January 2019

In This Edition:

• Ana Valadez: "OJ believed in me until I could believe in myself"
• Thanks to you: Holiday Appeal provides vital program support
• New Certified Nursing Assistant training begins in February
• Reach for the Stars with us at our 2019 Imagine Gala
• Why wait until April 15? 2018 Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance begins in January
• Graduation night marks a new beginning for Class 57

 

Ana Valadez: "OJ believed in me until I could believe in myself"

When Ana was little, she had a dream and a plan for her future: she wanted a stable job and a home where she could provide for her family. She saw herself as a successful orthodontist where life wasn't always so exhausting and full of worry. She was constantly bullied throughout her childhood and always felt like a disappointment to her family. She wanted a different future when she had a family.

Ana shares, "Little by little I felt more and more useless. I turned to drugs and was careless of everyone else's feelings and emotions because I didn't believe I was worth caring about. My real personal devastation came when I discovered I was pregnant, and the father told me he wanted nothing to do with our son.

 

"Everything changed for me when I became pregnant. I knew I would be poor, I knew I would struggle, but I also knew that my son was always going to have me." A lot was stacked against her. She had accrued more than $40k in debt in a dental assisting program before the school lost its accreditation and closed its doors. Without being able to complete the training, Ana was working three jobs to support herself. Eventually, when her son was born, she relied on public benefits such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal.

When her son was eight months old, Ana applied to Opportunity Junction's Job Training and Placement Program. "I knew I didn't want the life I was leading and that I needed help. I cried when I was accepted into the program. Then, it was really hard and I didn't know if I'd make it through. The staff was tough on me and held me accountable. It was what I needed to change myself and to become more positive. I was going to do it for my son."

Following her internship at OJ, Ana was hired as a customer service representative with Wells Fargo. She has been there for a year and a half and has already received two raises. Most recently, Ana was hired by OJ as part of our Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance team helping clients and community members file their own taxes. (Click here to read about tax assistance.)

"Opportunity Junction will always hold a piece of my heart. I was homeless, living in poverty, and didn't have enough to eat. I believed in the people at OJ who believed in me until I was able to believe in myself. I know the staff will always support me because they got me through the hardest time of my life."

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Thanks to you: Holiday Appeal provides vital program support

Donors to our annual Holiday Appeal drew down the entire $30,000 matching grant from Delta Scrap and Salvage and provided vital funding to support job training, career counseling, and college connections. Altogether, including the matching grant, 129 donors raised $97,318 during November and December! We are grateful.

"We receive strong funding from foundations and government contracts," explained Executive Director Alissa Friedman, "But every single one of our programs also relies on additional gifts from our individual donors. The comprehensive support this allows us to provide is life-changing."

The total for the holiday period is down slightly from last year, when we had a second matching grant to support new technology purchases. "It's easier to visualize a new computer," suggests Friedman, "but a bus pass or counseling session might be just as important to someone's success."

"We hit a home run again," says Ken Graunstadt of Delta Scrap and Salvage, whose matching grant provided additional motivation to Opportunity Junction supporters. "I'm so glad to support an organization that has such an impact in the community."

With the end-of-year matching grants behind us, we're recruiting new members of the Bell Ringers Club and launching our 2019 Imagine Gala campaign. Bell Ringers Club members challenge our program staff by offering a set donation for each unique initial placement. It provides us with year-round funding and a fundraising incentive aligned with our core program outcome.

No matter how you choose to support our work, whether through donations, volunteering your time, or spreading the word about Opportunity Junction's programs, we thank you for being part of the Opportunity Junction family!

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New Certified Nursing Assistant training begins in February

For those interested in health careers, the first step can start with a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program. CNAs provide basic patient care under the direction of nursing staff, performing duties such as feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, and moving patients. Median hourly wages are nearly $16/hour and demand for CNAs means jobs are consistently available. Within the healthcare field, CNA certification is a relatively low barrier to entry with candidates completing a course in as little as 160 hours, passing a written and oral test, and accomplishing a skills evaluation. Additionally, CNAs exposed to the healthcare field and with the right kind of social and professional supports can successfully make the leap towards a higher paying job such as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Medical Assistant, Registered Nurse, or health care administrator.

John Muir Community Health Fund recently approved a grant for Opportunity Junction and Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa & Solano, in partnership with Mount Diablo Adult Education, to launch a new Health Career Pathway initiative that creates a regional response to significant health professional staffing and quality improvement needs for those delivering care (to uninsured, underinsured, underserved, and vulnerable Contra Costa residents most at-risk for poor health), while providing a pathway towards economic sufficiency for low-income individuals.

