TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - First Lady January Hoskin has launched the Cherokee Nation Public Service Career Explorers Program which this week welcomed students from Kenwood School to discover their potential within the tribe's workforce.

The two-day pilot program introduced Cherokee youth to various career paths and public service areas within the Cherokee Nation, with a goal of expanding the initiative to additional schools in the future to empower the next generation of leaders.

Public service remains at the core of Cherokee community values and Gadugi, reflecting a continual commitment to serving and supporting Cherokee Nation citizens and communities. The Career Explorers Program was designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of career pathways in public service. Across the two days, participants traveled from the Woody Hair Community Center to various Cherokee Nation departments in Tahlequah, exploring fields that are vital to the ongoing prosperity of the tribe.

On the first day, students focused on public safety and health, engaging with the Emergency Management team, the Marshal Service, Emergency Medical Services, and Health Services at the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center. The second day shifted focus to innovation and stewardship, allowing the youth to explore Information Technology and Natural Resources, culminating in a capstone activity where they designed their own future career paths.

"The Public Service Career Explorers Program offers youth mentoring and the chance to see early on career paths and ways to serve the tribe," First Lady January Hoskin said. "This year was a great pilot program and can't wait to see it expanded to more schools and youth in the future."

Through engaging educational sessions and hands-on activities, the students learned how their unique interests and skills could eventually contribute to the future of the Nation.

"The program instills a sense of responsibility and highlights the power of collective action, ensuring that the youth recognize their potential to strengthen the Cherokee Nation for generations to come," Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr said.

Students from Kenwood attended the two-day event.

"I think this type of program is very beneficial since my classmates and I are already interested in these career paths, and talking to professionals about their careers is a great opportunity for us to learn and get an idea of what we may want to do in the future," Kenwood 8th grader, Peyton Proctor said.