By Dani Decena

Avanza, meaning “to advance” or “move forward” in Spanish, is exactly what Anaheim Family YMCA and the Disneyland Resort are doing together in order to help high school students succeed in their future educational or professional goals. After receiving a grant from the Disneyland Resort in 2019, the YMCA developed the Avanza program to champion student success through resume building, networking and the enhanced job interview skills.

“When we first started, it was addressing a need of a missing component that kids were not getting in other programming: working on confidence, communication and building soft skills,” said Ann Trovada, YMCA operations director, who was one of the pioneers of the program. “Our goal was to have students start thinking about what the workforce is going to look like, and thinking about their futures.”

Approximately 5,000 students have successfully gone through the program since its inception, and some have even been hired or volunteered at the YMCA afterward with the skills that they acquired. From workshops facilitated by Disneyland Resort cast members, to virtual networking and one-on-one sessions during the pandemic, the Avanza program has made a tangible impact in students’ lives.

In 2019, Karissa Casas, who was then a junior at Anaheim High School, was looking for guidance on her college applications as she felt unsure about her abilities. She was also approached by her Associated Student Body advisor to be the Pep Rally commissioner, which involved frequent public speaking in front of the entire school.

Casas shares that through Avanza, she gained more confidence to face these challenges.

“The workshops helped us to present well and enunciate our words, [giving us] the confidence to talk in front of so many people. I remember telling the supervisor, ‘I don’t know if I’m ready,’ and he said, ‘No, you got this!’ He was very encouraging and motivating.”

Casas also started her own online boutique business during the pandemic, thanks to business skills learned from the Avanza program. Now a sophomore at University of California, Santa Barbara studying sociology, Casas is grateful for Avanza preparing her to enter “the real world.”

Not only does the Anaheim Family YMCA offer career-readiness programs for students, but they are also known for a host of other family programming including camps, athletics and afterschool programs. Tracy Martindale, communications events manager at the Disneyland Resort, has been involved with the Anaheim Family YMCA since childhood, taking on various roles including camp counselor and helping to coordinate the the annual Alden Esping Putting Classic and gala. The dedication for this organization runs deep as Tracy shares a family legacy in which her dad, brother, late husband and daughter have all been active leaders. It is clear how passionate Tracy is about enhancing students’ lives.

Tracy Martindale

“When I heard that the Disneyland Resort and the YMCA came together, I was excited to see my worlds connecting in a great way,” said Martindale, emphasizing a shared interest in serving the community.

Through summer camps, afterschool initiatives and the Avanza program, the YMCA continues to make an impact in students’ lives with the Disneyland Resort alongside to support their incredible work.