Work is important to all of us. In fact, we spend a great deal of time either working or thinking about the kind of work we might like to do. Wouldn't it be great to have a job you love doing -- a career that represents who you are and what you hope to accomplish with your life? What a great way to make a living -- and it's possible!

There are many new career opportunities for today's young people -- an entire world full of them -- particularly those with special skills, like proficiency in a language other than English. Good communication skills are also important -- so is work experience, such as an internship or volunteer effort at a company or organization. But how do we show these young people ways to "connect" who they are to the kind of work they might do?

Globalvision, in cooperation with Lifetime Learning Systems, presents Connected: Careers for the Future, a complete motivational program designed to show young people of color career opportunities that exist for them at home and in other countries. Most people of color grow up in a bicultural or even multicultural environment. This means that they are a part of both the mainstream culture and the culture of their ethnic group. People of color who know how to take advantage of their diverse background can be successful in the mainstream while preserving their own cultural identity. This educational program shows them how they can draw upon their bicultural background to help them succeed in new environments around the world.

Connected: Careers for the Future includes a motivational video, an educational guide with interactive components, and an Internet site with more information about scholarships, grants, exchange programs, etc. The video features people of color making a living designing and marketing video software, buying and selling companies worldwide, creating foreign and domestic government policies as well as working to improve their own communities. The activities will help all students assess themselves so that they can begin to express what they would like to accomplish and plan how to get there. This program also includes a useful resource list and profiles of exciting careers. It's a great resource to show young people that the future really is in their hands.

We encourage you to share this educational guide with your colleagues. Although the material has been copyrighted, you may photocopy as many sets as necessary for educational purposes.