By R.F. Hosseini

Three precocious members of a Goodwill job- and training program got to weigh in on the state of youth employment initiatives in San Francisco last week. Their audience? Some of the region’s — and nation’s — biggest movers and shakers.

The three young adults were accompanied by San Francisco Goodwill CEO Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez during their July 24 sit-down with Mayor Ed Lee and U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to discuss the mayor’s summer jobs program.

The three young adults — Chris Nunez, Kennisha Jones and Monesha Berry — are participants in the Reconnecting All through Multiple Pathways program, more commonly known as RAMP.

According to Hope SF, RAMP helps unemployed young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 get connected to work, job training and educational opportunities. It’s one of Goodwill’s biggest employment programs, and is operated in partnership with the San Francisco Conservation Corps and Rubicon Programs.

Nunez, Jones and Berry articulately described the benefits of youth employment to a heavy-hitting group of representatives from some of the nation’s premier companies. Facebook, LinkedIn, Jawbone, Aftercollege.com, Internships.com and Gopago were some of the giant firms represented.

The superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District and other top-level figures were also in attendance.

Adam Rogers, employment engagement specialist for Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin, credited the young trio with doing “an amazing job.”

“I would like to thank Chris Nunez, Kennisha Jones and Monesha Berry for their time and for representing the Goodwill family on a national scale!” he added.