This program is the first of its kind, creating a new model of delivery for CNA training incorporating wrap around services including one-on-one case management, food and transportation support, job placement assistance, and professional skills. Employers engaged in the development process will be part of the actual training, ensuring that students receive the most relevant and patient-centered education. Most importantly, the support in this program doesn't end with the first job. Students will be supported and encouraged in continuing education opportunities as they launch their healthcare careers.

The first cohort of the CNA Training Program is slated to start in February 2019 at Mt. Diablo Adult Education in Concord. Students will attend full-time for 11 weeks, Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 3:30pm, and Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm. The first three weeks are all classroom training, after which students incorporate clinical work Tuesdays and Thursdays at nursing facilities in Antioch. Tuition waivers are available for low-income individuals.

Carmela Buenrostro, Opportunity Junction's new Professional Development Instructor will teach life skills and career skills, as well as provide wrap around support. Carmela has spent the last 16 years in various patient serving roles at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and earned a BS in psychology from St. Mary's College. Says Carmela, "I'm excited to help students succeed in starting meaningful, satisfying healthcare careers. I'm confident that strengthening both their job skills and life skills will impact their lives long into the future. I can't wait to start working with our first cohort of students!"

For more information about the CNA Training Program, contact Carmela at (925) 776-1133.

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Reach for the Stars with us at our 2019 Imagine Gala

We hope you can join us on April 6, 2019 at Diablo Country Club for our annual Imagine Gala. The Imagine Gala is a time for us to celebrate and honor the hard work of the Opportunity Junction community. It's a fun evening that includes a gourmet dinner, an exciting silent and live auction (with new items this year!), dancing, and a chance to be part of the success of your Contra Costa neighbors. For more information, contact Development Manager Whitney Flores. (925) 776-1133 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit our website: Reach for the Stars 2019 Imagine Gala

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Why wait until April 15? 2018 Do-It-Yourself Tax Assistance begins in January

Want your refund fast? Opportunity Junction's Tax Assistance program begins Friday, January 18, 2019. Experienced trainers will lead you through a simple online tool that is free to use for all households this year!

Did you know that Opportunity Junction provides tax preparation assistance? Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)-certified tax staff will lead you through a simple online tool called TaxSlayer and answer questions you may have about your tax situation. Even better, submitting your return online using this tool is free! Our first tax sessions are being held on Friday, January 18th at 6:00 PM and Saturday, January 19th at 10:00 AM and run every weekend through April 13th.

For a complete list of session dates and times and to sign up for a session, please check our website. The website also includes a list of the items you'll need to bring with you to be ready to complete your taxes.

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Graduation night marks a new beginning for Class 57

Start the new year off by celebrating with our 15 newest job training graduates and their families. Join us on Friday, February 1 at 7:00 pm at the El Campanil Theater in Antioch at 602 W. 2nd Street. You'll hear from our guest speaker, Lori Ogorchock, Antioch Councilmember, as well as each of our graduates who will share how the program has changed their hopes for the future. This may be the end of training, but it is just the beginning for these graduates who are eager for employment. RSVP here.

 

 

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New Grants and Support for our Programs

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

California Public Utilities Commission: The Communications Division of the California Public Utilities Commission recently awarded Opportunity Junction a grant for our evening Technology Center to continue providing digital literacy classes, as well as to assist low-income households access affordable broadband (Internet) services in their homes.

Contra Costa County Community Services Bureau: Contra Costa County's Community Services Bureau (CSB) awarded key funding for the Job Training and Placement Program, helping with staffing, as well as alumni services and paid internships for program graduates. CSBG is part of the national Community Action Partnership network of over 1,100 agencies that work to alleviate poverty and empower low-income families in communities throughout the United States.

Justice, Justice Foundation: A local foundation, the Justice, Justice Foundation is a new funder to Opportunity Junction, gifting a grant that provides critically needed unrestricted support, allowing flexibility to use the grant where most needed.

US Bank: U.S. Bank renewed its commitment to Opportunity Junction with a grant providing core operating support. U.S. Bank funds organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families.

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Newsletter Contributors: Cynthia Dial, Whitney Flores, Alissa Friedman, and Brianna Robinson. Photographs by Brianna Robinson, Alissa Friedman, and David Fraser Photography. Newsletter assembled by Lea Mason. (Thanks, Lea!)

On the Road to Self-Sufficiency — Opportunity Junction fights poverty by helping low-income Contra Costa residents gain the skills and confidence to get and keep jobs that support themselves and their families.

Opportunity Junction is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
© Opportunity Junction 2019