U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA” or “Authority”) joined the Office of Gun Prevention and non-profit organization Community Action Now, last week Thursday, July 13, 2023, to share different career opportunities available at the Authority as part of Gun Prevention Week. The outreach event aimed at promoting gun prevention awareness and empowering youth to explore different career options, gave Authority volunteers the opportunity to connect with 35 students from ages 12-17.
Through an interactive presentation and engaging Q&A session, students gained a deeper understanding of the diverse career paths available within the Authority. Among presentations shared, the Authority’s Director of Accounting, Lorraine Kelly, highlighted some of her everyday responsibilities and outlined a clear path forward for students interested in pursuing a career in the accounting world. From the Authority’s Design and Construction Department, Electrical Engineer Jamal Hodge, spoke about the importance of “making a plan and sticking to it”, as he reviewed his path to becoming an engineer and answered several questions from students about how WAPA’s power grid functions. La’ron Henry, a Mechanical Engineer in the Authority’s Water Department, is a former Alva C. McFarlane Scholarship recipient and encouraged students to take advantage of all the opportunities available to them, including WAPA’s scholarship program for high school students, as they begin to think about their future career paths.
At the heart of the event was the awareness that education, mentorship, and exposure to various professional fields can empower youth to make informed choices and explore opportunities beyond traditional norms.
The Authority remains dedicated to encouraging young individuals to choose career paths that positively impact their communities and advocates for alternatives that channel the energy of the youth towards building a brighter future. WAPA thanks the Office of Gun Prevention and Community Action Now for their collaboration in organizing this meaningful event for our youth.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Communication’s department is committed to reaching, informing, and connecting with the youngest members of the community to the eldest, through meaningful, transparent and effective communication.