Debra was keeping a big secret at her job – the fact that she had no knowledge of Excel and no computer skills. She stayed an extra hour at work every night to get the data entry work done, and was willing to do it because she loved her job as a caseworker helping victims of domestic violence. But when her job began to require that she staff a hotline and do real-time data entry, she could no longer conceal her lack of skills, and lost her job.

"It was devastating," Debra recalls. "I called Opportunity Junction in tears. The woman who answered the phone said I could come to free classes at night and learn computer skills, no matter what age or income. I wanted to come right away but I got sick. So just this February, I began to take the Computer Basic series of classes in the evening program. I want to go through the whole series of classes (Windows, Internet, Word, PowerPoint, Web Page Basics, and Excel).

"Coming here has given me enough confidence to go back to school and get a little more education. I was fearful because it had been so long for me since I had been to school. The teachers who volunteer in the evening program at Opportunity Junction are very hands-on and very compassionate with the learners. It's okay if you're a little slow. I feel very comfortable here. I just don't like the east-bound traffic in the evenings!"

Debra has a dream to start a business and to help single moms, and to be able to support organizations like Opportunity Junction. Because of her counseling work, she has known several people who have trained in the Job Training and Placement Program and says, "I feel like it's a great program for men and women and all ethnicities - it's a rainbow!"

Rotary sponsors Art for Opportunity

On March 27th at 7 pm, the Antioch Rotary presents Art for Opportunity, an art show featuring renowned local artists, at the Antioch Historical Society, 1500 W. Fourth Street in Antioch. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Proceeds from the $25 admission benefit Opportunity Junction. Reservations are not required. Thanks to the Antioch Rotary and participating artists for making this happen!

Ana Marie M. Ajero is a 41-year-old mother of two and also has one stepson. All three are in high school. She is deaf and much of her painting is influenced by the deaf culture. Cynthia Brody has been an exhibiting artist for 30 years. She combines photo imagery with oil paints and found materials to create allegorical images and moods. Brody has created pieces that depict women, often in surreal surroundings and utilizing varied media, such as this three-dimensional piece. Su Cordero specializes in a pen and ink stippling technique featuring wildlife, landscape and animals. Sam Gill creates one-of-a-kind metal sculptures in copper, bronze, stainless steel, stained glass, steel and stone. Award-winning landscape artist Ramona Kennon has been a participating artist in "The Scene on the Strait" for the past 6 years, and is a regular participant in plein air shows throughout California. Thomas Morris, who has donated many volunteer hours of graphic design services to help Opportunity Junction improve our marketing materials, will show rock posters such as this Northern California Folk-Rock Festival poster, which hangs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A cross-section of his rock posters is chronicled in the collector's edition book "The Art of Rock." Francis Palermo has taught many subjects including painting, drawing, printmaking, and stained glass. His fine art work is represented in public and private collections throughout the US.

Class 25 Celebrates Graduation April 24

Please join us Thursday, April 24 at our offices at 3102 Delta Fair Blvd. as trainees from Class 25 of Opportunity Junction's Job Training and Placement program graduate. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served!

This graduation marks the accomplishments of 25 classes of Job Training and Placement Program trainees, from 2000 through the present. "The basic program structure developed by our founders has served the community beautifully for more than eight years," reports Alissa Friedman, Executive Director. "And we've come a long way, too. We serve more candidates who make a greater positive impact on their families and communities. And even as we systematize our processes and refine our curricula, we are also committed to the principle that every person who comes through here is treated as an individual human being. That's something I'm proud of, and it's part of what makes us so effective."

We are pleased and honored to have Opportunity Junction founder Meryl Natchez as our featured speaker. Natchez is the CEO of TechProse, a technical writing company that she built from a one-person operation to an organization that employs 80 people and ranks 26th on the list of 100 largest women-owned businesses in the Bay Area. When Natchez took over as chair of the Contra Costa Council Technology Task Force in 1997, she saw a tremendous need for workers with strong technology and workplace skills. Natchez organized a collaboration of private sector, government, and education professionals to develop a Job Training and Placement Program based on best practices in workforce development, with a focus on computer skills. Without Natchez' vision and compassion, Class 25 and Opportunity Junction would not be getting ready for another successful graduation.

