Opportunity Junction

In this issue...

Featured Alumna Elaine had earned impressive credentials, but still couldn't find a career, until now. Read her story in her own words...

Gala Time: Chevron and Opportunity Junction present our 2011 Gala IMAGINE A Race We All Win at the Diablo Country Club April 30. Bidding by proxy available this year! More...

Last Chance Taxes: It's not too late for you claim the maximum tax refund you're owed! Sign up now for a session onsite in Antioch or in Pittsburg ! More...

Federal Budget Cuts Threaten Success: We oppose federal budget cuts that will reduce funding for programs that are successfully placing local residents into employment. More...

April 21 Graduation at El Campanil: The historic Antioch theater will host the graduation ceremony for our 34th Job Training and Placement Class! More...

Golf Anyone? Support Opportunity Junction and enjoy the summer weather at the same time by registering a foursome in the 3rd Annual IACCC Golf Tournament. More...

Bay Point Works (It Really Works): With 18 job placements since September, our Career Development team in Bay Point is helping families reach self-sufficiency. More...

Bookkeeping Class for Small Business: We're hosting the Small Business Development Center's bookkeeping series, in exchange for a block of scholarships for our alumni. More...

Does your data dance? If, like many people, you're managing your data using Excel, we've got some tips for you… and some advice! More...

• April 7, 1 pm,: Small Business Bookkeeping Workshop
• April 21, 7 pm: Class 34 Graduation
• April 30, 6 pm: Gala 2011, IMAGINE A Race We All Win
• June 3, 2011: IACCC Golf Tournament

Elaine Segura is a Class 33 graduate of Opportunity Junction's Job Training and Placement Program. Elaine left Opportunity Junction for a position as an Administrative Assistant at J. Stokes Agency. This is her story in her own words:

It is a popular notion that upon graduating from college, more opportunities open up and that success comes automatically. Systems like this have good intentions but there are those who fall through the cracks. I was one of them. I got good grades, went to a good college, graduated successfully, but could not find a job. I searched and searched, but apparently I had graduated into a faltering economy and was unable to find positions that went along with my education. I knew how to study, but I did not feel equipped to network, write resumes and cover letters, and job hunt properly. Eventually, I got used to not getting the positions I wanted and ended up applying for fast food and retail. Even they did not call me back. I thought, "What good is this college education if I can't get anywhere?"

About a year and a half after graduation, I eventually did get a job working part-time for an after-school program for elementary students. There were happy children, smiling faces, and exhausting days. But one day when the students were covering me in maple syrup, shaving cream, and cereal, I realized that enough was enough—I had to get a career where I would feel more respected and would use my skills and ability to learn. I wanted to feel appreciated for my personality and skills.

Because my position was part-time, I had time during the day to attend job searching workshops and conduct job-related research. Something that was missing from my background was job experience and specialized skills. But how can you get experience from a job without having a job? I was searching job posts on Craigslist when I stumbled upon Opportunity Junction's post for a job training and placement program.

I went in and as I learned more about what the program offered, I realized that they address certain aspects that many other programs don’t. They equip you with the skills that employers want you to have as well as valuable experience. I thought this would be the perfect place for me. I wanted to transition into office jobs because they seemed like great ways to get your foot in the door and learn the different departments and facets of a company.

I interviewed with one of the staff members, and I told them my story; I told it from the heart. I told her where I came from, what my struggles were, and what I hoped to accomplish. I was still working with the after-school program and each day, I felt that there had to be something better than this out there. I loved working with children, but it was exhausting and I did not get enough pay and hours to make a living. It just came to the point where I was unhappy with where I was, but it made me realize what I wanted out of my life and my career.

I resigned from my part-time position shortly afterward and, a few days after that, I received a call saying that I got into the program. I was excited and happy. But to be honest, when I decided to take on the commitment to attend to Opportunity Junction's day program, I had no idea what was REALLY in store for me. Usually, people attend job workshops and programs and it's like this, simply put: get in and get out. But the level of support at Opportunity Junction is amazing and unlike any other program or group I have ever been in.

At first, computer basics classes seemed simple but as we advanced through the software programs, I found myself learning things I never knew programs were capable of. I brushed up on my business English and math. While I was learning and improving my skills, I was also building amazing relationships with my peers.

