March 2009
| Opportunity Junction® fights poverty by helping low-income adults gain the skills and confidence to support themselves and their families. |
In this issue...
Johnnetta Gay had a dream, but she didn't know how to get there until Opportunity Junction gave her the confidence to take a chance. |
In this issue... CLICK HERE FOR A SPECIAL CONTEST Imagine: Imagine all the people — and you — at The Imagine Gala, April 4, 2009, in Walnut Creek! Start early at our Buy It Now silent auction preview! More... Taxman Gives Back: Friday Assistance allows filing of previous year returns, while Saturdays feature Citi-sponsored financial education, and UWBA sponsors Tax Week. More... Money: We are more than halfway toward our $25,000 matching goal with recent donations, which will help make our expansion plans viable. More or HELP MEET OUR GOAL Planned Improvements: With DCI and Chevron's help, planned improvements will build our training capacity. And we still need furniture! More... Celebration of Volunteers: Four volunteers accepted Special Recognition awards at our sparkling cider breakfast last month. More... Special Contest: What's that song? Are you the latest and the greatest of them all — at identifying Beatles tunes, at least? Then you could win lunch at Nature's Bounty! More... |
Regular Features |
Featured Alumna Johnnetta Gay: "Opportunity Junction offered me a new chance at life."
Johnnetta Gay has been in her dream job working with pregnant teens and women in the Black Infant Health Program with Brighter Beginnings for almost two years. But her journey to self-sufficiency has not been easy. A teen mother at 17, Johnnetta struggled to stay in school while raising her son and taking care of her ill mother. She graduated from high school and started college courses shortly before her mother passed away. "Without my mother's support, I felt lost and alone," Johnnetta shares. "Not only did I lose my mother, but my son, DeRon, missed the grandmother who helped raise him." Unable to cope, she dropped out of school and out of her life. She survived by supporting herself and her family on welfare. But she had dreams of supporting her family on her own while also working to make a difference. She was able to find a position with a three-year pilot program working with pregnant teens and women. Shortly after beginning the position, Johnnetta knew she had found her calling in life. When that position ended, she found herself lost again. She struggled through various positions to support her three children, DeRon, Ebony and Elijah, but never experienced the same joy she had while helping pregnant women. She lost confidence and began to think that she didn't deserve anything better than working meaningless jobs that took her away from her family for limited pay.
Shortly into her internship, Johnnetta found the perfect position. Brighter Beginnings was looking for a Family Advocate to work with pregnant African American women in their Antioch office. She had the experience from a previous position, but now she also had the confidence and the skills to get that position. "Opportunity Junction gave me the confidence to know I could get my dream job — to pick a goal and go for it," Johnnetta says. "I love my position, but what I really love is being able to refer new people to Opportunity Junction to share in a wonderful experience." Beatles theme, Pete Wilson Paintings at Imagine, the 2009 Gala
You are cordially invited to IMAGINE, the 2009 Gala benefitting Opportunity Junction. Buy your tickets now! The event is presented by Chevron and features emcee Cheryl Hurd of NBC Bay Area, a gourmet dinner by Culinary Excellence, live and silent auctions, a capella music during cocktails, plus dancing to Beatles classics after dinner. When: April 4, 2009 (cocktails at 6 pm) Dinner will include (click on a link for a musical treat!): Regarding libations, you will probably not need to slip into the shade to sip lemonade; instead enjoy pre-dinner cocktails with drink tickets at wine at your table with dinner. Start the Silent Auction early at our three-item Silent Auction "Buy it Now" Preview, which includes a painting by Pete Wilson. Presenting Sponsor Chevron has been joined by:
Sponsorships are available and may be purchased online at the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels. The event features dinner by Culinary Excellence, at the Shadelands Civic Arts Center, with M.C. Cheryl Hurd of NBC Bay Area and Auctioneer Dennis McCormac, along with live Beatles' music by a capella goup House Blendduring hors d'oeuvres and dancing after dinner. Complete this song lyric when you submit your contest entry: Before this dance is through I think I'll love you too, I'm so __________________ (six words). NEWS FLASH!— We have just received an original, framed Itzchak Tarkey Lithograph that we will be auctioning off at the event! Do-It-Yourself Format Generates Excitement, Empowerment, and Refunds for Previous Years
Every Friday evening at 6 pm until the end of the tax season, René Tucker, an Opportunity Junction alumna and Advisory Board member (day job: Employer Liaison for EASTBAY Works), leads Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance sessions using the I-CAN eFile interface. Tucker, who has worked for years helping low-income taxpayers prepare their taxes, can help taxpayers with prior year returns and also with returns that have to include a Schedule E. "We're offering a broader range of services than a lot of the other free sites can," Tucker reports, "so we need to get the word out." Tucker also has noticed increased enthusiasm for the Do-It-Yourself format this year. "One of my session participants had been having her taxes done by me using TaxWise [the software used in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance] for the past couple of years, and this time she tried I-CAN eFile. She was a little nervous at first but told me afterwards that it was empowering and helped her understand the process. Now she wants to try to help her coworkers use the site to do their taxes." Of those who have completed Opportunity Junction's