Seventeen members of Class 25 struggled hard to acquire new computer and life skills during the 12-week intensive training program. "I can't believe how quickly the time has passed and how much we have learned," shares Jamie Maaske of Class 25. The groups received training in a broad range of skills from Microsoft Office to nutrition to personal finance.

"I feel so much better prepared to begin my search for the perfect career," says Daffany Popejoy. "I have the confidence in my skills now to apply for jobs that would have been beyond my expectations before this training."

Function for the Junction May 3

Individual tickets are on sale for our Gala Fundraiser on May 3, 2008, presented by Chevron and featuring emcee Cheryl Hurd of NBC11, a gourmet dinner by Culinary Excellence, live and silent auctions, a capella oldies during cocktails, plus dancing to Motown and Four Seasons favorites after dinner.

Our event committee is working hard to bring you a great menu and great auction items – how about a stay at the Hotel Hana in Maui? Maybe you prefer a Tahoe or Sierra cabin or a week at the beach in Oceanside? Sailing the Bay, or a tour of a local sustainable farm with gourmet lunch, or perhaps a day in the wine country? Golf, wine, massages… the list is growing long! The complete list of auction items and a way to buy your tickets online can be found here, along with a list of all our event sponsors, headlined by Presenting Sponsor Chevron, Platinum Sponsor Wells Fargo, and Gold Sponsor PG&E.

Contra Costa Employers: Entry-Level Opportunities Available to Those with Computer and Communications Skills

Not all the economic news is entirely bleak out there: a February survey of Contra Costa employers revealed that 58% plan to hire entry-level employees in the next 12-18 months, particularly applicants with computer skills and communications skills.

The survey was prepared and distributed by Opportunity Junction in partnership with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and a team of MBAs from Stanford ACT (Stanford Alumni Consulting Team). Links to the online survey were emailed to members of the Contra Costa Council and the Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley, Brentwood, Pleasant Hill, Orinda, Richmond, and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.

Those employers planning to hire entry-level workers were questioned in more detail about the types of jobs available and the skills and education required for those jobs. The highest demand among the 68 respondents planning to hire in the next 12-18 months is for Office Support (56%), Customer Service (41%), and Unskilled Labor (28%). The most sought-after skills are Communication Skills (83%), Computer Skills (72%), and Math Skills (28%).

Employers were also surveyed about the geographic location of the entry-level jobs and expected pay ranges. "We thought the survey might give us some ideas for future directions," explains Alissa Friedman, Opportunity Junction Executive Director. "We're going to follow up with some of the survey respondents to probe a little deeper, but our first impression is that this validates and explains the success of our existing Job Training and Placement Program."

Opportunity Junction Donors Met the Challenge: Goal in Sight

On March 17th, Opportunity Junction donors officially exhausted the Challenge Grant issued by the Anonymous Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation. With the receipt of two major gifts in the amounts of $5,000 and $2,000, we exceeded $26,000 in new and increased donations over those received the previous year. This is an important milestone, and we are tremendously grateful for the outpouring of support from the community.

Donations like these are particularly important in these difficult economic times, when demand for our services has increased substantially. In February, we were able to add a second section of our evening Computer Basics class to accommodate a greater number of the more than 100 people who had signed onto the waiting list.

"For a local organization like ours, it is so important and gratifying to have the support of local donors," explains Jesse Golden, Director of Development and Adult Education. "Our base has to be made up of the people who live and work in Contra Costa – the ones who really care about this community."

While we have, together, matched the Challenge Grant issued by the Anonymous Fund, we have not yet met our goal for individual donations for the year. Altogether, we have received $37,991.50 in donations during fiscal year 2007-08, which ends on June 30th. Our goal is $45,000. We invite your continued participation by visiting www.opportunityjunction.org and clicking on the Make a Donation button.

