When you meet Erika Miller, a Class 20 Job Training and Placement Program graduate, you'll notice a poised and gracious young woman. There is little hint of the difficulties she has faced, and when she talks about the past, she does so without recriminations and with a sense of the power she has over her destiny.

"Not so long ago, my entire life was in shambles and quickly spiraling out of control," Erika says. "Then I found out that I was pregnant, 6 ½ months pregnant. That's when everything changed for me.

"I quit allowing drugs to abuse me and quit abusing myself internally, but I still had a lot further to go on my journey to build a safe and promising future for my son and myself. I needed to be equipped to succeed in this fast-paced hectic world again -- to rebuild my self-confidence, computer skills and job-searching skills."

Erika entered the program in May of 2006 and immediately distinguished herself by learning computer skills with remarkable speed and thoroughness as well as by encouraging and supporting other trainees. Staff and trainees alike recognized her leadership capabilities as well as her complete willingness to tackle and solve any problem, like getting our telephone listings straightened out.

Erika says, "I am still in awe at how much the staff really wanted to help me succeed. They saw things in me that I didn't know existed, or had forgotten about. They, along with my classmates, took me under their wings, nurturing me until it was time to be set free to do it on my own.

"I've accepted a good job with a great boss, very close to home so that I am able to care for my grandma and my son. However, I know that in the future I will stretch myself a bit more and expect a higher income for my skills and abilities, thanks to God, my son and OPTIC."

There isn't a type face large enough to express our delight and relief at the impending release of our new name. You can preview it here, watch the unveiling at the Class 21 Graduation ceremony tomorrow at 6 pm, and/or watch for an email from Executive Director Alissa Friedman containing the name, logo, and new website and email addresses.

This new name and brand could not be introduced without a lot of work from a lot of dedicated volunteers. Pro bono legal counsel Morgan, Lewis, retained through the Community Organization Representation Project of the Volunteer Legal Services Program of the Bar Association of San Francisco, provided excellent advice on intellectual property matters (Rochelle Alpert and Sharon Smith) and corporate requirements (Paul McCoy). Through the Taproot Foundation, volunteers Michael Boykin, Chris Bailey, and Jay Chen helped in the development of our name, and volunteers Sharon Schrank, Nate Pence, Allison Shanks and Jeff Lynn helped in the development of our logo and brand. Staff and Board members provided substantial creative input, with an extra special nod to Board member Sue George. Many other alumni, funders and partners participated in the research during the early phases of the project.

And we'll need to enlist your help. Though the name OPTIC has been problematic for us, we've built up a lot of recognition that we'd like to keep. And during recruitment (the first three weeks of December), we need to make sure that individuals who need our services find us, by any name. Please help us spread the word!

Tomorrow night, November 30th, we celebrate the graduation of the 14 trainees of Class 21, a class we will remember fondly for years to come.

Beginning at 6 pm, we will honor these 14 diverse individuals who applied themselves with such determination to the task of learning the full range of Microsoft Office applications. A number of the trainees had never used a computer before, yet the class boasted the highest combined academic achievement of any to date. Many stayed late after hours studying and completing homework assignments. A record seven of them had perfect attendance. We are proud.

Keith Archuleta will be the special guest speaker at the celebration. Archuleta is Executive Director of the East County Business-Education Alliance and of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Contra Costa, as well as a founding partner of Emerald Consulting, "Developing Whole People, Healthy Organizations & Sustainable Communities." Archuleta serves on the Opportunity Junction Board of Directors, and was a recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. award this year from Dow Chemical Corporation.

The celebration includes an appetizer reception and is open to all interested members of the public. It takes place at the OPTIC office at 3102 Delta Fair Boulevard in Antioch.

With support from presenting sponsor Chevron, we will be holding our first ever Gala Fundraiser on April 21, 2007. The event is a gourmet dinner catered by Blake's at the beautiful new Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building, with emcee Sara Sidner of KTVU television, a benefit auction, and dancing to the Rossmoor Big Band.

We are currently actively soliciting sponsorships and auction items. Can you help? Our sponsorship form is online, as is the auction item donation form. Confirmed sponsors already include The Mechanics Bank, Dow Chemical, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 159, GWF Power Systems, US Bank, and Mirant California.

And yes, that is our new name in the logo for the fundraiser, but probably too small for you to read. If you're curious, click here to see it now full size.

The Y&H Soda Foundation will be supporting our evening Technology Center programs in English as a Second Language and Computer Basics during 2007. The new grant puts the program on stable footing for the year, giving staff the opportunity to start evaluating what additional or different services might benefit the 350 people who use the services each year. Meanwhile, the Dow Community Advisory Panel (Dow CAP) awarded OPTIC one of only six competitive grants in response to a request for proposals this fall. The funding is earmarked for new computers, which will help expand the capacity of the Computer Basics classes taught in part by Dow volunteer Danae Lui. "The classes have gotten very popular, sometimes filled to capacity," reports staffer Jesse Golden, who directs the evening program. "This will really help!"

Project Manager Nathan Clark guides a computer to its new home.

• In With the New: If you shop online for your holiday gifts, using the portal iGive.com as your entry point can generate significant donations for OPTIC. Most online retailers (including travel portals like Expedia) participate, generally offering between 2% and 5% donations back to OPTIC. Shop within 45 days of signing up, and OPTIC gets a $5 bonus! At this time of year, these donations can really add up.
  
