See It. Try It. Imagine Your Future.

Building Tomorrow's Talent, Together.

A community-powered Trade Career Fair connecting Gilroy students with the people, resources, and opportunities that shape their futures.

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Why It Matters

Opening Students to Career Pathways They May Have Never Imagined

Every young person deserves to graduate high school believing their future is full of possibilities, but guidance on what comes next doesn't always extend beyond the college application. That's why Leadership Gilroy, Class of 2026, is hosting an interactive Trade Career Fair on Thursday, October 22nd, to close the gap between education and career and show them options in addition to the university pathway.

Through hands-on activities and real conversations with working professionals, we're giving local juniors and seniors the chance to discover pathways that offer something increasingly rare: stability, reliability, and a clear path forward.

We're here to show them doors they didn't know existed and connect them to the industries that keep our community running. Because sometimes, trying something for the first time or talking to someone who loves doing it is all it takes to change the course of a student's life.

Will you partner with us to inspire our trade leaders of tomorrow?

Support our youth: Donate Today
Become a sponsor

  • Bianca Rodriguez

    I’m passionate about using creativity and collaboration to make a positive impact in our community. Being part of this project means helping amplify local voices and creating something that truly brings people together.

  • Braulio Ramirez Perez

    When I was in high school, I had no clue what I wanted to do when I graduated. I felt lost. The 2026 Trade Career Fair is our way of providing different opportunities to the students of Gilroy so that they'll have secure and sustainable futures.

  • Chris Battaglia

    As a proud citizen of Gilroy for the past 18 years, it's been an honor to give back to the community that has been so generous to me, my wife, and my daughters.

  • Chris Silva

    As a parent of children attending GUSD schools, I want them to have every opportunity to explore a meaningful career in this rapidly changing job market.

  • Isaac Gomez

    I’ve seen how the right opportunity can transform a person’s future. That’s why this trade fair matters to me—it’s about connecting students with careers that provide purpose, stability, and the chance to build a better life for themselves and their families.

  • Lovedeep Sahota

    A single conversation can change the course of a student's life. This trades fair is about creating those moments by connecting students with careers that offer purpose, stability, and opportunity. 

  • Macie De Stefano

    Because my community showed up for me when my path was unclear, my why is to help the Trades Career Fair create that same moment for our youth. As a mother and Gilroy resident, I wish to see this community support one another.

  • Marcial Canales

    I’m passionate about providing opportunities that can provide a better future for our youth.

  • Marisol Palomares

    We're thrilled to unite diverse trades for a single, powerful purpose. Our goal is to ignite a passion for skilled trades in the next generation, showing them valuable paths beyond a four-year degree.

  • Michael Fossati

    Leadership Gilroy has offered me the opportunity to inspire young people in a manner unlike any other experience I have had before. We hope that this fine event we’re  creating will have a positive effect on a few lives.

  • Michelle Manrubia

    I believe every student is unique and deserves the opportunity to discover a career that reflects their strengths, sparks their interests, and makes them feel like the sky’s the limit.

  • Sam Davidson

    I support the Trade Career Fair because I grew up seeing the pride, dedication, and hard-work my dad put into being a mechanic. I believe the skilled trades are the backbone of our communities and deserve to be celebrated and passed onto the next generation.

  • Sana Afzal

    Having grown up in Gilroy, this fair is my way of offering what I wish had existed for me and my peers then — a space for students to explore futures they're actually drawn to, not just the ones that were most visible to them.

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

FAQs

How will my donations be used?

1

Contributions from sponsors and community contributions help fund: Event venue and logistics, student engagement activities, marketing and outreach, signage and educational materials, volunteer coordination supplies, career exploration experiences, and student resource materials

Are my donations tax-deductible?

2

Yes. Leadership Gilroy Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to developing leaders and strengthening our community for generations to come. You will get a receipt for your donations.

Why focus on trades?

3

Skilled trades offer meaningful, in-demand careers with opportunities to earn, learn, grow, and contribute directly to the community. The project also helps bridge the gap between young people seeking direction and industries that need the next generation of skilled workers.

How can I contact you?

4

You can reach us via our email address TradesFair@leadershipgilroy.org.