Interested in making a Challenge Grant yourself? Contact Jesse Golden or Alissa Friedman at (925) 776-1133.

Through March 21, 2008, our FY2007-08 individual donors include:

Celebrating our Volunteers

We were so happy to take a moment on March 14 for a sunny catered breakfast during which we celebrated all that our volunteers do to make the Opportunity Junction mission a reality!

Special honorees for 2008 were: Rick Kaiser, Board of Directors, Marketing Committee Chair; Ryan Fernandes, Information Technology Assistance; Kathy Leahy, Friends of Opportunity Junction; Mary Ann Shattuck, Friends of Opportunity Junction; Betty Stokes, Friends of Opportunity Junction; Alma Williams, Advisory Board, Alumna, Computer Instructor.

Click here to see pictures from this event.

Get Ready: Job Training Application Sessions Begin May 5

Although it is still six weeks until the Job Training and Placement Program application sessions begin May 5, staff and participants are gearing up for the process. Over 50 people have already signed up to apply for the 20 positions in the program, which provides 12 weeks of computer and life skills training.

"When people express an interest in applying for the program," Natalie Georgia, Manager of Personal Development, explains, "we keep in contact with them through postcards and make sure every prospective applicant gets a reminder call the week before application sessions begin."

Director of Adult Education and Development Jesse Golden, who spearheads marketing efforts including participant outreach, works hard to make sure as many people hear about our program as possible. "I want to make sure that potential participants from Bay Point to Brentwood know about how we can help them reach their goals," she says. "We especially rely on EASTBAY Works, Employment and Human Services, and community service organizations to get the word out to the people who might be good candidates for the Job Training and Placement Program."

With so many applicants seeking job training, we also try to match people with programs that may be a better fit for their needs. "We may send a medical professional from Mexico to Upwardly Global, or a young person who wants to become a network administrator to StreetTech in Richmond. We give out information about training programs such as Adult Education, the Regional Occupational Program, and Los Medanos College as well," Georgia explains.

Click here to find out more information about the specific dates and times for the application sessions.

The taxpayers who show up for our PMI Foundation-sponsored free Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance sessions are a grateful and adventurous bunch. They sign up online using EventBrite. They fill our a demographic survey using Surveymonkey.com. They complete their taxes using the I-CAN eFile web-based interface. And some of them even return to Surveymonkey.com to tell us how they liked it.

By and large, they enjoy the experience. More than 90% of taxpayers who used I-CAN this year will do it again next year, either on their own or in one of our instructor-led sessions. Yet the sessions are far from full. In the course of 16 sessions, we have served just 70 families.

Many of the taxpayers we served last year tell us they would rather have somebody else do their taxes for them. We refer them to the other Earn It! Keep It! Save It! sites in East County. Meanwhile, we are trying to bring more families to the site by offering previous year tax assistance in our Monday night sessions for taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Credit in 2004, 2005, or 2006.

Know anyone earning $52,000 or less who isn't afraid to use a tried and true website to complete their taxes and file free online? Send them to www.opportunityjunction.org/taxes. We'd love the company!

• Microwave;
• Refrigerator or refrigerator repair;
• Secretarial chairs;
• Wrist rests;
• Folding chairs in good condition;
• Personal printer;
• 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); and
• Utility shelves.

Links: If you use the Internet frequently, chances are that there are certain web pages that you visit often. Once you've dragged a web address to the Links Bar, it only takes one or two clicks (depending whether you have the Links bar minimized or not) to get to your favorites!

To add a page to the Links bar, navigate to the webpage that you want to add, and then either drag the icon (or the URL) for the page from the Address bar to the Links bar, or drag a link from a webpage to the Links bar. The icon is the little picture that appears inside the address bar at the far left; the URL is the full address in words.

