Training Phase: Meet Gabriela

Gabriela began her training in the

Office Careers Academy this past

February. At 22 years old, she

felt overwhelmed and unsure about her

future—she hadn’t finished high school

and was struggling to support herself,

her mother and 2-year-old daughter on a

minimum-wage job.

Her boyfriend had completed the

construction training program and

encouraged her to enroll. Now, Gabriela’s

future looks much brighter. She is learning

Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint,

as well as business math and customer

service. Initially it was hard for her to juggle

being a mom and a student. But, with the

help of her Support Specialist, Gabriela

was able to figure out how to meet the

deadlines for her coursework outside of

the classroom. “Now I’m done with my

assignments a week before they’re due,”

she says. Because of her improved time

management, Gabriela has managed to

go back to school in the evenings to

finish her high school diploma.

Outside of training, Gabriela

receives additional support from

Taller San Jose, including monthly

childcare vouchers, which make

it possible for Gabriela to maintain

reliable childcare for her daughter

during the day.

Upon training completion, Gabriela

will earn her Business Applications and

Technology Certificate and 18 units

towards the completion of her AA

degree at Santa Ana College.

From Hopeless to College-Ready

GROWING TALLERSPRING 2014

Enrollment Phase: Meet Juan

Juan recently enrolled in the

Construction Academy. As a

28-year-old single father with a

criminal record, Juan views his training

opportunity with Taller San Jose as a

second chance to give his son a better life.

Growing up in foster care, he moved

around a lot and had a hard time

staying out of trouble. Juan got

involved with drugs and eventually

went to prison for three years. Upon

his release, he completed a drug

treatment program and learned

about Taller San Jose.

After submitting an application to

the program, Juan was asked to

complete a written assignment

before his interview with an

Enrollment Specialist. “It was

the first time I had to sit down and do

homework in years,” he recalls. “It helped

me realize how much of a commitment

the program was going to be.”

Submitting an application, passing a drug

test, completing a written assignment and

interviewing with an Enrollment Specialist

are some of the ways that prospective

trainees demonstrate their “readiness for

change,” a requirement for enrolling in

Taller San Jose.

Juan knows that to successfully complete

the program, he’ll need to work really

hard and get up early every day so that he

doesn’t miss his 7:00 a.m. bus. He’ll also

have to avoid his old “homies.”

He is motivated and believes that he is

ready to seize this opportunity to rebuild

his life.

Ready for Change

There is a palpable energy around Taller San Jose these days. Classrooms are full of young men and women eager to make

something of a good opportunity; collaborative partnerships have brought college faculty and new staff members into our buildings; and, strengthened programming is assisting us to stay connected to trainees longer so that we can better understand the impact Taller San Jose makes in the life of a young person. It’s an exciting time.

Last fall, Taller San Jose’s board of directors committed to better understanding the workforce and educational needs of disadvantaged youth outside the boundaries of Santa Ana. While Santa Ana remains an area of great need, we are all acutely aware that there are rough neighborhoods throughout the county that could benefit from the services Taller San Jose offers young people. While we want to be thoughtful not to jeopardize the success we’ve achieved over the past eighteen years, we are preparing ourselves to expand our ability to reach more young people stuck and in need of a second chance.

Your generous support of Taller San Jose is a great source of encouragement to me, especially as we consider how to serve the workforce needs of young people throughout the county. I thank you for valuing our mission to walk young people out of poverty and onto self-sufficiency. I look forward to sharing Taller San Jose’s vision for the future as it evolves over the coming months.

Greetings from Shawna Smith

Everybody Needs an Amigo

Become an Amigo by sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship for a young person looking for a way out

of poverty. Amigo scholarships help to provide hands-on job skills training, support services and

links to employment and education for the 350 young people Taller San Jose serves each year.

