Meeting place: Second Start
In attendance: Jennifer Goldberg-EHC, Alison Dougherty-Santa Clara Adult Education, Art Taylor-San Jose Family Shelter, Gavin Melford-Second Start, Nancy Noel-CSA Alpha Omega, Kate McNichols-San Jose First, Margaret Gregg-County of Santa Clara, Francella Stevens-Inn Vision, Courtney Bober-San Jose Cathedral Foundation
Last meeting we decided to recruit more members to the committee since we feel that there is strength in numbers. Nancy reported that she got in touch with Cindy Stahl at NOVA, who sounded really excited about a partnership with the committee and its members. Sounds like NOVA will be sending a representative to our future meetings. Nancy was also able to contact Tony at Goodwill Industries; he is interested in reconnecting with our committee. Gavin was able to get in touch with a contact of his at Employment Connection, he is hopeful that his contact will also attend future meetings. Alison did speak to someone at Jobs Plus. Their name has changed to PEP or Parolee Employment Program, but they have the same staff and are in the same location. Their funding was supposed to kick in beginning February 1, 2004, but when Alison made a follow-up phone call to see that they were up and running, she discovered that there was a snag in their funding. The funding is apparently available but hasn't been filtered to them as of yet. Kate and Courtney made a visit to the One Stop on Story Road trying to recruit their staff. They discovered a large amount of services and programs-WICS, Job Corps, and a displaced worker program, to name a few. While touring, they met up with a woman named Margie, a job developer with St. Francis Career College, also on Story Road. They learned that they have a C.N.A. and L.V.N. programs there, however, they are kind of costly. The program costs about $13,000, but financial aid is available. Alison mentioned that there is a C.N.A. program through Boston Reed that is much cheaper, under $1,000. We are hopeful that out of that visit, we will receive new members to the committee as well. Courtney also contacted Jenny at Sacred Heart Community Services who stated that she will begin to attend meetings as well.
Alison said that people are finding work if they are motivated, although it is harder to do. She mentioned that the apprenticeship programs are taking people, especially women. These programs pay well, even during training (about $15 per hour), and individuals learn a valuable trade. This could prove to be a valuable alternative for our clients to finding just "regular" work.
Francella stressed the importance of general life skills to our clientele. Many will be able to secure a job with their basic job skills, but are unable to retain the job because they have alternate views than their employers (i.e. that a boss can't "tell them what to do") or posess a different work ethic (i.e. taking a day off work their first week on the job to get a haircut, etc.). Francella made a good point that collaboration among our committee and with other agencies will better serve our population. We don't have to reinvent the wheel, but by sharing our resources and taking advantage of the programs already available at different agencies, we would be able to better serve our clients.
Our homework-to continue to secure new members for our committee through our various contacts. And also to brainstorm items that we would like to put on the WIA agenda to have our voice heard at their board meetings. Courtney will try to attend their next meeting to get a sense of their process in the hopes of putting some ideas of the Jobs & Income Committee on future WIA board agenda.
Next meeting to be held-March 16, 2004 at 11:30 a.m. at Santa Clara Adult Education, 1840 Benton Street, Santa Clara. All are welcome to attend!! |