CONFERENCE RECAPS
Students who enroll receive $2,500 scholarships, which Jacobo said can make a major difference for families strug- gling financially. “For families making less than $20,000 a year, that scholarship helps pay for groceries, gas, or util- ities,” she said. The Oxnard College Foundation has pledged additional funding to help sustain the program beyond the initial grant. And the Port is also partnering with Ventura College to offer a certificate program for electric vehicle mechanics, preparing workers for the transition toward cleaner trans- portation technologies in the maritime sector. Beyond community college programs, the Port is devel- oping educational partnerships throughout the region. One initiative involves a logistics academy created in collabora- tion with the Oxnard Union High School District in La Colonia, a historically underserved neighborhood. The port has also partnered with California State University to pro- vide internships and career pathways for university students interested in maritime careers. Another key component of the initiative involves col- laboration with nonprofits and labor organizations. Programs include the LiUNA Women in Construction initiative, which encourages women to pursue careers in construction trades connected to port development pro- jects. Other nonprofit partnerships provide maritime edu- cation experiences for youth who may have never visited the coast before. In one case, students from an inland farmworker com- munity were bussed to the Port for a day of maritime educa- tion. “For some of those kids, it was the first time they had ever seen the ocean,” Jacobo said. The program also offers English as a Second Language classes and STEAM-focused internships, helping both adults and students explore new career possibilities. Through the SPEED initiative, the Port hopes to gradu- ate hundreds of students from logistics and electric vehicle training programs, connect hundreds more to maritime career pathways, and ultimately benefit more than 2,000 families. But Jacobo emphasized that the program is about more than workforce statistics. “A lot of our communities don’t come from generational wealth,” she said. “We’re working- class folks who want the opportunity to live the American dream.” She closed her presentation with a message she often shares with students. “The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit,” Jacobo said. “With our investment in students and families today, eventually we’ll see them becoming part of the Port — and continuing that relation- ship for generations to come.”
Kirk DeJesus (Port of Stockton) thanks Marissa Jacobo (Port of Hueneme) for a great presentation.
Rather than rely on those assumptions, she decided to apply for an internship and learn firsthand how the Port operated. “I wanted to get my foot in the door and understand what was going on behind the scenes.” Four years later, she now leads community outreach efforts and serves as a public face for the Port’s programs. “I’m a prime example of the investment the port has put into its community,” she said. The centerpiece of Jacobo’s presentation was the port’s SPEED Workforce Development Initiative, funded through a $2 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency. The program is designed to create new career path- ways for residents while ensuring the Port has a skilled workforce for future growth. “The goal is to upskill our workforce, increase employment pathways for local families, and build momentum for growth with the Port,” Jacobo said. Many residents in nearby communities come from farm- worker families earning less than $20,000 per year. The initiative aims to provide education and training that can open doors to careers in logistics, construction, and mari- time operations. Language access is also a key focus and the program, pro- viding English-language training for those participants who need it. “We want to give them the skills to learn English so they can become familiar with workforce opportunities,” Jacobo explained. A major component of the program is a new logistics certificate created in partnership with the Ventura County Community College District. The program is offered through Oxnard College and requires only six courses.
48 — PACIFIC PORTS — March 2026
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator