Opportunity Junction

In this issue...

Featured Alumna After losing her job and confidence, Karina found a new career through the Job Training and Placement Program. Here's her story...

Radio Radio: Catch Executive Director Alissa Friedman on KQED's Forum providing an on-the-ground perspective on Confronting the Suburbanization of Poverty. More...

April 27 Gala: Thank you! You truly were the inspiration at our Imagine Being the Inspiration gala where we raised over $100,000 with your help. More...

Class 40 Graduation: Join us on May 30th at 7 pm at the El Campanil to celebrate 15 members of Class 40, six of whom have already left with jobs! More...

Welcome New Staff: Two new hires round out the Bay Point Career Services team at SparkPoint East Contra Costa. Welcome Bill Bankhead and Michelle Wade! More...

Volunteer Spotlight: Excel continues to be a popular class thanks to Patrick Speese's hard work and dedication. Thank you! More...

• May 30, 7 pm: Class 40 graduation at El Campanil Theatre..
• June - Mondays, 10 am : SparkPoint Career Development Orientations in Bay Point
• June 3, 6 pm: Technology Center classes begin

Karina Rodriguez thought she had her career plan all worked out. After graduating from high school in 2009, Karina found an entry level job with Bank of America. She had witnessed other family members work their way up the career ladder and planned to follow suit. Unfortunately, the position at Bank of America did not work out, and Karina needed a new way forward.

The JTPP did more than give Karina updated computer skills she needed to start a new career. In addition to receiving her Microsoft Office Specialist certifications in Word and Excel, Karina utilized all of Opportunity Junction's resources including counseling services, Food Bank assistance, and personalized case management.

Karina landed her interview with an immigration law firm on the same day as her class graduation. "I felt confident going into the interview. Rich (Berger, Business Service Manager) recommended that I research the company before my interview and that I use my 30-second elevator pitch. I impressed the interviewer from the start!

"I learned to believe in myself again. I never thought I would be doing work like this and helping people. My employer sees that I want to learn everything and takes the time to show me. I even helped file my first case! Opportunity Junction really changes people's lives."

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Executive Director Alissa Friedman "Appears" on KQED's Forum

Executive Director Alissa Friedman was a guest on Tuesday on KQED's Forum, discussing the recent publication by the Brookings Institution of the book Confronting the Suburbanization of Poverty. The program is archived at the KQED website.

Alissa raised the point that suburban East Contra Costa has far fewer services available to residents struggling with poverty than typically do residents of urban areas. She quoted Chris Schildt's paper, published by the Federal Reserve Bank, Building a Robust Anti-Poverty Network in the Bay Area: "For every $8 in social services that a poor person in West County has access to, there is $1 available for a poor person in East County."

Unfortunately, as poverty rates have been rising in East County cities like Antioch and Bay Point, almost doubling in the past 20 years, the government funding available to serve struggling families is being cut. "The sequester is having an impact on us and on other organizations helping families escape poverty, just when we need the support the most," says Alissa.

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2013 Gala: Imagine Being the Inspiration -- We Are Still Singing!

The dust has finally settled on Opportunity Junction's 6th Annual Imagine Gala! In addition to the fun had by all, we raised more than $100,000 to help get Contra Costa families on the road to self-sufficiency! Thank you to all who supported the event and attended the festivities. It's not too late to join in on the fun. Click here to donate now.

Thank you to PhotoSophistry for the amazing photos capturing the night. Click on one of the linked pictures here to see all the photos of the evening.

Sarah Gwaltney, our featured alumna, was in attendance at the Gala, looking beautiful and successful. Watch Sarah's inspirational video.

A special thanks to:

• The Gala Committee - Betty Stokes, Mary Ann Shattuck, Kathy Leahy, Carol Altwarg, Trish Shattuck and Cathy Carle for yet another magnificent evening;
• The many volunteers that made the evening flow so smoothly;
• The sponsors - hear the thank you song by clicking here;
• All of you for inspiring all of us every day!

Presenting Sponsor:

Platinum Sponsor:	Gold Sponsors:
Media Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors: Cosmetic Dental Spa * Craig Communications * Dow Chemical * Future State * Kaiser Permanente * Mechanics Bank * NRG Energy * PG&E * Phillips 66 * Springboard Advisors * Summit Financial Group, LLC Bronze Sponsors: Comcast * Garaventa Enterprises * Pittsburg Power Company * USS-POSCO Industries

Auction Donors:

Alan Casentini * Frame and Design * Peju Province Winery Ale Industries * Franci Photography * Pier 39 Alhambra Valley Olive Oil Company * Games Unlimited * Pinky's Klassy Kar Wash Amber Bistro * Garre Vineyard and Winery * Presence Gift Shop Amy Bessette * Greenhorn Creek Resort * Rae Ann Stackpole Andis Winery * Greg and Evelyn Lamberg * Renaissance ClubSport Walnut Creek Angel Island Company * Hafner Vineyard * Richard & Theresa Kaiser Angela Lowrey * Hayes Valley Inn * Rios-Lovell Winery Angie Coffee * Jane Norman Skincare * Rock Wall Wine Company Ashoo & Yvette Vaid * Josie Kelley College Advising * Rosenblum Cellars Barbara Naylor * Kathleen Doherty * Round Hill Country Club Bent Creek Winery * Kathy & Tom Leahy * Ruby Hill Winery Berkeley Repertory Theatre * Kaur Photography * Saddle Creek Resort Betty & Jim Stokes * Linda & Ed Best * Saint Mary's College of California Blue & Gold Fleet * Luna Loca Restaurant * Salvatore Ristorante Brianna Burkman * Mare Island Golf Club * Shape Shifters California Shakespeare Theater * Maria Elena Ross * Silver Oak/TWOMEY Campo di Bocci of Livermore * Mark & Barbara Kehoe * Smuin Ballet Captain Vineyards * Markus Hardware * SPQR Restaurant Concannon Winery * Mary Ann & Paul Shattuck * Strategies for Healthy Living CY Louie * Mary Frances Accessories * Studio Design Salon Dan & Carol Altwarg * Maya Cinema * Sunrise Bistro & Catering David and Karla Massie * McCovey's Restaurant * Susana Taylor David Rector * Misto Lino * Sweet Magnolia David Wahl * Molly's Pup-Purr-Ee * The Jumpy Bunch Diablo Country Club * Nancy Parent * The Jungle Diablo Rock * New Mecca Cafe * The Polka Dot Dog Company Diablo Theatre Company * Oakland A's Baseball Company * Tom & Rebecca Riley Disneyland Resort * Outback Steakhouse * Tony Ma Dr. James Mattingly, DDS * Pacific Plaza Imports * Trish Shattuck Elegant Clutter * Pam McCauley * Umigo Indoor Kart Racing Elinor Axup * Papyrus * Vino Noceto Winery Entourage Spa * Peet's Coffee * Vintner's Collective

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Excitement is rising for Opportunity Junction's Class 40 as graduation nears. Join us on Thursday May 30th at 7:00 pm at the historic El Campanil Theater in Antioch as we celebrate the end of the first phase of our Job Training and Placement Progam for our graduates! Hear Antioch Council Member Monica Wilson's inspiring words as we see our participants off into the next exciting phase of the program.

Of the 15 members of Class 40 being honored, only 12 are officially graduating from training, because three members left with jobs before taking the final exam. Nice trick! Another three have been placed into employment since completing the graduation requirements. All 12 graduates have earned at least one Microsoft Office Specialist Certification.

With joy in her heart for her current success, Isabel Vargas of Class 40 states, "Opportunity Junction has definitely given me everything I expected and so much more. I am so thankful that I was able to participate in this program and will never take this experience for granted. I will never forget what Opportunity Junction has done for me and the blessing it has been for my family."

Come be a part of this joyous occasion!

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Career services at our Bay Point location are in full swing as we have welcomed two new staff members to the team, Bill Bankhead and Michelle Wade. "I'm excited to have them on board and about upcoming changes and process improvements that will help us better serve our SparkPoint participants," states Career Development Case Manager, Paola Lara.

As Senior Career Development Case Manager, Bill Bankhead leads the Opportunity Junction trio at SparkPoint East Contra Costa at Bay Point. Bill is a performance improvement and professional development champion with more than 15 years of experience in both outdoor and classroom instructor-led training and with blended media instruction. Prior to coming to Opportunity Junction, Bill worked for a college in San Francisco helping at-risk students overcome a wide range of personal and financial obstacles to their educations. His hobbies include collaborative board games and nature photography. He is most excited about the great people he will be working with in Bay Point. Bill already has many ideas to help improve outcomes for clients and is a great addition to the center.

Michelle Wade joins us as the new Career Development Associate. At SparkPoint East Contra Costa, she will serve as the initial point of contact for clients who express interest in our career development services. Among other responsibilities, Michelle is in charge of conducting weekly orientations for potential participants, meeting with clients for an initial assessment of their career goals and connecting them with a Career Development Case Manager for more intensive assistance. Michelle joins our team with over 10 years of management experience in the banking industry, during which she oversaw various teams responsible for ensuring compliance with banking regulations and meeting aggressive customer satisfaction goals. Michelle also holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Management. "I am thrilled to be a part of the Opportunity Junction team. Providing the necessary guidance to help clients become self sufficient is rewarding work and each success story is inspiring," she explains.

Reciprocally, we are thrilled to have them both on board. Welcome to the Opportunity Junction staff, Bill Bankhead and Michelle Wade.

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After moving to California from Pennsylvania several years ago, Patrick Speese came to Opportunity Junction as an applicant for our Job Training and Placement Program. Staff quickly realized that Patrick was fully equipped with a rich work history and advanced computer skills, making him job ready. Instead, we asked Patrick to use his knowledge and computer savvy to volunteer in our evening Technology Center as an Excel Basics instructor. With limited guidance, he took on the challenge of creating and implementing his own curriculum and has made the class into what it is today.

Patrick's Excel Basics class is one of the most sought after courses offered in our Technology Center, with students continuously complimenting his teaching style, patience, and enthusiasm for the subject and students. When the demand for the class has exceeded the classroom capacity, Patrick has accommodated extra sections of Excel Basics courses without hesitation. Patrick has put in over 150 volunteer hours since he first began with Opportunity Junction. He loves giving back to his community and, in particular, being able to see people of all different walks of life learning concepts that will help them in their daily lives.

When he is not busy volunteering his free time to the program, he spends his time being an advocate for the organization speaking about the program in as many different places as he can. He also enjoys music and playing the guitar. Patrick has even found a way to incorporate Excel into his exercise routine!

Join me in congratulating Patrick as our Volunteer Spotlight for the month of May. Thank you for all the hard work and long hours you put into your community!

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