Maria Chacon first stepped through the doors at Opportunity Junction after seeing the signs in the windows promoting classes in English as a Second Language.

"I wanted to learn better English," she reports. "And the first person I met was Alissa [Friedman, Executive Director]. She told me about the Job Training and Placement Program, and I realized this was a great opportunity."

Chacon spoke with her husband that evening, and he said he would support her all the way. "I came in the next day to start the application process," she says.

Originally from Peru, Chacon had never had a chance to go to school in the United States or take English classes, and her confidence had suffered. "It's about how you feel about yourself," she explains. "I worked before, but I needed more skills."

At Opportunity Junction, Chacon trained in communication skills, including Business English, as well as learning computer skills. As her confidence grew during the 12 weeks of training, she began reaching out to help her fellow trainees whenever she could.

Meanwhile, Ernie Guerrero of La Tapatia Mexican Restaurant needed an administrative assistant to help manage the catering side of the business, again. Guerrero had previously hired two other Opportunity Junction alumni, each of whom ultimately left for more lucrative opportunities.

"When Maria sent me her resume, this is what I said: if you're from Opportunity Junction, you're already qualified," Guerrero said in a later phone conversation. "The Opportunity Junction alumni have stood out in terms of punctuality, presentation, attitude, skills, customer service, and professionalism."

The handoffs happened smoothly, with each alumna helping to recruit the next candidate to take her place, according to Guerrero. "But it has made me think about how to offer the kind of opportunity that will make the position attractive long-term to these valuable employees."

La Tapatia is now the latest official Opportunity Junction Hiring Partner, and Guerrero is considering becoming involved in the re-launch of the Opportunity Junction mentorship program.

Chacon enjoys the work atmosphere at La Tapatia and also hopes to be able to start saving money for a trip to see her ailing mother in Peru, whom she has not seen in 20 years. "I've had some struggles, and I feel so grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given. I'm so glad that I decided to take a chance and walk through that door."

Class 23 Celebrates Graduation August 2nd; CCTV to Televise

Trainees from Opportunity Junction's 23rd Job Training and Placement Class will celebrate their graduation from the classroom training portion of the program on Thursday, August 2nd at 6 pm at the Opportunity Junction offices at 3102 Delta Fair Boulevard in Antioch. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served!

The ceremony will feature program volunteer Lynnette Hart, Personnel Analyst for the City of Antioch, who regularly inspires our interns as a guest speaker in the Career Club phase of the program.

Class 23 was down to 12 trainees just a couple of weeks into the program -- health problems and personal crises took a toll on the 19 women accepted -- but there has been no attrition over the past two months. "We all really enjoy learning and working with each other," says Leslie Wood of Class 23. "What a great experience!" The group has moved quickly through the computer skills curriculum, which was expanded to include data scrubbing and other skills specific to accurate data entry and cleanup.

In case you can't make it (or just want to see it again), CCTV -- Contra Costa TV -- will tape and televise the graduation on Tuesday, August 14th at 9 p.m. and Wednesday, August 15th at 4:00 pm. CCTV is Comcast channel 27.

Pathways to Opportunity, Wardrobe for Opportunity's post-employment career skills seminar series, is coming soon to Opportunity Junction.

A new collaboration between Wardrobe and Opportunity Junction will make the program, which consists of six post-employment sessions taught by local career women, more accessible to East Contra Costa residents.

"Opportunity Junction alumni were an important core of those who completed our last Contra Costa Pathways to Opportunity series," says Michelle Augenstein, Interim Executive Director of Wardrobe for Opportunity. "I thought we could increase our impact by making the program more convenient to Opportunity Junction alumni and other low-income East County residents."

"We provide a lot of post-employment support to our own alumni," says Michelle Stewart, Opportunity Junction Case Manager and Career Counselor, "because that's a time when alumni face a lot of new challenges. Getting multiple perspectives, or hearing the same message from more than one source, should help alumni navigate these challenges."

The program will provide alumni of our job training program and other employed, low-income residents with additional training and reinforcement of skills in goal-setting, communications, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Sessions are three and a half hours long and include refreshments. Other benefits to participants include clothes, gifts, a book, and a certificate of completion.

