EXP The Opportunity Engine

06/01/2026

Our Board of Directors is growing, and we couldn’t be more excited! Please join us in welcoming Michael, Cody, Aksel, and Paul to the EXP family!

🎖️ Michael Kuang is a Navy veteran and CEO and Founder of KPS Security with nearly two decades of experience across the public and private sectors, including roles with The Walt Disney Company, SpaceX, and Snap Inc., supporting high-level security operations and executive protection.

⚖️ Cody Morrison is a public-sector operations and governance professional with experience spanning policy, administration, leadership development, and community engagement. In his current position as the Director of the Parris Academy for Excellence in Law & Leadership and Director of the 1L Professionalism & Civility Program at Southwestern Law School, he leads institution-wide programs focused on student leadership and professional development.

💼 A longtime EXP volunteer and friend, Aksel Palacios, MPA, AICP, currently serves as Director of Port & Capital Projects & Economic Development for Los Angeles City Council District 15, where he oversees major capital projects, waterfront redevelopment, public housing initiatives, and economic development strategies.

🤝 Paul Walsh has 25 years of executive leadership experience at both Fortune 500 and smaller, privately held companies, including deep operational experience in aerospace composites. Retiring from active corporate leadership at the end of 2024, today, he spends his time giving back by supporting several nonprofits both as an advisor and board member, including helping our Management Team with strategy and operationalizing goal setting and ex*****on over the past year.

05/30/2026

We're back! Save the date for Long Beach Gives, September 24!

05/14/2026

We're excited to partner with the Orange County Soccer Club for their upcoming community night.

Support EXP and cheer on the OCSC as they take on Oakland Roots Soccer Club on Saturday, May 23, at Santa Ana Stadium!

Every ticket purchased through this link helps create more opportunities for youth in our community to thrive. --> https://ocsc.spinzo.com/ocsc-vs-oakland-roots-2026-05-23-QYKFC?group=ocsc-x-exp-cqdt

Better yet, share this post/flyer with your network so they can join you for an evening of fun and community!

See you next Saturday!

05/13/2026

Looking for a volunteer opportunity? We have several this month!

All professionals - We have mock interviews at Gardena High School and senior defense at Lawndale High School.

Engineers, manufacturing, and biomedical professionals! Our students at Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science need your help with their demo days!

Check out all the available opportunities and sign up -->

EXP is the opportunity engine. We help young people gain experience, unlock doors and build the confidence they need to succeed in school, career and life.

05/08/2026

The 26th annual Oceans of Opportunity Awards and Scholarship Celebration was a powerful evening filled with connection, celebration, and hope for the future. EXP-supported students and alumni, educators, industry partners, and community leaders came together to celebrate the impact of mentorship, scholarships, internships, and career exploration programs that continue to open doors for young people across Southern California.

From student showcase to alumni masters of ceremony and award presenters, there were so many inspiring stories shared throughout the evening. Students spoke about dreams they once didn’t know were possible, and their eyes lit up as they realized their futures were within reach. Alumni came full circle as mentors and leaders, advocating for and supporting the next generation. Families, educators, employers, and community leaders rallied around young people and reminded them that they belong in spaces where opportunity is created.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters, the evening raised more than $425,000 to help EXP continue creating life-changing opportunities for the next generation.

Most importantly, Oceans of Opportunity was a reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together to support young people and help them see a future full of opportunity.

More photos and videos coming soon: https://www.expfuture.org/oceansofopportunity

🙏 Thanks to our generous sponsors:
💎 Diamond: Bank of America and Merchant Shipping Association
🔷 Sapphire: Carrix, Fast Lane Transportation Inc, Petroleum Corporation , Port of Los Angeles
🤍 Platinum: Valero Energy
💛 Gold: Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA), The Pasha Group, StrikeWorks, and Watson Land Company

05/07/2026

A message from our CEO Mary Tran: I’m still reflecting on what an incredible evening we shared together last Thursday at our 26th Annual Oceans of Opportunity Awards & Scholarship Celebration.

As I looked around the room, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. So many of you have walked alongside EXP for years, and so many new faces have joined us because you believe in what’s possible for young people. That kind of support means more than I can put into words.

Over the past few years, we’ve all navigated uncertainty. We’ve watched industries evolve, communities face new challenges, and young people navigate a world that feels increasingly complex. And yet, even amid that uncertainty, this community has continued to show up.

Because of you, EXP has continued to grow our impact, expanding opportunities for thousands of young people across Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, and Barstow through career exploration, mentorship, internships, and real-world experiences that help students see what’s possible for their future.

And last Thursday, that collective commitment was on full display. Because of your generosity, we didn’t just meet our goal—we exceeded it, raising more than $425,000 to invest in the next generation.

But what moved me most wasn’t the number. It was hearing students speak about dreams they once didn’t know were possible and seeing their eyes light up as they realized their future is within reach.

It was seeing alumni come full circle as mentors and leaders, advocating for and supporting the next generation.

It was watching families, educators, employers, and community leaders rally around young people and remind them that they belong in spaces where opportunity is created.

Our Bill Stein Memorial Leadership Award honoree, Brissa Sotelo-Vargas, shared something that has stayed with me: “You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be willing to open the door.”

That’s exactly what this community continues to do every day. You open doors. You share your time. You mentor. You invest. Most importantly, you help young people believe that their future can be bigger than they imagined.

And as our Carol Rowen Legacy Award honoree, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, reminded us that evening, “We have never wavered in our commitment to youth.”

That commitment was felt in every story shared, every scholarship awarded, and every hand raised in support of our students.

It’s what made unveiling Unlocking Tomorrow: Strategic Plan 2030 such a special moment. It was a celebration of how far we’ve come together, but even more importantly, a promise to continue dreaming bigger for our young people.

And knowing we have a community like this standing beside us makes me incredibly hopeful—and genuinely excited—for what’s ahead.

Thank you for believing in our students, for believing in EXP, and for continuing to show up.

We’re just getting started, and I can’t wait to see what’s NEXT. --> https://www.expfuture.org/next

04/28/2026

Do you have the key to unlock tomorrow? We do! 🔑 🔑 🔑

🔐 Look for our staff with these keys this Thursday at Oceans of Opportunity Awards and Scholarship Celebration to see how YOU can unlock tomorrow for EXP students!

Starring: Program Manager Jose, Internship Program Manager Trevor, Director of Marketing Oakley, Director of Development Jessica U., Executive Assistant to the CEO Carolyne, and EXP CEO Mary.