To sponsor an Amigo scholarship, please call (714) 543-5105, ext. 128 or visit www.tallersanjose.org

Taller San Jose appreciates its most recent Amigos, who made gifts between December 2013 and March 2014:Mr. and Mrs. Anthony AllenMr. and Mrs. John R. BercawMr. and Mrs. Raymond L. BertolottiMs. Eleanor BrewerMr. and Mrs. Frank J. CalabrettaCapitalSource BankClark Construction Group-California, LPMr. and Mrs. Michael A. CloggMr. and Mrs. Thomas CroalMs. Jane T. DuffyMr. Joe GilbreathMr. John Gross and Ms. Jennifer PerryMr. and Mrs. Michael HaganMr. and Mrs. Edward HaskeMs. Kathyrn HenniganMr. and Mrs. Kim R. HenryMs. Michele HimmelbergMr. Anthony C. HummelMr. and Mrs. John JacobsMr. David Jorris and Mrs. Diana SheaMr. and Mrs. Kent KitselmanMr. and Mrs. Charles V. KovacMark RobertsMrs. Maureen LuebbersMr. and Mrs. William McCune

Mr. and Mrs. Mark MildebrathMission Hospital’s Executive TeamMs. Susan MooreMr. Steve MorrisMs. Deborah MorrisonOur Lady Queen of Angels ChurchOutside the Lines, Inc.Pacific Western BankMr. and Mrs. William SchlaterMr. and Mrs. Paul SchloemerMr. John Shea and Dr. Herminia Shea-MartinezMs. Linda L. SimonMs. Stephanie Sloggett-O’DellMr. and Mrs. Craig B. SmithDr. and Mrs. John StollsteimerMr. and Mrs. Mark StraussMr. Mark StraussMs. Thea StuedliMs. Kim SullivanThe Donald L. Schoellerman FoundationThe William & Sue Gross Family FoundationThe William and Nancy Thompson Family FoundationMr. Anthony P. WagnerMr. and Mrs. Guy B. WilsonMr. and Mrs. Robert Wilson

Employer Partner Highlight

On the Path to Self-Sufficiency

Taller San Jose offers Medical Careers

Academy trainees the opportunity to gain

real-world work experience by volunteering

with AccessOC, a provider of specialty

medical care to Orange County’s

low-income and under- or uninsured

residents. Taller San Jose trainees are able to

volunteer on “Super Surgery Saturdays,” when

AccessOC provides free surgeries to uninsured

patients. Executive Director Ericka Waidley says,

“We enjoy having the students volunteer and

feel that it is a win-win: we get the benefit of

trained, bilingual volunteers and they get to see

health care in action by helping to assist patients

and families, observing the roles of the surgical

team, and learning about the needs

of those who are uninsured or

underinsured.” After being impressed

by the professionalism and relevant job skills

of Taller San Jose trainee Elizeth, AccessOC

recently hired her as a program coordinator at a

starting wage of $17 per hour! Taller San Jose is

grateful to AccessOC for providing volunteer and

employment opportunities to its youth.

AccessOC, Southern California

Placement Phase: Meet Joel

Gratefully,

Shawna SmithCEO/Executive Director

Joel completed Taller San Jose’s 16-week

Administration and Billing Clerk Academy

and a 4-week externship with Affinity

Dental in Santa Ana this past February.

Admittedly shy, Joel says the weekly Life

Skills workshops he participated in during

his training were helpful in building his

confidence, but he was still nervous about

finding a job when his externship ended.

He worked with Taller San Jose’s

employment services team to

practice his interviewing skills,

finish his resume and schedule

interviews. The hard work

paid off. One week after Joel

completed his externship, he was offered a full-time

job as a Billing Specialist at MD EyeCare, earning

$10.50 per hour. He’ll be eligible to receive

health benefits in May, after three months of

employment.

Over the next two years, Joel will continue to

meet with his Support Specialist to ensure that

he continues advancing his employment,

life stability and educational goals.

He’ll also be able to take advantage

of the social/emotional wellness and

educational support groups that

Taller San Jose provides. “I already

miss this place,” Joel says, “and I

look forward to coming back.”

