Opportunity Junction

In this issue...

Featured Alumna

Charmaine was petrified as she walked through the doors of Opportunity Junction for the first day of class. Clouded by self-doubt, she wondered if she could complete the program or if she was smart enough to learn the computer skills she heard about during orientation.

The one thing she was sure of was that she could no longer afford to stay home. Not only did her husband's income no longer support her five growing children and household expenses, but Charmaine's years of staying home and raising her kids had dulled her skills and her confidence speaking with people.

"It was really hard for me to speak in front of people when the class began," Charmaine shares. "I almost fainted when I heard about the oral presentation requirements to pass the training phase of the program."

Struggling to keep up with her assignments and dreading the final requirements for the program, Charmaine kept her head down and worked as hard as she could. "Although we knew Charmaine had the potential to do well in our program," explains Manager of Personal Development Natalie Georgia, "her lack of confidence didn't let us see her true potential… that is, until the intern phase of the program."

After quietly completing the training, Charmaine began to blossom as the Technology Center intern. In addition to receiving several Excellence in Action awards from the staff, Charmaine impressed her supervisor, Deputy Director Jesse Golden. "Charmaine was one of the best interns I have ever had work for me in the Technology Center. She took ownership of the demanding task of keeping our evening program database up-to-date, and never looked back. Her thoroughness and attention to detail were outstanding."

"I just knew I could do the job, and I enjoy working hard," Charmaine adds. "The twelve weeks of training helped build my confidence, but the internship really helped solidify those skills and practice what I learned. Michelle [Stewart, Manager of Professional Development] taught us many skills that translated directly to my job search."

Charmaine is currently using her skills working with Mirant California where she compiles records, logs information, and prepares the documents for packaging and shipment.

Sponsors and Auction Donors Join Chevron in Supporting Imagine, the 2009 Gala

Sponsorships are now available for Imagine, Opportunity Junction's 2009 Gala. We are also in the process of collecting and auction items for the live and silent auctions. Sponsorships may also 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 NBC11 and Auctioneer Dennis McCormac, along with Beatles' music during hors d'oeuvres and dancing after dinner.

Can you join Chevron and these organizations that have already signed up as sponsors?

• Media Sponsor: Diablo Magazine
• Silver Sponsors: ConocoPhillips, Emerald Consulting and GWF Power Systems.
• Bronze Sponsors: J. Stokes and Associates, John Muir Health, Mirant California, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 159, and WestAmerica Bank.

Come Celebrate as Class 27 Graduates with Record Numbers

Please join us Thursday, December 18 at 6:00 pm at our offices at 3102 Delta Fair Blvd. as trainees from Class 27 of Opportunity Junction's Job Training and Placement program graduate. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served!

With a record 89 applicants completing the process to apply for the Job Training and Placement Program, it is no surprise that a record number of trainees are expected to graduate in December. Class 27 may represent our largest graduating class since we began our program in 2000. "This is really a double-edged sword," says Executive Director Alissa Friedman. "We are gratified that our recruitment efforts brought us so many enthusiastic, qualified candidates who succeeded during training, but we are hiring them as interns during the worst job market we've ever seen. We'll have to work extra hard during the internship phase to find the kinds of job openings we want them to fill."

The current twenty members of Class 27 have stuck together and supported each other through weeks of intensive computer and life skills training. "At times it is stressful and overwhelming," shares Leticia Carrera, "but I am committed to completing the program to learn what I need to improve my life and the lives of my children. I am amazed how much I am able to learn in such a short time."

"After being laid off from the mortgage industry, I wasn't sure what I was going to do," adds Donna Duggin. "This program is helping me rebuild my confidence and hone my computer skills. I know these skills will help give me that extra edge when I start applying for jobs."

If you want to be part of our Job Training and Placement Program, our next application sessions will be held January 5-21, 2009 with the next training session beginning Monday, February 2, 2009. Click here for more information.

New Anonymous Fund Challenge Grant Seeks to Grow Capacity and Opportunities

It is a painful irony that during an economic downturn the needs of vulnerable families become more acute just as the resources available to meet those needs are shrinking. At Opportunity Junction, we are grateful that some donors are increasing their donations, helping us draw down matching funds from the Anonymous Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation. A total of $25,000 is available to match new or increased donations through June 30, 2009.

The theme of this year's holiday appeal is growth: because of you, opportunities are growing. The theme, evoking the personal and professional growth that are the hallmark of our Job Training and Placement Program, resonates strongly with participants, staff, and volunteers. Click here to join the campaign! We pay no credit card fees on donations made online using Google checkout through the end of 2008.

We are grateful to the following individuals who have already joined this year's campaign:

Opportunity Junction will be continuing Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance this year, helping low-income families prepare and file their own taxes electronically for free so that they can get the fastest possible refund.

The interface that participants will be using is called I-CAN! E-file and was developed by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.

The program will feature financial education funded by the Citi Foundation, which will also be providing volunteers to "train the trainers" -- our very own Job Training and Placement Program alumni. These trainers, also called Alumni Session Leaders, will lead participants through the I-CAN! E-file web interface.

Free tickets to the sessions, which will be held on Friday evenings and Saturdays, can be found on the Opportunity Junction website. The free tickets are processed through EventBrite, to make sure that no more than 20 taxpayers sign up for each session. Sessions will be held in English and Spanish.

The program is ideal for anyone who can surf the web, including (of course) graduates of the Opportunity Junction Job Training and Placement Program or Computer Basics evening class series. Clients who do not know how to surf the web can still participate in the United Way of the Bay Area's Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Volunteer Income Tax Assistance through other sites and can call 1-800-358-8832 for more information.

Please post our flyer and encourage low-income taxpayers to collect their whole refund by filing electronically for free.

