Office of Adolescent Services
• HiTops

This is a great opportunity to explore schools and programs, ask questions, and build meaningful connections to support your journey.

Keynote Speaker

10:00 – 10:30am

Keynoter Coming Soon

Bio Coming Soon

Workshop Session 1

10:45 – 11:45am

 

Navigating College Admissions: Finding the Right Fit

The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority is the only New Jersey state agency with the sole mission of providing students and families with financial and informational resources for students to pursue their education beyond high school. This session is designed to support students and resource families as they navigate the college admissions process. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how to search for schools, approach the application process, and make informed decisions about financial aid. The session also highlights the value of starting at a 2-year college and what the transition to a 4-year college can look like. Participants will also learn how financial aid can vary depending on the type of school whether it’s a safety school, a match school, or a reach school and how those choices impact overall affordability. The goal is to ease the stress of college planning by providing practical guidance and helpful information that empowers students to make confident, informed decisions about their educational journey.

Presenter: Kimber Decker, Higher Education Student Assistance Authority

 

Balance & Bounce Back: Building Your Mental Wellness Toolkit

College students are among the most vulnerable when it comes to mental health challenges. This transitional stage of life often brings stress, pressure, and emotional turbulence, making emotional wellness more important than ever. Emotional wellness means understanding and managing your emotions, building resilience, and developing healthy coping strategies to handle life’s ups and downs. By staying in tune with your emotions, you can better manage stress, support your mental health, and bounce back from difficult situations with strength and clarity. When you feel better, you perform better, not just academically, but socially, physically, and personally. In this workshop, participants will receive an introduction to mental health and practical tools to create their own personalized wellness plan. You will learn how to recognize your emotional needs, practice self-care, and build habits that support lifelong wellbeing.

Presenter: Juanita Henry, LCSW, MSW

 

Gender Roles and Stereotypes Through the Lifespan

This interactive workshop explores how gender roles and stereotypes are shaped and reinforced throughout the human lifespan. By examining five key agents of influence, family, peers, school, religion, and media, we’ll uncover how our early experiences in childhood contribute to the development of gender norms and expectations. Through discussion and reflection, participants will gain insight into how these influences continue to impact identity, behavior, and societal roles across different stages of life.

Presenter: Presenter: HiTops

Workshop Session 2

12:00 – 1:00pm

 

Breathe In, Chill Out: Stress Management 101  

Feeling overwhelmed by school, work, or life in general? You are not alone! Stress affects everyone differently and for different reasons, but it doesn’t have to prevent you from reaching your goals! During this engaging workshop you will learn simple, real-life strategies to manage stress and feel more in control. You will discover how stress affects your body and mind, and how to handle it in healthy ways. We will talk about how managing stress can improve your health, help you focus better, boost your mood, and even improve your relationships. Participants will leave with tools you can use to feel better.

Presenter: Whitney Boursiquot, embrella PACES Coach

 

Money Moves: Budgeting Basics for Everyday Life

Want to make your money work for you? Financial literacy is essential, it gives you the power to make smart, confident decisions about how you earn, spend, and save. Understanding the basics of budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt can set you up for long-term success. This interactive workshop focuses on the fundamentals of budgeting and everyday money management. You will gain essential tools, skills, and simple strategies to help you take control of your finances. Through guided discussions and hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to manage your income, track your expenses, and set realistic financial goals so you can feel more confident about your financial future. 

Presenter: Kylie Kunz & Angela Fox, embrella PACES Coaches

 

Speak Up, Stand Out: Communication Skills for Success 

Communication is one of the most essential life skills for students to master. Strong communication can help you make great impressions, express your ideas clearly, and build strong relationships in both academic and professional settings. This hands-on workshop is designed for youth ages 16–21 who are preparing for college, trade school, or entering the workforce. Whether you’re writing your first professional email or gearing up for an interview, this session will give you the tools to communicate clearly and confidently in any setting. Participants will learn the do’s and don’ts of professional emails, explore useful templates, and take part in both written and spoken communication activities. The workshop also covers how to use technology, search engines, and artificial intelligence (AI) effectively to support your academic and career goals. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with practical knowledge, helpful resources, and the confidence to present yourself professionally in any environment.

Presenter: Karmyn Ramirez, embrella PACES Coach