Kris and Stacey Manning relocated from

Bethesda, Maryland, to Orange County

with Kris’ company, Clark Construction

Group, in early 2012. The couple’s first exposure to

Taller San Jose was at the Builder’s Lunch, when

Kris attended as a guest of Richard Heim, Taller

San Jose board member and president of Clark’s

western region. “I had the chance to meet the

students and hear their stories,” Kris recalls. “Their

excitement was contagious. It’s great to see how

proud the youth are to be learning the trade.”

That September, his wife joined him at the Light

Up A Life gala and, what started as a business

commitment, turned into a personal passion for

the organization and its mission. Both Kris and

Stacey have since become personally involved with

Taller San Jose. “How often do you get to share

something you are passionate about with your

spouse?” asks Kris.

Stacey brings her background as an events

manager to the Light Up A Life planning

committee. “It’s a truly special event,” shares

Stacey, “I’m impressed year after year by the

student speaker. They have such courage to get up

there and share their story!”

Kris sits on Taller San Jose’s Anaheim Task Force

and is helping Taller San Jose develop a strategy

for expanding its services in Orange County. “I

remember one of my first task force meetings.

Shawna had just shown us the map of Anaheim’s

crime and poverty rates. That’s when it clicked:

we are really going into the roughest areas and

heading to the heart of the issue,” recalls Kris.

“Shawna continues to lead Taller San Jose with

the same principles as its founding days—going

into the neighborhoods and serving the youth who

need it most.”

Kris and Stacey encourage others to learn more

about Taller San Jose by taking a tour, finding

out how you can get more involved, or taking the

time to meet with a student. Taller San Jose is

extremely grateful to Kris and Stacey Manning and

their dedication to the organization. They are true

Amigos to Taller San Jose!

Hope Builders

Amigo Spotlight

When Ryan completed training with Taller

San Jose’s Construction Academy last

June, he was worried about finding

a job. Growing up in poverty and lacking stable

housing, he knew the security that a good job could

bring him and his family. He thought that additional

training through Hope Builders, Taller San Jose’s

general contracting company, would ultimately

ensure him job stability.

Furthering the mission of Taller San Jose, Hope

Builders helps to bridge the employment gap

for young people like Ryan. Crew members are

hired for a transitional employment period of

up to 12 months, with the goal of moving them

to permanent, living-wage jobs. Hope Builders

helps crew members develop their technical skills

and provides mentorship to the young people

employed. As a Hope Builders employee, Ryan

worked side-by-side with master tradesmen and

received additional on-the-job training in carpentry,

plumbing, painting and electrical installation. This

past month, Hope Builders’ Director of Business

Development, John Raya, connected Ryan to a job

with Arce Electric. Ryan is now making $12 per hour

and just recently moved into a new apartment. He

hopes to be able to continue gaining experience in

the electrical field and increasing his wages.

Hope Builders currently employs 9 crew

members—all at varying stages of their transitional

employment contracts. Currently, Hope Builders

is working on several projects, including new

construction, tenant improvements and remodeling

projects. Current clients include Affordable Housing

Clearinghouse, ANR Industries, Citivest, Habitat for

Humanity, Mission Hospital, NeighborWorks, OC

Community Housing and St. Joseph Health.

For more information about Hope Builders, or to

receive a bid on an upcoming home improvement

project, visit hope-build.com or contact John Raya,

director of business development, at (714) 542-

2129, ext. 209.

Kris and Stacey Manning

Last week, Sister Elaine Moffitt slipped

$100 into my pocket. She is 91 and

nearly blind. “Use this to help change

somebody’s life for the better,” she whispered.

“Give it to Taller San Jose.” Sisters of St.

Joseph take a vow of poverty, and active

or retired, we receive $100 a month for

discretionary expenses. In your family you

might call it an “allowance.” Sister Elaine

gave hers to me. If I have the privilege of

living into my 90s, I’d like to have a generous

heart like hers. I hope the choices that I make

toward the end of my life will be less about

me and more about making life better for

others. It seems like a good plan for getting

into heaven. My special thanks to you, who

through your generosity, give life and hope to

Taller San Jose’s young people.

