As the recently named program manager at a Pima County support center, Daphanie Conner sees potential in teens and young adults who have faced issues like poverty and unplanned pregnancies.

“The youth who need some extra hand holding, the ones who fell through the cracks, they are the ones I relate to,” Conner said. “If we don’t focus on them, they’ll be right back in the system.”

Conner works at the ARIZONA@WORK Pima County Youth One-Stop Center, which provides out-of-school youth workshops, a long-running Summer Youth Employment Program, case management and a host of other support services for people from 16 to 24 years of age.  The center is among three such assistance facilities offered by the county’s Community Services, Employment and Training Department.

The Youth One-Stop Center helps with performing job searches, finding ways to gain work experience, and connecting with opportunities for post-secondary education and training.

Conner began her career with the Urban League and has worked with many youth programs that are recognized as models for other such programs around the country.

“Daphanie has 20 years of experience in workforce development, employment and training, providing youth with work experience in growing industry sectors, which allows us to continue to prepare a trained workforce to meet business employment needs," her supervisor, Eddie Saavedra, said.