Speaker Introduces CVS Pharmacy Intern Program

By Kelly Garrison
Features Editor

Author and motivational speaker Stedman Graham introduced a new career program to students during a motivational talk at a North Long Beach high school last week.

His visit was part of an effort by CVS Caremark and other partnering entities to make pharmacy jobs more accessible to youth, particularly those of minority and disadvantaged populations. Graham shared his speech with a lively crowd of about 1,000 ninth and 10th grade students at Jordan High School last Thursday.

“This corporation stepped up to the plate,” said Sabrina Arney, who teaches for the school’s Aspirations In Medical Services (AIMS) Academy. “They understand that if you work with young people at this stage of life, they can go onto being better citizens. We encourage all industries to step up and give these opportunities to young people.”

Jordan High School, off of Atlantic Avenue, is one of a number of educational institutions that have been selected for the nationwide Pathways to Pharmacy program. The several-week-long summer internship provides students with work-based learning experiences, workshops and math and science enrichment activities.

“We do a number of projects with them,” said Stephen Wing, CVS Caremark’s director of workforce initiatives. “They get a tour of the distribution center, spend time at USC’s school of pharmacy and other things.

“This isn’t just a summer job to make some extra money. It’s a rigorous project for them, and they are specially selected for it.”

Graham’s speech was part of his second “Make It Happen! Stay In School!” series. The author has written such works as “Teens Can Make It Happen: Nine Steps To Success,” which offers advice about creating a vision for life.

“We live in a world where most people don’t become the best that they can be...The missing piece is that 99% of people forget to t-h-i-n-k,” he said during the discussion.

The assembly drew such city dignitaries as Mayor Bob Foster, Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education President Felton William and School Superintendent Chris Steinhauser.

“I’m glad to see such enthusiasm,” Foster said. “We’ll do all we can to make this school a success in Long Beach.”

“We have a community that’s committed excellence and doing whatever it takes to help our young people achieve their dreams,” Steinhauser added.

CVS launched the program in Long Beach last year, with fifteen local students completing the program. Those eligible for the internship include youth from the district’s Small Learning Communities —groups with a focus on particular themes or career fields.

“There are some really good kids there with the mental, but not the financial, capability,” Wing said. “Parents care — they just may not know how to help pay for an education.”

Organizers have introduced Pathways to Pharmacy to about 8,000 high school students. This year the program will expand to new cities, including Phoenix, Nashville, and Philadelphia.

“We’d like to replicate the program around the country,” Wing said. “It’s our responsibility to make sure those kids get an equal opportunity. It’s our way of getting them to start thinking about what they want to do with their future.”