Students & Families
Explore the Youth Internship & Career Pathways Program and prepare for the Fall 2026 expansion.
GO LOCAL FXBG
A Community-Powered Career Pathways and Nonprofit Capacity Hub for the Fredericksburg Region
Go Local FXBG is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, connecting students, mentors, nonprofits, sponsors, and local businesses through youth career pathways, workforce readiness, community events, nonprofit visibility, and hands-on local projects.
Serving Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline, and Virginia’s Planning District 16.
Built to Connect People, Programs, and Local Impact
Go Local FXBG exists to close the gap between talent and access. We help young people build real-world skills, help nonprofits gain visibility and capacity, and give local businesses and sponsors a clear way to invest in community impact.
Choose your lane:
Mentors & Volunteers
Share real-world experience, lead a workshop, review student projects, or support community programs.
Nonprofits & Community Partners
Connect with students, visibility platforms, events, and project support that strengthen local capacity.
Donors & Business Sponsors
Fund tools, training, mentorship, project resources, and student opportunity across the region.
One connected model: pathways, capacity, and community.
Our work brings together workforce readiness, nonprofit support, community events, entrepreneurship, local business visibility, and mentorship so the region can build stronger opportunity pipelines together.
Programs Creating Real Pathways Across Virginia’s Planning District 16
Go Local FXBG operates community-based programs designed to build workforce readiness, support nonprofit organizations, and strengthen opportunity across Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline. Each program is designed to create practical experience, measurable progress, and long-term community impact.
Youth Internship & Career Pathways
Spring/Summer pilot active now • Fall 2026 expansion in progress
Our Youth Internship & Career Pathways Program is being built as a structured, school-aligned, 90-hour Work-Based Learning experience for high school and homeschool students across the Fredericksburg region.
What Students Build:
• Career-ready digital portfolio with real project work
• Resume, reflection narrative, and workplace communication skills
• Experience in marketing, media, outreach, systems, operations, and AI tools
• Confidence, professionalism, teamwork, and career clarity
How the Program Works:
• Limited Spring/Summer pilot helping us refine the structure
• Fall 2026 expansion planned as a semester-based 90-hour model
• Hybrid sessions with supervised learning and local host sites
• Educational Work-Based Learning experience; future paid opportunities may be offered as funding allows
Program Impact:
• Students complete 90 documented hours through structured learning and real projects
• Nonprofits and community partners gain project support, visibility, and future talent connections
• Sponsors help fund tools, training, staffing, workspace, mentorship, and student opportunity
Community Events Supporting Local Nonprofits
Our Trivia for a Cause and Bingo for a Cause events bring residents together, spotlight local nonprofits, create sponsorship opportunities, and raise awareness for community needs across Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline.
Nonprofit Support & Community Partnerships
Go Local FXBG provides visibility, project support, storytelling, community engagement opportunities, and student-powered capacity support for nonprofits serving local residents.
By centering nonprofits first, we ensure:
• Students gain meaningful, community-connected experience
• Nonprofits gain real project and visibility support
• Programs are built on trust, outcomes, and local relationships
Programs Growing From the Internship Pilot
The youth internship pilot is the first building block. As the structure proves out, Go Local FXBG will continue developing additional programs that expand opportunity for adults, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and local organizations.
Community Entrepreneurship Accelerator
A developing pathway for underserved adults, returning citizens, veterans, women starting over, and adults seeking practical routes into entrepreneurship, digital media, marketing, business systems, and economic opportunity.
Local Business Accelerator
Support for local organizations and small businesses — beginning with nonprofits first — focused on sustainable growth, marketing, digital presence, community connections, and operational systems.
Leadership Rooted in Our Community
Meet the Board
Meet the people helping guide Go Local FXBG’s mission, programs, partnerships, and long-term community impact throughout Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and the surrounding region.
Marcus Toler
Founder & Executive Director
Marcus Toler is the Founder and Executive Director of Go Local FXBG. With a background in marketing, digital media, business development, events, and community partnerships, Marcus has spent years building connections between local businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders throughout the Fredericksburg region.
He leads the organization’s strategic direction, partnerships, and growth with a focus on creating sustainable programs that connect people with education, mentorship, resources, and opportunities to succeed.
Maija-liisa Penn-Poon, CNP
Vice President & Program Director
Maija-liisa Penn-Poon brings more than a decade of experience in education, psychology, nonprofit leadership, and community-based programming to Go Local FXBG. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Knowledge Exchange and Founder of Pené Vivan LLC.
Maija helps guide program development and community impact initiatives, bringing a trauma-informed and people-centered perspective to creating supportive environments where youth, families, and community members can learn, grow, and thrive.
Jennifer Hogan
Operations & Program Director
Jennifer Hogan brings experience in marketing, operations, project management, leadership development, education, and entrepreneurship to Go Local FXBG.
