CCEP NEWS

Earn & Learn East Bay Names Founding Director

February 18, 2019

The Contra Costa Economic Partnership is excited to announce that Gina Del Carlo has been named the founding Director of Earn & Learn.  Gina will start in this role on February 19, 2019.

Four years ago, Gina and other leaders, saw the opportunity for schools, colleges, employers, community and government to better work together to provide work-based learning opportunities for young people at scale. This effort has begun a movement, with increased support locally in the East Bay and interest throughout the state.

Earn & Learn is now a valued intermediary brokering relationships and building systems and capacity for educators and employers to work together, with the shared goals of helping young people better identify and pursue their college and career passions and to create a larger, more inclusive local talent pipeline. Last year, over 20,000 students had transformational experiences with hundreds of employers who provided internships, mentoring and came into the classroom with assistance from Earn & Learn.

Gina’s involvement in Earn & Learn began while she was working full-time as Youth Program Manager at the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County. With increased support from funders and the hosting of Earn & Learn by the Contra Costa Economic Partnership, Gina can focus full-time on Earn & Learn in her new role, alongside Carmen Perkins, Earn & Learn’s full-time Operations Manager.

“Gina’s experience with foundation grants, securing corporate contributions, and individual donor program experience; budget management, employer engagement, community outreach, capacity building, WBL program experience, and so much more will not only allow her to meet the current needs of Earn & Learn, but will assist with continued exponential growth,” said Drew Douglass, Co-Chair of the Earn & Learn Steering Committee as well as Senior Dean of Workforce and Economic Development at Contra Costa Community College District Office (4CD).

 “It is an honor and a privilege to be part of a such a collaborative team that cares so deeply about the community,” said Del Carlo. “I am grateful for the four years we spent building this movement together and am looking forward to focusing on the scaling up Earn & Learn as the Director.”

For the last seven years Gina has worked at the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County where she has led efforts to improve youth and young adult services, including both Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded programs and other projects and initiatives. Previously, she was a teacher to the most vulnerable students supporting them to gain the knowledge and skills to thrive.

Gina is the proud daughter of community organizers and originally from the Mission District in San Francisco. Gina earned her BA in Humanities and Education from New College of California. Gina resides in Contra Costa County with her family.

For more information please visit www.earnlearneastbay.org or contact Gina Del Carlo at gina@earnlearneastbay.org.