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Mission
Opportunity Junction fights poverty by helping low-income Contra Costa residents gain the competence and confidence to support themselves and their families. At Opportunity Junction, technology, literacy and personal development combine with real world experience to put people on the road to economic self-sufficiency. Click here for our most current marketing materials and most recent newsletters.
History
Founded in 1999 under the name Opportunities for Technology Information Careers (OPTIC), the organization was the brainchild of Meryl Natchez, the CEO of TechProse, then serving as chair of the Technology Task Force of the Contra Costa Council. When Natchez took over as chair of that task force in 1997, she saw a tremendous need for workers with strong technology and workplace skills at the same time as she knew that Welfare Reform had mandated that many single mothers move from welfare to full-time employment. Natchez saw the technology sector as holding the promise of true economic self-sufficiency for these women. The founding Board, a collaboration of the private sector, government, and the education community, developed a Job Training and Placement Program based on best practices in workforce development, with a focus on computer skills. That program was launched in February of 2000, the year of the organization's incorporation.
Philosophy
Opportunity Junction is effective because of our long-term, in-depth approach, combining a family-like atmosphere with professional expectations. In addition to training, participants receive the counseling, mentoring, work experience and other support that is necessary to achieve real success.
Programs
Low-income residents may apply to participate in any of our programs at no cost to them:
- Job Training and Placement: As of December 2006, 283 low-income Contra Costa residents had participated in one or more phases of our Job Training & Placement Program.
Of those who had completed the both training and internship, 83% had left with jobs. Moreover, the vast majority of these participants stayed employed,
with 80% still employed 18 months later. The average starting salary for these alumni was $27,000 plus benefits and opportunity for advancement.
- Technology Center: In 2003, we leveraged our technology infrastructure and reduced per capita costs by opening up our center in the evenings as a Technology Center,
which provides technology access to more than 350 low-income residents annually, as well as offering computer-based and classroom instruction in
English as a Second Language and Computer Basics.
- Tax and Asset-Building Assistance: Since early 2004, we have enabled low-income families to build assets through participation in the
Earn It! Save It! Keep It! program of the Contra Costa Family Economic Security Partnership, sponsored by the United Way of the Bay Area.
During the 2006 tax season, we helped 419 families claim over $700,000 in federal tax refunds.
Want To Know More?
Are you a business or organization in need of database upkeep or temporary staffing? (Contact Manager of Technology and Reporting Brianna Burkman.) Looking for a competent and reliable pool of employees? (Contact Manager of Professional Development Michelle Stewart.) Or are you an individual in need of job training? (Contact Manager of Personal Development Natalie Georgia.) Interested in volunteering or sponsoring our programs? (Contact Development Director Jesse Golden.) Give any of us a call at (925) 776-1133 to find out how Opportunity Junction might meet your needs.
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