Ask the Tech: Ryan Fernandes

Dear IT Tech,

Is there a way I can safely send a document containing confidential information by email?

Yours,
Anxious in Antioch

Dear Anxious,

Yes, there is a way. However, any added security involves additional steps in distributing and accessing a document, for the sender and the recipient. Most of the products available require that you encrypt or decrypt with a password, which you need to provide to the recipient. If you forget the password, there is no way to decrypt the information in the file(s)/folder(s).

There are several commercial file and folder encryption applications available that can encrypt and decrypt email attachments such as:

But there is one FREEWARE application I use when I need to secure a document for email.

iOpus Secure Email Attachments (click the link to download the setup file)

"iOpus SEA uses the Blowfish encryption algorithm with a key length of up to 448 bits. Blowfish encryption is so strong that it has not been cracked yet. In fact, most experts agree that it cannot be cracked with current computer technology and that includes supercomputers!"

iOpus SEA is very easy to use for both the sender and the recipient. The recipient(s) does not need the software installed on their computer(s)

Sender: Using the 'Options' button you can set your own custom message for the recipient, your own web link, logo and disclaimer.

To encrypt click the “Create secure email attachment”, add file(s), select location for output, input password of your choice and your done.

The resulting file will have the “exe” extension. Rename the extension to “*.exe_” because most email clients block files with an “exe” extension.

Inform the recipient to rename the file extension back to “exe” after downloading and provide them with the password.

Do Not communicate the password via email.

Recipient: Saves the attachment. Renames the extension to “exe”. Double-clicks on the file, enters the password and selects a location to extract the decrypted file.

Hope this helps! :-)

Regards,

Ryan Fernandes

Ryan is an independent IT consultant providing his services to East Contra Costa small and mid-size businesses with the same level of expertise and reliability in technology support and solutions typically reserved for larger corporations and to help improve our local community. For more information go to http://www.eastcountytech.com.

• December 12 — Alumni & participants Holiday Party.
  Join us on Friday December 12, 6:00-8:00 pm for our annual holiday party. Dinner will be served. RSVP to Kourvahcia Jackson or Michelle Stewart at (925) 776-1133 by December 8. SPECIAL THANKS to the Birdsong family for helping to make this party special for alumni! MORE THANKS to food donors Costco and Safeway!
• Dinner and Taxes — On Friday February 6, we will be having a special Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance session from 6-9 pm for alumni only at Opportunity Junction! Dinner will be provided. Space is limited, so sign up online through our website now! (Alumni, call for password.)
• Alumni event gets a boost from local businesses— Opportunity Junction's third annual alumni and participant picnic went upscale in October with help from local businesses Golf N Games, Allied Waste, and GWF Power. Jeff Warrenberg of Golf N Games Family Fun Center in Antioch started the ball rolling by donating the use of their spacious barbecue and dining area as well as free miniature golf games for all. Tim Argenti of Allied Waste elevated the event to gourmet proportions by donating mountains of succulent tri-tip and chicken for the barbecue. Mark Kehoe of GWF Power Systems rounded out the event with a cornucopia of side dishes, condiments, and drinks. And Andre Lozano of Citibank in Antioch served as barbecue chef par excellence, even without the big white hat. We noticed many adults who graciously consented to play miniature golf, with and without the presence of children. Did we mention that we had a lot of fun? Thanks so much to all for your support!
• We want to hear from you! Change in jobs or recent promotion? Maybe you just have some news you would like to share. Email Michelle Stewart, Manager of Professional Development, to let us know what you are up to recently or what we can do to improve our services.

• Headsets for NEC Electra Elite phones;
• Laminating machine;
• See-through, extra-large plastic containers with lids;
• Vacuum cleaner;
• Folding chairs in good condition;
• LCD flat-panel monitors;
• Secretarial chairs;
• Wrist rests;
• Microwave;
• 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, 512 MB Ram, 20 GB hard drive, 1 GHz); and
• Utility shelves.

• Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation: We are grateful for the continuing partnership of the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation in providing a two-year grant of program support for the Job Training and Placement Program and the evening Technology Center. The Foundation enhances the quality of life in Contra Costa County through charitable giving to support education, the arts, and children & families.
• East Bay Community Foundation: The East Bay Community Foundation, which has been a critically important partner through its work with donor-advised funds, has itself issued us a grant of core operating support. The Foundation is focusing on the areas of support for children to succeed and economic development, which "form the underpinnings of thriving communities." We are proud to have the Foundation's partnership and support.
• Wells Fargo Foundation: The Wells Fargo Foundation has continued its partnership in our Job Training and Placement Program with a recent grant, complementing the valuable volunteer services provided by its employees. 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.
• Dow Chemical: The Dow Chemical Company has issued a grant supporting our programs and organization as part of its focus, locally, on improving the community through education and job training. We are also grateful that Dow alumna Danae Lui is in her sixth year of serving as a volunteer trainer in our evening Computer Basics series.

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
• Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
• 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, Patricia Shattuck, Sarah Morrill, Selma Moore, 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 Deputy Director Jesse Golden;
• Integrated mental health services, contact Director of Counseling Catherine Warren;
• DataWorks business services, contact Manager of Fundraising and Special Projects 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, East County Advocate
• Mary Erbez, Retired, City of Pittsburg
• 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
• 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, Senator, California State Senate
• 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
• Jayne Sanford, Area Manager, Mechanics Bank
• Timothy Silva, Community Development Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
• The Honorable Arne Simonsen, Council Member, City of Antioch
• Tse Ming Tam, Vice President, Community Investment, United Way of the Bay Area
• The Honorable Tom Torlakson, Assemblymember, California State Assembly
• 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, Brianna Burkman, Jesse Golden, and Ryan Fernandes.

copyright © 2008, Opportunity Junction

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