If you can't find the Links bar (usually near the upper right corner of your Internet Explorer window), you can display it by clicking the Tools button, clicking Toolbars, and then selecting Links. (A check mark to the left of Links indicates that the bar is displayed.) If you still can't see the Links bar, it's probably locked on the right side of the screen. To unlock it, click the Tools button, click Toolbars, and then click Lock the Toolbars to clear the check mark. Drag the Links toolbar down so you can see it.

Zoom: the fastest way to expand a web page – for example, to better see small print – is by holding down the Ctrl key and then using the plus key (+) on your keyboard (located on the far right of your keyboard), or the scroll wheel on your mouse, if you have one (away from you to zoom out or towards you to zoom in). Try it now! (Note: web pages with graphics may display oddly when you zoom in or out, so be prepared.)

Internet Explorer shows you the zoom percentage in the lower right corner of the window (typically 100%) and you can also click on this number to change the zoom by percentage. Using the scroll wheel in combination with the Ctrl key also works in most Windows programs that we've tested – some graphics programs will do it using the scroll wheel alone.

• It's official. We're registered! Morgan, Lewis, our pro bono attorneys, sent us the official service mark registration last week. We are now Opportunity Junction®. Many thanks to Shelley Alpert, Sharon Smith, Paul McCoy and the whole team.
• 1200 Foundation: Opportunity Junction is proud to have received a third year of funding from the 1200 Foundation. The 1200 Foundation is a non-profit grant-making organization committed to programs which help low-income individuals and families in Alameda and Contra Costa counties achieve economic self-sufficiency. Founded by Orinda insurance agent Les Ellis, who saw how low-income working families in the community were being squeezed, the 1200 Foundation itself raises the money each year to support programs that help these families thrive.
• Orinda Women's Club: Opportunity Junction was fortunate to be selected as one of two beneficiaries of the 2007 Festival of Trees, the Orinda Women's Club's annual fundraising event. The club made its grant specifically to support the Job Training and Placement Program's internship, helping ensure that all graduates are able to receive important career-building work experience. The Festival of Trees, which features a fashion show, has a huge local following, and we are proud to have been selected as beneficiaries.
• Chevron: In addition to co-presenting our 2008 gala Function for the Junction, Chevron has made a grant that we can use to support any of our programs that help low-income Contra Costa residents move toward self-sufficiency. We are grateful for the flexibility of the funding, particularly in these times of increased demand for our services. We also appreciate Chevron's sponsorship of capacity-building training programs like Matrix (with the Sutter Delta Foundation) that help us strengthen our organizational infrastructure.
• Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo, too, has stepped forward once again to support both our 2008 gala Function for the Junction as a Platinum Sponsor and also to support our Job Training and Placement Program through a foundation grant. Wells Fargo has supported the program and organization since 2001, providing us with volunteer support (including valued Board Member Ashoo Vaid) and other partnership opportunities. On Saturday, April 12th, Wells Fargo staff will provide a seminar at our offices on Managing Your Credit, in both English (at noon) and Spanish (at 1 pm).

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

To join them and to help us place Job Training and Placement participants into good jobs with opportunities for advancement, fill out our very simple Memorandum of Understanding. Many thanks to our other 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
• Nelson Family of Companies
• Office of Supervisor Federal Glover
• Springboard Advisors
• USS Posco Industries
• Venturi Staffing Partners

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. Our unique service offers temporary help and project completion. 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. Staff emails are all in the form firstname AT opportunityjunction DOT org. For inquiries about:

• Job Training and Placement Program, contact Manager of Personal Development Natalie Georgia;
• Employment opportunities for alumni, contact Manager of Professional Development Michelle Stewart;
• Evening Technology Center, contact Director of Development and Adult Education Jesse Golden;
• Integrated mental health services, contact Director of Counseling Catherine Warren;
• DataWorks business services, contact Manager of Technology and Reporting Brianna Burkman;
• 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
• Jack Kane, Vice-Principal, Pittsburg Adult Education Center
• 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
• Tom Guarino, East Bay Public Affairs Manager, PG&E
• Dr. Laurie Huffman, Faculty Member, Los Medanos College
• 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 Brianna Burkman