The agreement provides priority acceptance to Opportunity Junction alumni, although Wardrobe for Opportunity will be responsible for recruitment and selection. Other details are still being worked out.

Opportunity Junction alumni are encouraged to contact Stewart to express a preference for Monday evenings or Saturdays. "Alumni feedback is, of course, critical," says Stewart. "I'll be surveying the alumni via email, but input is welcome any time."

Volunteers Needed to Mentor Interns and Alumni

Many of us are fortunate to have someone in our lives who is just there for us. They listen; they encourage us; they help us find the strength to explore new opportunities. Becoming a mentor for Opportunity Junction is a chance to do that for another person.

We are actively recruiting volunteers who would like to participate in our pilot mentoring program, which is scheduled to kick-off this fall on Friday, September 14, 2007 with our Class 23 interns during the Week of Caring. As part of the pilot mentoring program, volunteers will have the opportunity to help us shape our program to be most beneficial for our future mentors and mentees.

The mentoring program is designed to provide support for participants in our Job Training and Placement Program. Mentors foster the development of a personal and supportive individual relationship and promote personal growth through the facilitation of new experiences.

The potential rewards to mentors as well as mentees are well documented by research (www.mentoring.org). As mentees see that successful professionals find it personally rewarding to spend time with them, they feel a new surge of self-worth and empowerment.

Wouldn't you like to make a difference in one person's journey from poverty to self-sufficiency? Join our team of dedicated mentors!

For more information please contact Michelle Stewart, Case Manager and Career Counselor at (925) 776-1133 or by email.

Article by Mary Jennings, Volunteer Mentor

What has: A's tickets (set of four) a personal DVD player an iPod shuffle gift certificates, gift baskets and a whole lot more?

It's the Opportunity Junction Alumni Challenge Raffle! Here's where the challenge comes in: which alumni will sell the most raffle tickets? (The top three get special prizes). Which alumni class will be the top fund-raisers? (A special raffle prize will be drawn from among the winning class).

Tickets are now available, with a drawing at our Sept. 29 Picnic [link] (although winners need not be present to win). Click here for a current list of prizes. Those selling tickets are also eligible for special drawings and prizes. Tickets are $5 each, or 5 for $20. Purchase tickets from your favorite alumna, alumnus, or participant, or email Jesse Golden if you'd like to sell some yourself.

The Orinda Women's Club, established in 1953, has chosen Opportunity Junction as one of the beneficiaries of its November 8, 2007 Festival of the Trees.

Beneficiaries were chosen following a written application and oral presentation. "I had a chance to listen to presentations from a number of organizations doing good work," recalls Alissa Friedman, Opportunity Junction Executive Director, "and I feel honored that we were selected."

The event, which regularly draws 600 attendees, features a silent auction of decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, and thematic baskets as well as a fashion show featuring both professional models and local community leaders. "This is an event that people look forward to all year," says Friedman, who attended in 2005. "The Club has done an amazing job of weaving together entertainment and philanthropy."

The silent auction and socializing begin at 10:30, with lunch served at noon and followed by a fashion show. The event will once again be held at the San Ramon Marriott, at 2600 Bishop Drive, but tickets, which cost $75, must be purchased before September 11th. Contact Jesse at (925) 776-1133 if you would like to receive an invitation or sit at an Opportunity Junction table.

The Club is still soliciting auction item donors to assemble as part of baskets that accompany the trees. Contact Barbara Woolmington at 1 Crescent Drive, Orinda, CA 94563 if you would like be an auction item donor.

Opportunity Junction's upcoming Alumni Challenge & Picnic (September 29, noon-3, Buchanan Park in Pittsburg) is a special event for alumni of our Job Training and Placement Program, as well as family, program participants, staff and volunteers. It provides a chance to network and for alumni to enjoy each other's company and introduce their families.

The September 29 event will include a barbecue lunch, children's games, and the drawing for our raffle. Will certain staff members bring their guitars? It could happen.... Email Jesse Golden if you're interested in attending!

We'd like to build a library here at Opportunity Junction for participants and alumni, to help them gain the skills and confidence to support themselves and their families, and we'd like your help!

What is a book that has inspired or taught you important lessons? If you can donate it, along with a note about why you think it's significant, we can build a library that's personalized with your recommendations.