post-session satisfaction survey, half report that they will come to Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance sessions next year, and the other half intend to prepare their taxes next year using the I-CAN interface on their own. Meanwhile, the United Way of the Bay Area sponsored a pilot of the Beehive "My Free Taxes" website. Opportunity Junction hosted the My Free Taxes tax van during the week of February 16-21, returning almost $50,000 in refunds to the community. Saturdays, we've been hosting and will be continuing with our series of Pizza and Financial Education sessions, including the popular "Should I Buy a House NOW?" seminar. Funded by the Citi Foundation, these 1 pm seminars conveniently follow our Saturday morning (10 am) Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance sessions. For more information or to sign up for any of these program, please visit our Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance web page. Please post our flyer and encourage low-income taxpayers to collect their whole refund by filing electronically for free. There's one for you, nineteen for me is not necesarily how it will be! New Donations Bring Opportunity Junction Closer to Match, Expansion
Donations during the first two months of 2009 have brought Opportunity Junction more than $2,000 closer toward drawing down the full $25,000 challenge grant issued by the Anonymous Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation. While demand still outstrips the services we can offer, "these donations can help support expansion in the near future," stated Alissa Friedman, Executive Director. "Planned renovations will give us the space, so the limiting factor will be program funding." "We're definitely going to need to make a big push, all together now, to match that $25,000," continued Friedman. "It's a big goal, but we don't want to leave any of those matching funds on the table."The challenge grant will match all new contributions by new donors and any increases over total FY2007-08 levels by continuing donors. The challenge runs for the length of our fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2009. Click here to help us meet the challenge. We are grateful to the following FY2008-09 donors:
Chevron, DCI Get Expansion Plans Off to Fast Start
One big rectangle with partition walls — that has pretty much described Opportunity Junction's 7,000 square foot facility. With partitions and a high tolerance for background noise, we've been able to carve out one computer training lab, one life skills classroom, one intern work floor, and staff offices — but noise constraints have limited us to conducting one class at a time. Now, as we're planning improvements, we're trying to figure out how to save enough space to enable us to create classrooms with sound separation.
"We are committed to our community and believe in giving back," explained Imran Qamar, President of DCI. "Each year we look for an opportunity that allows us to augment a group's efforts with our skills. Opportunity Junction needs to redesign its space to expand their capacity to help low-income adults get good jobs to support their families, and we are pleased to be able to make that possible." The redesign project was initiated when Opportunity Junction negotiated a ten-year extension of their lease at 3102 Delta Fair in Antioch. "The community and local government has been so supportive of our work here, and we can see the difference our programs make in the lives of residents, so we felt it was appropriate to make a long-term commitment to the community," explains Alissa Friedman, Opportunity Junction Executive Director. "We have a great space in a location accessible both by public transportation and by car, and with DCI's help we can make the most of our square footage." "We are committed to our community and believe in giving back," explained Imran Qamar, President of DCI. "Each year we look for an opportunity that allows us to augment a group's efforts with our skills. Opportunity Junction needs to redesign its space to expand their capacity to help low-income adults get good jobs to support their families, and we are pleased to be able to make that possible."
Volunteer Recognition: "HELP!" every day
Some of Opportunity Junction's many volunteers turned out at our office early on a Friday morning in February to celebrate the year's achievements and enjoy breakfast made possible by a sponsorship from Eichleay Engineering. Four volunteers accepted Special Recognition awards, and will be receiving certificates from the office of State Senator Mark DeSaulnier. They are:  Nancy Parent, Board Member: Nancy, Mayor of Pittsburg, is known as an indefatigable community advocate, a fearless fundraiser, and a workhorse in every one of the many organizations lucky to count her among their supporters. Nancy serves on the Opportunity Junction Board of Directors Executive Committee, and we count on her for – just about everything!  Donald Buchanan, Tech Center Instructor: While still a trainee on the Job Training and Placement Program, Donald showed great technical aptitude and a commitment to helping others. Now in his second year of teaching Computer Basics in our evening Technology Center program, Donald is a popular and generous instructor, coming in early to provide tutoring and just to help out.  Ernie Leopold, Stanford ACT Team: Ernie's standing in for all six members of the Stanford Alumni Consulting Team, who in 2008 consulted with Opportunity Junction staff and Board to help us identify important strategic priorities. Becky Manning, Events: Becky was one of the team of Antioch Rotary members who went over and above to make last year's Art for Opportunity event in Antioch a rousing success. We're so grateful for these volunteers and the dozens of others who help us daily, and we do appreciate their being 'round! If you're not a volunteer, but are interested in becoming one, click here and fill out an applicaton, or call (925) 776-1133. Not sure what you want to do? Just fill out the application and we'll help you figure it out! Contest: What's that song?
