![\"Helen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Helen-Carona.jpg\")
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Helen Carona is executive vice president\/chief corporate officer of Associa. [Photo: Associa]<\/p>\n
Richardson-based community management services company Associa has launched a pilot program to provide career opportunities to young adults who are aging out of the foster care system or exiting homelessness.<\/p>\n
The program offers participants hands-on experience with corporate career options, including office-based\u00a0roles and professional pathways\u00a0that may feel out of reach for young adults exiting the foster care system, Associa said. While many workforce programs for this demographic focus on retail, food\u00a0service\u00a0or other entry-level roles, the pilot program aims for something different. It offers opportunities inside a large corporate headquarters, giving participants an opportunity to envision long-term possibilities across a wide range of fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program is deeply personal to our family,\u201d Helen Carona,\u00a0executive vice president\/chief corporate officer\u00a0of\u00a0Associa, said in a statement. \u201cThrough our own foster care and adoption journey, we have seen the extraordinary potential of young people who simply need someone to believe in them, guide\u00a0them\u00a0and open a door.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carona, who also is a longtime CASA advocate, added, \u201cOur hope is that this pilot program helps these young adults see that their futures can extend far beyond the\u00a0limitations\u00a0others may have imagined for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Investing in my potential\u2019<\/p>\n
Many young adults find that entering the workforce comes with challenges. For those aging out of foster care or exiting homelessness, the milestone often comes without family support systems, professional networks and career guidance. Associa\u2019s program aims to \u201cbridge that gap through mentorship, workplace exposure and practical experience,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n
Associa developed the pilot program in partnership with Transition Resource Action Center (TRAC) Dallas, which supports young people transitioning from foster care into adulthood.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung adults leaving foster care deserve access to meaningful opportunities that help them build confidence, independence and a vision for their future,\u201d said Nicole Binkley,\u00a0chief executive officer of TRAC Dallas. \u201cAssocia\u2019s\u00a0pilot program offers an important example of how businesses can create practical, supportive pathways\u00a0for\u00a0disconnected\u00a0youth while also strengthening the communities they serve.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than a hiring program, the pilot is intended as a practice model that could be replicated by other businesses that want to support disconnected or foster youth, Associa said.<\/p>\n
Early participants described how the program fostered a hopeful view of the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first time, I felt like people were investing in my potential, not just my past,\u201d said Sabastain Saveca, an intern in the pilot program. \u201cThat made all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Company growth and leaders\u2019 legacy<\/p>\n
With more than 340 branch offices across five countries and more than 23,000 employees serving 7.5 million residents, Associa said it aims to bring \u201ctrailblazing innovation\u201d to community services management. In May, the company expanded its geographic footprint into Europe with the acquisition of Spain\u2019s Mediterr\u00e1neo Global.<\/a><\/p>\n Founded in 1979 by Chairman and CEO John Carona, husband of Helen Carona and a former Texas State Senator and Representative, Associa offers a wide array of services to HOAs and other community management organizations, including finance, governance, maintenance contracts and homeowner communication. John Carona was a finalist for Corporate Leader of the Year in Dallas Innovates and DCEO\u2019s 2026 Innovation Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n In North Texas, the Caronas are known for their philanthropy. In recent years, the couple gave $5 million each to the new Dallas pediatric campus for Children\u2019s Health, to Fair Park First for the Cotton Bowl renovation<\/a> and to the Honors Residential College at Baylor University.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss what\u2019s next. Subscribe\u00a0to\u00a0Dallas\u00a0Innovates.<\/p>\n Track Dallas-Fort Worth\u2019s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \tR E A D\u00a0\u00a0 N E X T\t<\/p>\n \t Headquartered in Spain, Mediterr\u00e1neo Global has served residential communities for more than 60 years and is recognized for its “trusted relationships, local expertise and people-first culture,” Associa said. The company manages nearly 10,000 communities, serving more than 400,000 homeowners, with a team of 500 employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t Last week, the Dallas Police Department launched its new Drone as First Responder program with eight remotely piloted drones based at Dallas Fire-Rescue stations across the city. Operated out of the DPD’s Fusion\/Real Time Crime Center, the Skydio X10 drones from San Mateo, California-based Skydio are designed to respond to calls for service in a two-mile radius from their base stations.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/John-Carona-Headshot-1-970x464.jpg\")
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