John Muir High School Business and Entrepreneurship Students “Dress for Success”

Students from the Business & Entrepreneurship Academy at John Muir High School will showcase their accomplishments as well as their new professional ensembles, courtesy of Macy’s, at a special “Dress for Success” event on Thursday, May 3, at Pasadena City College.

Free and open to the public, the event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the college’s Creveling Lounge. PCC is located at1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. RSVP (626) 396-5600 ext 82185 or donahue.wendelin@pusd.us.

The Business & Entrepreneurship Academy is one of the College & Career Pathways of the Pasadena Unified School District that’s supported by the Pasadena Educational Foundation.

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino is the Dress for Success keynote speaker. Pasadena City College President Dr. Mark W. Rocha, dignitaries from the Pasadena Unified School District, and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard will be in attendance as well.

The shopping project begins on Saturday April 28, when Macy’s retail staff will host about 37 of the Academy’s female students, consulting with them on coordinating and selecting interview/professional outfit that they can take home with them.

At the same time, about 10 male Academy students will work with volunteers from the Business Academy Advisory Board and academy staff on selecting a suit, shirt, tie, belt and shoes as their professional outfit at Rock Star, a downtown Los Angeles men’s suit vendor.

The John Muir High School Business Academy Advisory Board organized the, “Dress for Success,” as both a venue to showcase student accomplishments throughout the year as well as a fundraiser to increase donations and partner resources.

Chair Suzanne Patrick-Lawrence says the advisory board aims to help students prepare for the workplace either as a career focus, working professional or entrepreneur with career wear, office items, introduction to real life workplace environments and preparation training necessary to help them succeed. The board works to bring guest speakers to the classrooms, arrange job shadow and internship opportunities for students.

Patrick-Lawrence, President and CEO of Advisor Business Solutions, says the board was inspired to help students obtain their own business outfits when they noticed a number of students didn’t have career clothes they could wear to school functions that called for business dress.

John Muir High School Business and Entrepreneurship Pathway curriculum includes business management, finance, accounting, marketing and entrepreneurship courses designed to strengthen leadership, problem solving, organizational and management skills. Students have the chance to participate in internships with local business partners that bridge classroom knowledge with real-world practicality.