For information on how to include Taller San

Jose in your estate plans, please contact

Christa Sheehan at (714) 543-5105, ext. 112.

Sister Eileen Legacy SocietyThe generosity of others can change someone’s life

Employment UpdateCongratulations to the following:

801 N. BroadwaySanta Ana, CA 92701-3423(714) 543-5105www.tallersanjose.org

Taller San Jose Board of Directors - Jeff Randolph, Board Chair, Shawna Smith, CEO/Executive Director, Dolores Gonzalez-Hayes, Richard Heim, Tom Honan, Christopher Leo, Sister Eileen McNerney, CSJ, Kathleen D. Rodin, Dr. Linda Rose, Catherine Skelton, Larry Stofko, George Urch, Charles E. Walker, Angela Wergechik, Kevin Wijayawickrama

Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange

Since January 31 youth were placed into employment at a starting wage of $12.21 per hour

Stay up to date by following us at facebook.com/tallersanjose

Save the DateTaller San Jose’s Light Up A Life Gala

— is on —

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Event co-chairs, Joyce Armen & Mimi Cora, invite you to join us as we honor The R.J. Noble Company & The Carver Family with the Best of Friends award.

At The Promenade & Gardens by Turnip Rose

1570 Scenic AvenueCosta Mesa, CA 92626

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Laura Palmer at (714) 543-5105, ext. 123.

Get InvolvedTo Volunteer, please contact Laura

Palmer at (714) 543-5105, ext. 123.

To Hire a Graduate, please contact

Meghan Medlin at (714) 543-5105,

ext. 138.

To Make a Gift, please contact Shirley

Dullum at (714) 543-5105, ext. 128.

Attend a Taller San Jose WORKS Tour!

Upcoming Tour Dates: • May 13, 1:00 PM

• June 10, 8:30 AM

• July 8, 1:00 PM

To RSVP for a monthly tour or to

request that Taller San Jose make a

presentation at your office, please

contact Lindsey Fry at (714) 543-5105,

ext. 121.

Name Company Title Hourly Wage

Alberto Chipotle Cook $9.00Alexandra St. Jude Heritage Group Medical Assistant $13.90 Anabel PPOSBC Front Office Assistant $12.00 Candelaria St. Jude Heritage Group MA Float $14.00 Cristian Hope Builders Helper $10.00 Daisy Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange Receptionist $13.00 Daisy St.JosephHealth Marketing Intern $12.36 Daniel ATP Porter $12.00 Edwin Prime Co. Painting &Construction Painter $12.00Elizeth Access OC Program Coordinator $17.00Esmeralda Guaranty Chevrolet Cashier/Receptionist $9.00Evangeline Pacific Hills Treatment Center House Manager $12.00Israel Hope Builders Helper $10.00Jazmin Consumer’s Portfolio Services Processor $12.00Jennifer Share Our Selves (SOS) Front Office Rep $13.50Joel MD EyeCare Billing Specialist $10.50John Hope Builders Helper $10.00Jonathan DC Construction Helper $16.00Leonel West Coast Air Conditioning Carpenter $19.90Mayra Road Runner Sports Cashier $12.00Reina MedXM Call Center Representative $10.00Samantha Newport Doctors Medical Group Medical Assistant $13.00Simon Beckett Construction Laborer $9.00Todd Kasa Construction Laborer $18.00Valerie St. Jude Heritage Group Medical Assistant $14.25Victor CJ Construction Cement Apprentice $21.67Wendy Memorial Care Medical Group FOA/BO Office Float $15.10Yadira Tustin Irvine Medical Group Front Office Admin $14.00Yesenia Patricia A. Atie OptometristBiller $13.00Yesenia Scott & Goldman Customer ServiceRep $13.00Yonathan Rooster Plumbing Helper $10.00