Jennifer helps turn ideas into organized, sustainable programs and systems. She supports organizational operations, strategic initiatives, community partnerships, events, and the college and high school internship programs, with a focus on meaningful hands-on experiences and long-term community impact.
Chelsea L. Long
Community Partnerships & Development Director
Chelsea L. Long brings experience in communications, marketing, project management, photography, videography, radio, and digital media to Go Local FXBG.
Chelsea focuses on building relationships with businesses, nonprofits, sponsors, and community leaders throughout the Fredericksburg region. She helps create partnerships that expand Go Local FXBG’s reach, strengthen its programs, and generate the community and financial support needed to sustain its mission.
Ashley Call-Williams
Board Member | Creative & Brand Advisor
Ashley Call-Williams is a creative strategist, photographer, artist, and Founder and Creative Director of Digital Soup. Her work spans strategic marketing, creative direction, photography, visual storytelling, and brand development.
Ashley brings a creative perspective to Go Local FXBG’s communications, storytelling, and long-term brand development, helping the organization communicate its mission and community impact in meaningful and engaging ways.
Jessica Ruyts
Treasurer | Nonprofit & Community Advisor
Jessica Ruyts is the President and Founder of The Ruyts Foundation of Veteran Suicide Prevention and brings experience in nonprofit leadership, accounting, law, healthcare, and community advocacy to Go Local FXBG.
As Treasurer and a nonprofit advisor, Jessica contributes financial knowledge and the perspective of a nonprofit founder who understands the realities of building and sustaining a mission-driven organization. Her advocacy work brings an additional community-centered perspective to the board.
Community Platforms Supporting Local Nonprofits and Businesses
Go Local FXBG operates community events and regional visibility platforms as nonprofit programs that connect residents to local causes, promote local businesses, and help nonprofits gain awareness, volunteers, sponsors, and support across Virginia’s Planning District 16.
Trivia and Bingo events that spotlight nonprofits and bring the community together.
Our event series helps local nonprofits raise awareness, connect with supporters, and create repeatable sponsorship opportunities in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and nearby communities.
Local visibility tools that help organizations stay seen.
Our co-op community mailer and local media platforms help nonprofits and local businesses increase visibility while helping residents discover trusted services, causes, and opportunities.
These platforms also create hands-on learning opportunities for students building skills in marketing, outreach, design, CRM, and community engagement.
View past mailers below.
Local Guides We Love
We’re proud to spotlight helpful local content from our community partner FXBG Neighbors Connect . Their guides help residents discover more of what makes Fredericksburg, Stafford, and the surrounding area special.
A Book Lover’s Guide to Fredericksburg & Stafford County, Virginia
A local guide for book lovers looking to explore literary spots and cozy finds around the region.
FXBG Neighbors Shop Local Guide
A helpful guide encouraging residents to support local businesses and discover trusted spots around the community.
Top-Rated Thrift Stores in Fredericksburg
A curated look at popular secondhand shops for bargain hunters, vintage lovers, and community-minded shoppers.
Fall Hiking Guide: In and around Fredericksburg
A local trail guide for residents looking to enjoy scenic hikes and seasonal outdoor beauty near Fredericksburg.
Nonprofit Visibility Platform
Local Nonprofit Spotlights That Build Trust, Awareness, and Community Support
Go Local FXBG helps local nonprofits tell their story, build trust, and reach more people across Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline, and the surrounding region.
These nonprofit spotlights give residents, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners a closer look at the people, missions, and partnerships creating real local impact.
Current Funding Priority
Support the Current Program: Youth Internship & Career Pathways
Help us grow the Spring/Summer pilot into a stronger Fall 2026 student career pathway across Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline, and Virginia’s Planning District 16. Your support funds the tools, training, mentorship, project resources, workspace, staffing, and supervised learning time students need to build real career skills.
Individual Donations
Fund a Future: Help a Local Student Build Real Career Skills
Give once or monthly through Zeffy. Donations help cover training tools, software access, student learning materials, mentorship support, and real-world project experiences.
Business Sponsorships
Want Your Business Attached to Real Local Impact?
Businesses, builders, real estate teams, contractors, banks, tech companies, service providers, and community-minded organizations can sponsor the Youth Internship & Career Pathways Program and help fund student opportunity at a higher level.
- Cohort capacity and student experience support
- Recognition as a program sponsor or emerging talent contributor
- Alignment with youth workforce development and local community impact
- A clear sponsorship funnel built for businesses and organizations
Current Program Supporters
Local sponsors are already helping build the pipeline. Join them in creating real opportunity for local students.
Cohort Capacity Sponsor
Project Gateway Vantage DPR
Emerging Talent Contributor
