Freshmen from six Pittsburgh Public high schools visited the City-County Building last month to meet with representatives from the district’s Career and Technical Education program and city employees from various departments to learn about potential career paths.

Students had the opportunity to talk with students and teachers from 16 Career and Technical Education programs. City employees also were on hand to talk with students about how those programs could translate to careers.

“We are showing you a pathway to prosperity,” said Angela Mike, executive director of the district’s Career and Technical Education program. “We want to hold your hand and take you down that pathway.”

Mackenzie Orem, a freshman at Carrick, said she was excited to explore the autobody program. She hopes it could give her a head start in pursuing her goal of becoming an autobody engineer.

She said she was eager to see city leaders, including the mayor and members of the school board, show up to support students and put them on the path to a meaningful career.

“Most places don’t do this kind of stuff. They let the kids figure it out for themselves,” she said. “These people are helping us.”

Nancy Gross, also a Carrick freshman, said she was hoping the career expo would help her determine if she wanted to possibly work for the city one day.

She said her top goal is to launch her own business and use it as a platform to give back to the Pittsburgh community.

Gross said she is hopeful she’ll be able to achieve her career goals in Pittsburgh.

“I feel much safer here, because it’s home,” she said.

Regina Holley, who co-chaired the mayor’s transition team on education, said their goal is to ensure the city’s youth can build successful lives for themselves in the city.

“The transition team’s idea was to have you live, work and play within the city of Pittsburgh,” she told students. “We want our students to stay here. We want you to grow and live in your own communities or within the communities of Pittsburgh. We want you to have the opportunity to work for our wonderful city, and we also want you to have the opportunity to play here.”

Mayor Ed Gainey urged students to take the opportunities they are presented seriously, as they could lead to good-paying careers with opportunities for career advancement — all here in Pittsburgh.

“You don’t have to leave,” Gainey told students.

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