Bring in your book and comment, or mail it to us at 3102 Delta Fair Blvd., Antioch CA 94509. If you want to write a check to cover the cost of the book and send it to us with your comment, we'll buy it in your name! For questions or more information, email Jesse Golden.

• During July and August, Comcast Local Edition features an interview with Executive Director Alissa Friedman on the CNN Headline News Channel (Comcast Channel 57).
• KUIC 95.3 and 92.1 KKDV, Your Hometown Stations are partnering with us to recruit for the job training program.
• Our Class 23 Graduation Ceremony will air on CCTV, Comcast Channel 27, at 9:00 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 and at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2007.

• Folding chairs in good condition;
• Personal printer;
• Palm Pilot;
• Digital camera (at least 4 megapixels);
• Video camera;
• 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);
• Computers (minimum Pentium III, 256 MB, 20 GB hard drive, 1 GHz);
• DVD player; and
• Utility shelves.

We love data here at Opportunity Junction almost as much as we love teaching Job Training participants to enter, sort, filter, and query it in Microsoft Excel and Access. We track our own program data in Access, but we also need data from outside sources to keep on top of community need and trends in the field. Here are just a few of the sites we use (along with warnings and qualifications):

Labor Market Information at http://www.calmis.ca.gov/htmlfile/county/califhtm.htm
There's a lot of historical wage and employment data at this site run by California's Employment Development Department. If you prefer to look to the future, though, Occupational Projections are no longer available for Contra Costa County separately, so you'll have to select the Oakland MSA (Metro Statistical Area) to get a picture of how things look in this area.

U.S. Census Data at http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en
If you're interested in the demographic profile of a zip code area as of 2000, here's where you might find the data. Zip code 94509 brings up all of Antioch, while 94531 doesn't exist. 2005 data is available for California as a whole, but not for individual cities or zip codes.

Contra Costa Employment and Human Services at http://www.ehsd.org
Yes, our very own EHSD scored the ehsd.org website and also incorporated multimedia (turn off your speakers if, like us, you don't have walls in your office). This is not, strictly speaking, a data website, but it's the best source we've found for local information on CalWORKs (try http://www.ehsd.org/work/work015.html). The timeliness of the information varies, but dynamic pages are very up-to-date.

Neighborhood Knowledge California at http://www.nkca.ucla.edu
This GIS (Geographic Information System) site can map demographic, economic, and health information by neighborhood. Try going to the map room and selecting your target zip code, then add an economic theme like female civilian unemployed or a health theme like mother under age 20. That's just the tip of a really cool iceberg.

Contra Costa Library Research Center at http://www.ccclib.org/researchcenter
The library's databases are many and varied — check out Reference USA, with 14 million US businesses listed, or the Business and Company Resource Center, with company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies, and periodicals. You can get an e-card immediately online https://ecard.ccclib.org/index.php?do=english. Did we mention that much of the site is also available en español? http://ccclib.org/spanish

Since our last newsletter, we were grateful to receive significant support from the following partners:

• Chevron: For unrestricted support of our programs and organization. Chevron was also the presenting sponsor of our 2007 Gala Fundraiser. We are proud that Chevron is continuing to partner with us in supporting "the comprehensive programs you have to move participants from poverty to long-term economic independence."
• Thomas J. Long Foundation: For the internship component of the Job Training and Placement Program. The Opportunity Junction program is unique in that a paid DataWorks internship is offered to every graduate of the training phase. Foundation Executive Director Bob Coakley is also exploring ways that hiring DataWorks could benefit the Foundation. "We've got great tracking technology," says Coakley, "But there are only two of us on staff (Coakley and Controller Marcia Sander), and there are times of the year when we could use some temporary administrative help."
• San Francisco Foundation: For general support of the Job Training and Placement Program. The San Francisco Foundation mobilizes resources and acts as a catalyst for change to build strong communities, foster civic leadership, and promote philanthropy.