Unlike other programs that kept a certain emotional distance from their clients, Opportunity Junction addressed sensitive issues with professionalism and empathy whenever any of us were going through tough times.

Opportunity Junction definitely filled in the cracks that I fell through. They noticed that it was not just a matter of the economy being awful or that my job skills were lacking here or there; but saw that a plethora of things were affecting our access to job opportunities. The program included things that were often unaddressed in other programs such as emotional well being, moral support, medical resources, high quality training, etc. Opportunity Junction was able to touch on all these areas for each trainee with great compassion.

When my classmoved into the paid internship, we were so supportive of each other whenever each person received a job interview. And whenever one of us got a job, we'd cheer out loud and have the most heartfelt farewell ceremonies. No ceremony was complete without tears of love and joy. Opportunity Junction is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I love my peers and I am so thankful for a supportive staff. I always loved waking up each morning to come to Opportunity Junction because I knew it would be a safe place to be myself, express my fears, and develop myself towards greatness.

I learned so much about myself throughout the five months I was there and every moment there was precious.

—Elaine Segura

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Chevron Presents "IMAGINE A Race We All Win" April 30, 2011

Our April 30 Gala: IMAGINE A Race We All Win is heading into the stretch! A big hat is not required—but it might help! Join us at the Diablo Country Club for Opportunity Junction's Gala fundraiser with a Kentucky Derby flavor. Purchase your tickets now.

If the theme alone is piquing your interest, we have some amazing live and silent auction items available that are sure to intrigue. Check out many of our auction items here.

You will notice some past favorites, such as the Gourmet Dinner for 8 at home and an amazing SF Giants package, and some new lots, such as a vertical of Robert Parker rated 90+ wines and a private yacht cruise on the Delta.

One new and particularly intriguing item this year is a smile makeover package offered by Cosmetic Dental Spa in Pleasant Hill. This package entitled "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" includes a consultation and 8-10 porcelain veneers. A complete smile makeover by cosmetic dentist Dr. Ric Perez normally retails for $18,000 -$20,000.

If you are interested in bidding on the smile makeover, you may bid by proxy for this year's event. If you are interested in letting someone bid for you up to a maximum amount set by you, please contact Brianna Burkman, and we will work out the details.

We are still seeking donations of auction items. Thanks to all who have supported us in so many ways through the years.

Can you join Chevron and these organization that have already signed up as sponsors? The Sponsorship Invitation is available on our website.

Presenting Sponsor:	Platinum Sponsor:
Gold Sponsors:	Media Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors: ConocoPhillips Cosmetic Dental Spa Dow Chemical GenOn GWF Power Systems J. Stokes and Associates Kaiser Permanente SpringBoard Advisors TechProse Temen, Kaiser & Cameron	Bronze Sponsors: A.D. Seeno Construction Emerald Consulting Pittsburg Power Company Umpqua Bank USS-POSCO WestAmerica Bank

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Last Chance Tax Dance: Claim Your Maximum Refund

Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance continues through April 18th this year, providing experienced guidance and maximum refunds for taxpayers willing to enter their families' information into a simple web interface named I-CAN! eFile.

The Pittsburg Power Company has joined Citi, the major funder of the program, making it possible for sessions to be offered at the Pittsburg Senior Center as well as at Opportunity Junction in Antioch. The program is offered in partnership with the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! coalition.

Low-income taxpayers -- those earning less than 80% of the area's median income (e.g. less than $64,400 for a family of four) -- can sign up here for sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. Sessions feature:

For those owed a refund, there is generally no penalty for filing after the April deadline. However, you must file within three years of the return's due date, so taxpayers owed refunds for previous years must file their 2007 returns by April 15, 2011.

I-CAN! eFile was developed by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and can be used at home (or anywhere) by eligible taxpayers with a computer and Internet connection.

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Job Placement Success Threatened by Federal Funding Cuts

East County's highly successful job training and placement non-profit, Opportunity Junction, may be forced to cut back on services if the federal funding cuts proposed by the President are enacted into law.

President Obama has proposed cuts of 7.5% to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and 44% to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program, both of which provide important support to participants Opportunity Junction's Job Training and Placement Program (JTPP). The budget proposed by the House of Representatives includes event steeper cuts, including a cut of 62% to the CDBG program.

Pittsburg resident Elaine Segura, whose husband is deployed in Afghanistan, graduated from the JTPP in December and recently joined J. Stokes Agency as an Administrative Assistant. Elaine's cohort was the largest ever accepted to the program, part of an expansion initiative meant to serve the increased number of local residents affected by high unemployment.

"The number of people coming through our doors has doubled," reports Alissa Friedman, Opportunity Junction's Executive Director. "We've seen increasing numbers of folks who have lost jobs and fallen out of the middle class, and the time off work has eroded both their skills and their confidence."

Before entering the program, Elaine had been unable to find work - even fast food or retail - despite having graduated from college. "Opportunity Junction addressed sensitive issues with professionalism and empathy," Elaine states, helping her regain confidence as well as build important skills.

The JTPP receives almost a third of its funding through the federal CDBG and CSBG programs, passed through from the City of Antioch, the City of Pittsburg, and Contra Costa County. "Cuts to these funding streams will affect hard-working people like Elaine," says Friedman. "It hurts families and it hurts communities."

Cuts and reallocations in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) budget could also impact career development services Opportunity Junction offers in Bay Point at the Community Career Center, in partnership with the Service Integration Team there.

Since July of last year, Opportunity Junction staff members Rossana Peniche and Paola Lara have been providing local job-seekers with WIA services: resume development, interviewing preparation, counseling, and training. Of the 48 enrolled in the program so far, 17 have entered employment, and only two have dropped out.

Patrick Speese is one of Opportunity Junction's WIA success stories, referred to Bay Point for direct job placement when he applied to Opportunity Junction's Job Training and Placement Program. At that point, more than a year after being laid off from a customer support position with a software company, he "was feeling down, depressed, and demotivated." Although a close reading of his resume showed strong, transferable skills, employers were not even calling him for interviews.

Thanks to the Bay Point career development services, funded through WIA's allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Patrick is now an Inventory Control Manager with a firm in San Francisco, and the veil of gloom and doom has lifted. "Rossana really taught me how to present myself, both on paper and in interviews, and she gave me new hope." Patrick is also volunteering as a Computer Basics instructor at Opportunity Junction's evening Technology Center: "I'm really grateful for the help I received, and I want to give back where I can."

"The federal budget is so complicated," says Friedman, "that we don't always see how it affects local residents. I want my tax dollars helping people get back to work, contributing productively to our economy and supporting their families."

Opportunity Junction opposes federal FY2012 cuts to any of the following federal programs that help Opportunity Junction accomplish its mission of fighting poverty by helping low-income adults gain the skills and confidence to support themselves and their families:

• Community Development Block Grant program (Housing and Urban Development);
• Community Services Block Grant program (Health and Human Services); and
• Workforce Investments Act Adult and Dislocated Worker programs (Labor).

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April 21 Graduation at El Campanil - celebrate with Class 34!

Join us on April 21 to celebrate the graduation of Class 34 of the Job Training and Placement Program at the El Campanil Theater in downtown Antioch.

We will be joined by special guest speaker Wade Harper, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem and a Lieutenant and Patrol Watch Commander with the Tracy Police Department.

Unlike most graduations, which mark the end of education, our graduations celebrate the first big milestone of our program - the completion of twelve weeks of full-time training. Members of Class 34 will continue in the Job Training and Placement Program as paid interns, gaining work experience while beginning their intensive search for jobs. If you know of employers who may need temporary or ongoing office assistance, please contact our staff - Class 34 has sharpened their computer skills, proved their work ethic, and emerged job-ready!

The El Campanil Theater is located at 602 W. 2nd Street in downtown Antioch. The ceremony begins at 7:00 pm sharp and is open to the public.

Check our website for times when you can see the graduation televised by Contra Costa TV, Astound channel 32 or AT&T U-verse channel 99.

And what will members of Class 34 remember from their twelve-week training? Here's what a few of them had to say:

• I will always remember that I am worth bettering myself.
• In Excel, F4 makes a cell reference absolute!
• The computer programs that I have learned here will be helpful throughout my life journey.
• I enjoyed the lesson on how to use the features in Word to create newsletters and flyers, and hope that I will be able to apply that knowledge in my future employment.
• I never thought I could learn so much in such little time. I can't thank you enough for giving me a real opportunity to prove to myself who I am.
• I will remember the feeling of accomplishment when I passed the Microsoft Office Specialist test for Word.
• I've learned that if you focus your attention on whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, and add a little dedication, you can never go wrong.
• I know now that I am capable of more than I give myself credit for. This program gave my self-esteem a big boost.
• I have experienced such support from Opportunity Junction. Experiencing this program is truly life-changing!

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3rd Annual IACCC Golf Tournament Benefits Opportunity Junction

Join us on the green for the 3rd Annual Industrial Association of Contra Costa County (IACCC) Golf Tournament at Shadow Lakes Golf Course in Brentwood on Friday, June 3. Proceeds from the tournament will be shared with Opportunity Junction.

Come alone or register a group of four to enjoy the Championship Golf Course, designed with breathtaking views among the picturesque oak-dappled hills at the foot of Mount Diablo.

This scramble golf tournament with a shot-gun start features contest holes, awards, raffle prizes, range balls, and lunch. Following the tournament, there will no-host cocktails and complimentary appetizers. Click here for the registration form. Or contact Doug Wolf for more information. Registration and payments must be received by May 20, 2011.

The Industrial Association of Contra Costa County began its existence in the early 1900s as The Industrial Association of Pittsburg. From humble beginnings with just a few local companies, it now includes members from Contra Costa and Solano Counties. It is an organization of many different industries that brings together companies and organizations that are leaders in the economic vitality of this important part of the eighth-largest economy in the world.

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Bay Point Works Team Places 18 Candidates in Employment Since September

Opportunity Junction's Bay Point Career Development Team has been making a big difference for families in this community with over 20% unemployment: 18 new job placements since September!

Offered in partnership with the Bay Point Works Community Career Center (and its parent, the Service Integration Program, or SIP), and funded by Contra Costa's Workforce Development Board, the program helps dislocated (read: laid off) workers and other adults get the intensive counseling and support they need to enter employment.

"Each one of our clients has different needs," explains Rossana Peniche, Career Development Case Manager. "Some have been recently let go, and others have never held a steady job. They come from all industries. The only universal is that they are motivated to succeed and need our help."

The program builds on the existing success of the Community Career Center, which draws hundreds of job-seekers annually and also hosts Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. "That makes outreach a whole lot easier," says Jesse Golden, Deputy Director, who also worked with GWF Power Systems, which funded printing of the program flyer. The Career Center rents space at the Ambrose Community Center, where the County has based the SIP.

The program will soon become an integral element of the new East County SparkPoint, which will integrate and bundle a range of services designed to help families reach financial stability: income-building, asset-development, credit repair, and debt reduction. Designed by the United Way of the Bay Area, SparkPoint Centers already exist in four other counties. The East County SparkPoint will be uniquely integrated with County programs and services.

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Small Business Bookkeeping - series starts April 7

It's all about the numbers - or at least, it is when you're running a small business! The Small Business Development Center runs a class each month in Contra Costa, for small business owners who need to understand financial information, and including an introduction to QuickBooks.

Thanks to the SBDC's Executive Director Beverly Hamile, the class will be held at Opportunity Junction in April, and the SBDC is providing scholarships for up to five Opportunity Junction alumni.

"This is a great opportunity for our alumni," remarks Opportunity Junction Manager of Professional Development Michelle Stewart. "Our most recent graduates have received training in QuickBooks and bookkeeping concepts. These SBDC classes give participants from previous years a chance to learn the kind of financial skills that employers are looking for."

To sign up for classes, visit the SBDC website at http://contracostasbdc.com, and look for the link, Growing My Profitable Business.

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Make your data dance - or corral it and put it to work!

Whether you're a nonprofit organization, managing information about donors and services, or a business trying to keep track of customers and sales, you might be keeping some important data in an Excel spreadsheet. True, there are many good reasons NOT to keep important data in Excel…but we'll get to that later.

