EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

CHRIS MAHAN

Chris Mahan has always had a passion for working with youth, but in December of 2012 something changed; a student that he'd known committed suicide. This motivated Chris to dig deeper into the emotional state of youth, and he was able to uncover a lot of issues that stem from the homes of the youth. He often discovered that young people were fighting battles that they faced in their home life that prevented them from being successful in their education and professionally. He wrote a book addressing these issues

THE CORE ISSUES

  • Mahan's work at CareerSource Pasco Hernando puts him in a position to work with youth and prepare them for success in the workforce. He acknowledges that most of the time the roadblocks that they face are often issues within the home.
  • Some youth deal with parents that have substance abuse issues, as well as mental health issues. Sometimes the pressure to financially contribute to the household or to care for younger children also prevent young people from achieving career goals.
  • Mahan often finds himself addressing every other issue besides career issues to help prepare them for their career goals. He will often connect them with services that can address needs such as mental health issues, homelessness, health issues, financial issues, transportation and the list goes on.
  • Mahan has made a commitment to continuing to address the things that continue to prevent young people from achieving their career goals.