Not very subtly buried in the text of this newsletter are several references to Beatles tunes. Identify the tune or complete the lyric for at least 7 of the 13 references, submit your entry, and we'll enter you to win a $20 gift certificate to Nature's Bounty! We'll draw from the entries on Monday March 30, so be sure to send your entry by March 29. You must be at least 18 to play. You do not need to buy a Gala ticket — but if you don't, you'll know what it is to be sad... Alumni NewsAlumni Council Created! — Congratulations to the founding members of Opportunity Junction's Alumni Council: Janet Brown, Donald Buchanan, Rashanda Deloney, Renee McCarty, Kimberly Mercer, Sue Passero, Maria Rigazio, Heather Scharf, and Leslie Wood.The Alumni Council is comprised of Opportunity Junction Job Training and Placement Program alumni who support the Junction's mission and wish to assist the staff and Board of Directors in furthering that mission. The Alumni Council also serves to make program and organization recommendations to the staff and Board of Directors. Some of their responsibilities include:
Thank you Alumni Council!  Facing a tough problem at work and seeking a little professional advice? Looking for an easy way to keep in touch with other alumni? The Alumni blog is still under construction, but look for it in April! Keep you eye out for an email with directions how to ask professional questions of our Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and Mentors of Opportunity Junction. We will also have a blog to let us know how you are doing, share interesting news, and spread info about a job posting. Wish ListMany thanks to those who have already responded with gifts and offers. Here is our current wish list:
New Grants and Support for our Programs
Funding and In-Kind PartnersOpportunity Junction wishes to acknowledges all of its corporate, foundation and government funders, sponsors, and in-kind providers: Nonprofit profile: ReliaTech Makes Technology Affordable
When ReliaTech Chief Executive Officer Ben Delaney talks about the San Pablo-based nonprofit, he describes results that go far beyond selling and servicing computers: "We're helping kids to succeed in school, adults to find work, and older people and recent immigrants to stay in touch with their families." Delaney describes ReliaTech's mission as "helping to eliminate poverty by providing access to technology for low-income people." and ReliaTech does that not only by selling refurbished computers for as low as $100 and servicing computers at low cost, but also through donation programs: one, Gold Star Grants, that provides free computer systems to low-income individuals (to apply visit http://www.reliatech.org/forms/goldApp_form.php) and the Jump Start Program, which provides computer systems to new entrepreneurs who are female, minority or disabled (phone (510) 236-7000 ext. 5 for more information). ReliaTech, the nonprofit social enterprise of the STRIDE Center, provides reliable computer service and support to small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. They refurbish donated computers and resell them after a rigorous 18-point testing regime, guaranteed for 90 days. Their desktop and laptop systems are available in a range of powers and prices and are Internet-ready, with Microsoft Windows, anti-virus software, and a ready-to-use office suite. Delaney describes ReliaTech's services as "providing the same quality of technical support that you'd get from a big-name company — at half the price "because we're a non-profit organization, we are able to keep prices down so people can get service who might not otherwise be able to afford it." While they are not yet here, there and everywhere, they do have locations in San Pablo, West Oakland and on San Francisco's Mission Street, in order to serve under-served areas and people with limited access to technology. ReliaTech's parent organization, The STRIDE Center, describes its mission in terms similar to that of Opportunity Junction: to "empower men and women facing barriers to employment to achieve economic self-sufficiency." The STRIDE Center has long been an ally of Opportunity Junction, and most recently is sharing resources by providing us with their customized template for Salesforce customer relationship management software, which we plan to utilize to upgrade our in-house data management.
Opportunity Junction Hiring PartnersHiring Partners are companies that agree to consider Opportunity Junction Job Training and Placement Program graduates as candidates for job openings where appropriate, as well as to consider other forms of support, such as participating in the Mentor Program.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:
Friends of Opportunity JunctionThe 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, Patricia Shattuck, Sarah Morrill, Selma Moore, Sue George, and Sue Kidd. Ways to Get InvolvedIf you share our vision, we'll find a way to help you get involved - whatever your schedule, whatever your resources. You can:
Contact the Opportunity Junction StaffWe 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:
The Opportunity Junction Board of Directors
The Opportunity Junction Advisory BoardThe 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:
You may unsubscribe from our periodic emails here. Please note that we do not sell or lease our email newsletter list to anyone. Newsletter Contributors: Alissa Friedman, Brianna Burkman, and Jesse Golden.
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That is when she stumbled across Opportunity Junction. Johnnetta immediately loved the personal feel and attention of the small classes and quickly blossomed. "I was able to take on a leadership role in her class," Johnnetta remembers, "and feel like I was helping people again. Life Skills gave me a chance to open up and get my confidence back." The internship empowered her to make decisions and share her opinions; she was ready for the next step. 
There's a place where low-income working families who didn't file taxes in previous years can claim the thousands of dollars of tax credits the government owes them: Opportunity Junction.
We've put out a call for professional help and donations of space-efficient computer desks, computers and LCD monitors. Two companies quick to respond to our requests are 
Looking ahead to the next step, Opportunity Junction does not anticipate fixing a hole where the rain gets in, but we are seeking donations of high-quality used furniture, computers, and flat panel monitors. Although planning for the introduction of new programs is still in the early stages, it is "almost certain" that new program introductions will include instruction in computer skills, according to Friedman. 