In Excel 2007,the version we're currently using here at Opportunity Junction, two commands on the Insert tab are very helpful for protecting, filtering, and formatting your data (the Table button), as well as for analyzing your date (the PivotTable button is even more powerful for this). If you haven't done it before, you'll be amazed at how much work can get done with a single push of the button!

Both of the Table options solve a very common problem in Excel; it's easy to make a big mess if your worksheet includes both data and other kinds of information such as titles or notes. With tables, you can sort the data separately, without disturbing or mixing in the other kinds of information that is living on that worksheet. OK, that doesn't sound like a big deal - but anyone who has made the mistake of mis-sorting such a mixed worksheet will appreciate it greatly.

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Alumni News

Congratulations to the following alumni who have recently found employment:
Mona Davis, Sales Associate, Sleep Train; Christine Johnson, General Office Clerk, AppleOne; Elaine Segura, Administrative Assistant, J. Stokes & Associates; Kimberly Mercer, Administrative, GWF Power Systems; and Rhonda Goodbeer, Henkel Industries.

Please welcome our newest staff addition, Lorena Caldera, and read her letter of introduction!

Hello Opportunity Junction Alumni,

My name is Lorena Caldera, and I recently joined the Opportunity Junction staff as the new Career Development Counselor. I am pleased, honored, and ready to help you take advantage of the career counseling services I will be providing. I will be available to assist you with the drafting of your resumes and cover letters, as well as your job hunting process.

I encourage you to come see me about your career goals and how I can be of service. My hours are as follows: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 4-8pm, and Wednesdays 12-8pm. I am eager and highly motivated to begin helping you succeed and excel in your career endeavors.

About myself: Although I am originally from the Central Valley, I have come to consider the Bay Area my home. As far as my qualifications in assisting you, I have a Master's in Education with a concentration in Psych Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor's in Legal Studies and Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley—which is the long and fancy way of saying I care a lot about people and wanted to learn how to do this well.

Over the past ten years I have worked as a College Advisor, Academic Counselor, College Writing Teacher, Researcher, and Mentor for high school-aged youth. My work has taken me to Oakland, the Bronx, Brooklyn, NYC, Stockton, and now Antioch. My educational background and work experiences have inspired within me a desire to give back to diverse communities in the form of competent academic and career counseling.

I am passionate about helping people thrive regardless of their environment and/or circumstances, and strongly feel that everyone is capable of obtaining their goals, especially when they have access to positive and effective resources in their communities. I encourage you all to stop by and visit me so that I can put my beliefs into practice.

With great enthusiasm,

Lorena Caldera

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Alumni, please fill out an online update here if you've not already done so. The survey takes 5 minutes, and your responses will be confidential. Thanks for your help!

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New Grants and Support for our Programs

We are proud to announce the following new grants and funding partnerships:

• Five Bridges Foundation: The Five Bridges Foundation has issued a grant supporting the Job Training and Placement Program. The Foundation's mission is to promote and improve the quality of life for residents of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, through funding directed toward the achievement of long term, positive change, particularly in areas such as women's and children's health and welfare, education of youth, and other services to the disadvantaged and underprivileged.
• Pittsburg Power Company: The Pittsburg Power Company has contracted with us to provide Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance at the Pittsburg Senior Center, as a pilot expansion of the program. The Pittsburg Power Company is committed to helping build opportunities and programs that promote and enhance the greater good of the people within those communities.
• Strive for Change Foundation: The Strive for Change Foundation (formerly the 1200 Foundation) has made a grant supporting our organization and programs that help families reach self-sufficiency. The Foundation is run entirely by volunteers and raises all the funds it distributes every year. It is dedicated to helping the working poor escape poverty.
• Wells Fargo Foundation: The Wells Fargo Foundation has issued a grant to support our Job Training and Placement Program, which it has supported since 2001. In California, the Wells Fargo Foundation makes it a priority to benefit people and communities of low and moderate income with grantmaking in the areas of Community Development, Education, and Human Services.

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Newsletter Contributors: Brianna Burkman, Alissa Friedman, Jesse Golden, and Rosanna Peniche.

copyright © 2011, Opportunity Junction

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