Opportunity Junction wishes to acknowledges all of its corporate, foundation and government funders, sponsors, and in-kind providers:

Opportunity Junction Hiring Partners help us place Job Training and Placement participants into good jobs with opportunities for advancement. To join them, fill out our very simple Memorandum of Understanding. Many thanks to Opportunity Junction Hiring Partners:

• Ascot Staffing
• Contra Costa Child Care Council
• CASA of Contra Costa County
• Contra Costa Council
• Contra Costa County Superior Court
• Eichleay Engineering
• La Tapatia Mexican Restaurant
• Office of Supervisor Federal Glover
• Springboard Advisors
• USS Posco Industries

The Friends of Opportunity Junction are an energetic, talented group of women dedicated to supporting Opportunity Junction'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: Anne Launt, Beth Bissell, Betty Stokes, Denise Silicani, Frances Wallace, Helen Loewenstein, Jan Monteyne, Jane Collett, Judy Johnson, Jules Campbell, Karla Massie, Kathy Burke, Kathy Leahy, Mary Ann Shattuck, Mary Jane Arnold, Mary Jane Hargrove, Maureen Wilhelm, Norma Evans, Pam Elliott, Pamela Halloran, Sarah Morrill, Sue George, and Sue Kidd.

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 Opportunity Junction graduate. Our candidates are proficient, experienced and motivated.
• Hire DataWorks. 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:

• Job Training and Placement Program, contact Program Coordinator Natalie Georgia;
• Employment opportunities for alumni, contact Case Manager and Career Counselor Michelle Stewart;
• Evening Technology Center, contact Director of Development and Adult Education Jesse Golden;
• Integrated mental health services, contact Director of Mental Health Kate M. Novotny, Ph.D.;
• 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
• Linda Best, Executive Director, Contra Costa Council
• George Birdsong, President, Springboard Advisors
• Janet Brown, Housing Specialist, Center for Independent Living
• Sandy Bustillo, Division Manager for Welfare to Work and Employment Placement Services, Contra Costa County Workforce Services
• Val Davis, Vice Chair, Delta 2000
• Sue George, Chair, Friends of Opportunity Junction
• Mary Jane Hargrove, Consultant, Accounting and Bookkeeping
• Rick Kaiser, CPA, CFP, Temen, Kaiser & Cameron CPAs, LLC
• 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
• Ashoo Vaid, District Manager, Wells Fargo Bank

The Opportunity Junction Advisory Board

The Advisory Board consists of community members who provide valuable advice and other assistance in support of our mission to fight poverty by helping low-income Contra Costa residents gain the competence and confidence to support themselves and their families. They are:

• Iris Archuleta, Transitional Management Consultant, Emerald Consulting
• Philip Arndt, Franchising & Government Affairs Manager, Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.
• Robert Beck, Principal, Pittsburg Adult Education Center
• Sharon Beswick, Principal, Antioch Area Community Fund
• The Honorable Susan Bonilla, County Supervisor, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
• Timothy Carlisle, Senior Network Analyst, Contra Costa County Department of Information Technology
• Jennie Carpenter, Program Officer, United Way of the Bay Area
• George Carter, Business Services Representative, Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board
• Debrah Cook, Community Engagement Specialist, Chevron Corporation
• The Honorable Mark Desaulnier, Assemblymember, California State Assembly
• Aimee Durfee, Program Officer, United Way of the Bay Area
• Lester Ellis, Founder, 1200 Foundation
• The Honorable Federal Glover, County Supervisor, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
• Maria Gomez-Felix, President, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Jim Jakel, City Manager, City of Antioch
• Mark Kehoe, Director of Environmental and Safety Programs, GWF Power Systems
• Devi Lanphere, President/CEO, Antioch Chamber of Commerce
• Danae Lui, Dow Chemical
• James Miner, Law Student, Golden Gate University
• Meryl Natchez, CEO, TechProse
• Juan Francisco Prieto, Family Development Specialist, California Human Development Corporation
• The Honorable Kevin Romick, Mayor, City of Oakley
• Timothy Silva, Community Development Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
• The Honorable Arne Simonsen, Council Member, City of Antioch
• The Honorable Tom Torlakson, State Senator, California State Senate
• René Tucker, Employer Liaison, EASTBAYWorks - Brentwood
• Carole Watson, Chief Investment Officer, Self-Sufficiency, United Way of the Bay Area
• Ronald Wetter, Community & Government Relations Manager, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
• Alma Williams, Staff Specialist, Kaiser Permanente

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Newsletter Contributors: Alissa Friedman, Jesse Golden, and Mary Jennings