CALA News & Views | Issue 57 | Impact

CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH SENIOR LIVING CAREERS

San Diego Job Corps Career Fair CALA, in partnership with Argentum and Management Training Corporation (MTC), hosted a first-of-its-kind senior living career fair at the San Diego Job Corps Center in Imperial Beach. Nine CALA member communities participated, connecting directly with students training in culinary, hospitality, healthcare, construction, office administration and security services. The event included on-the spot interviews, campus tours and conversations about senior living career pathways. The enthusiastic response created momentum for continued Job Corps partnerships throughout California. College and University Partnerships CALA continued strengthening relationships with educational institutions throughout the year. At UC Berkeley’s Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services (CASAS) Career Symposium, Miki Lamm, Director and Michelle Dowds, Director of Strategic Partnerships, with Seniors At Home , a division of Jewish Family & Children’s Services participated in a panel exploring careers in aging services. In August, Sara Padilla, vice president of health services at Senior Resource Group, represented CALA at Pacific College’s Employer Networking Event, connecting with new graduate RN students and introducing them to careers in senior living. In September, CALA returned to the College of the Desert Hospitality Management Program, continuing an annual partnership that has helped connect students with local employment opportunities and increase applications for the CALA conference scholarship. Elevate Conference Scholarship The Elevate Conference Scholarship continued to create meaningful connections between students and the senior living profession in 2026. At the spring conference, 14 scholarship recipients participated in Elevate , with 12 CALA member organizations engaging with students through the Meet & Greet. The experience received enthusiastic feedback from both students and members and led to promising employment connections, with several students receiving interview invitations and ultimately accepting positions with participating member organizations. The fall scholarship program welcomed another group of students eager to explore senior living careers, providing them with opportunities to learn, network with senior living leaders and gain a firsthand look at the many career paths available in senior living. Together, the 2026 scholarship experiences demonstrate the value of bringing students and early-career professionals directly into the CALA community and connecting them with members who are committed to developing the next generation of senior living leaders.

CALA NEWS & VIEWS I ISSUE 57 | NOVEMBER 2026 26