  
• Out With the Old: If your holiday gifts are replacing some of your old electronic items, check this list to see whether you've got something on our wish list!
  1. Palm Pilot;
  2. Digital camera (at least 4 megapixels);
  3. Licenses you don't need for Windows XP or Windows 2000 and Office 2000 or Office 2003, for our Computers for the Community program (sending computers home with our alumni and participants);
  4. Computers (minimum Pentium III, 256 MB, 20 GB hard drive, 1 GHz);
  5. DVD player;
  6. Utility shelves; and
  7. Small 2-drawer file cabinets.
  
  

Most of us don't think too much about the software that lets us view Internet pages -- we just click a big blue from the Taskbar or Start Menu, and proceed from there. The fact that we're now using Microsoft's Internet Explorer is not usually what we're thinking about, at least until you're offered a screen that asks if you want to upgrade to the new version, Internet Explorer 7, or IE 7.

Well, do you? If you're looking at your work computer, probably not; that decision should be left to the computer administrator for your company or organization. If you're looking at your home computer, probably so, sooner or later, as it's generally advisable to keep up with Microsoft's changes. (This applies only to those running Microsoft XP, not to those running any earlier operating systems such as Windows 2000).

If you'd like a preview of what the changes are, there's a video at Microsoft's site showing and explaining the new features in IE 7.

One of the new features on IE 7 is tabbed browsing, which allows you to open multiple websites in a single browser window. This feature is part of what makes a competing browser, Firefox, so popular; it reduces clutter, makes it easier to find web pages you looked at earlier, and allows you to be more effective when browsing the web.

IE 7 has other changes, too, including improved security, an initially confusing new arrangement of icons (and missing menus), and a redesigned Favorites Center. "Upgrading is not for the faint of heart," remarks Executive Director Alissa Friedman. "I couldn't figure out how to refresh a page until I moved my toolbars around in such a way that my menus reappeared!"

Is it the best solution out there for browsing the Internet? We checked two of our favorite sources, www.techsoup.org and www.cnet.com, and found divided opinions. Both sites thought well of IE 7 but indicated some preference for Firefox, available free from Mozilla. (You can read about or download Firefox at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/).

Here at OPTIC, we're sticking with Internet Explorer for our labs because we want to teach people on the most commonly available software, but it's great that there are alternatives, and Microsoft clearly has been stimulated by the competition to improve their product. Here's to better web browsing for us all!

OPTIC gratefully acknowledges its corporate, foundation and government funders:

OPTIC Hiring Partners help us place Job Training and Placement participants into good jobs with opportunities for advancement. Many thanks to OPTIC Hiring Partners Ascot Staffing, Contra Costa Child Care Council, CASA of Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Council, Springboard Advisors, and USS Posco Industries. To join them, fill out our very simple Memorandum of Understanding.

The Friends of OPTIC are an energetic, talented group of women dedicated to supporting OPTIC's work in the community. We are thrilled with their efforts to publicize our work, help with special events and donor development, and support the staff in innumerable ways. They are: Mary Jane Arnold, Katia Avila, Beth Bissell, Sharon Cahill, Jules Campbell, Jane Collett, Pam Elliott, Sue George, Judy Johnson, Sue Kidd, Kathy Leahy, Helen Loewenstein, Jan Monteyne, Sarah Morrill, Denise Silicani, and Maureen Wilhelm.

If you share our vision, we'll find a way to help you get involved -- whatever your schedule, whatever your resources. You can:

• Volunteer with the day or evening program. We have positions for mentors, tutors, mock interviewers, and much more.
• Employ an OPTIC graduate. Our candidates are proficient, experienced and motivated.
• Contract with OPTIC's internship program. From database management to mailings, we're fast, reliable and cost-effective.
• Give. Your tax-deductible contribution will change a life.

We welcome your feedback and involvement in our program. You can reach any of us by telephone at (925) 776-1133. For inquiries about:

• OPTIC's Job Training and Placement Program, contact Program Coordinator Natalie Georgia;
• Employment opportunities for OPTIC alumni, contact Case Manager and Career Counselor Michelle Stewart;
• Evening Technology Center, contact Director of Development and Adult Education Jesse Golden;
• OPTIC's integrated mental health services, contact Mental Health Clinician Catherine Warren;
• OPTIC's DataWorks business services, contact Project Manager Nathan Clark;
• Communications and donations, contact Executive Director Alissa Friedman; or
• Accounting and human resources, contact Accountant Pam Elliott.

• Keith Archuleta, Founding Partner, Emerald Consulting
• Robert Beck, Principal, Pittsburg Adult Education Center
• Linda Best, Executive Director, Contra Costa Council
• George Birdsong, President, Springboard Advisors
• Janet Brown, Housing Specialist, Center for Independent Living
• Sandy Bustillo, Interim Division Manager for General Assistance, Contra Costa County Workforce Services
• Val Davis, Vice Chair, Delta 2000
• Sue George, Chair, Friends of OPTIC
• Mary Jane Hargrove, Consultant, Accounting and Bookkeeping
• Rick Kaiser, CPA, CFP, Temen, Kaiser & Cameron CPAs, LLC
• Joe Mathai, Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank
• Nancy Parent, Councilmember, City of Pittsburg
• Ricardo M. Perez, D.D.S., Owner, Cosmetic Dental Spa
• Jayne Sanford, Area Manager, Mechanics Bank
• Tonya Smith, Assistant, Office of Supervisor Federal Glover

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Newsletter Contributors: Jesse Golden and Alissa Friedman