Opportunity Junction News

Christopher Ledgister was inspired to apply to Opportunity Junction’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program by his grandmother from Nicaragua. She was a registered nurse in her country and came to work in the U.S. in the same field.

Whether at the El Campanil Theater, at Mt. Diablo Adult Education, or over Zoom, Opportunity Junction students have been turning tassels. In April and May alone, the Healthcare Career Pathways (HCP) and Administrative Careers Training (ACT) programs helped celebrate the achievements of 36 graduating participants.

Opportunity Junction’s annual Imagine Gala fundraiser was held on April 23, 2022. We are so grateful to all who supported the event by means of sponsorship or donations, participating in the silent auction, and attending the event!

Learning something new as an adult – no matter your age – can be intimidating and at times frustrating. Feelings of doubt creep in… You might think to yourself: “What if I can’t understand the material? I never was a good student – I never will be. Even when I try really hard, I still just don’t get it.”

by Alissa Friedman, President and CEO — At Opportunity Junction, our annual planning cycle runs from July 1 through June 30. That’s the period of our “fiscal year,” a relatively arbitrary 12-month period that we chose for convenience in financial reporting. (It’s the same fiscal year as the county and local cities use.)

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

Opportunity Junction's pivot during the pandemic was just what Nancy needed to launch her administrative career. Nancy followed a traditional path through high school and into her first retail job.

Are you looking for a free, fun, at-home activity on April 23? We hope you will join us in celebrating Opportunity Junction's 22 Years of Transformation at our virtual 2022 Imagine Gala.

Individual contributors to Opportunity Junction often donate in the name of a departed loved one who was emblematic of our mission.

Opportunity Junction is actively accepting applications for its workforce development programs - the Administrative Careers Training (ACT) and the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs, which both begin in May.

You're going to want to do your taxes this year, whether to claim the Child Tax Credit or California's expanded Earned Income Credit.

Opportunity Junction is seeking a Regional Program Director to oversee two local Healthcare Career Pathway (HCP) sites in central and east Contra Costa County.

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

We are proud and grateful to announce the following new grants and funding partnerships: John Muir Community Health Fund: The John Muir Health Community Health Fund has renewed its grant support for the Healthcare Career Pathway program, as we continue to expand the model. This funding represents a partnership to create a supported pathway into the allied healthcare industry and to improve access to person-centered care within Contra Costa County's long-term support services system

Dear Opportunity Junction Supporters, Thank you for your 2021 Holiday donations! Altogether, with the matching funds from Delta Scrap and Salvage, 217 donors (30% increase from last year) contributed over $161,000. We are so thankful to all of you, including the 59 new donors who joined us this year, seven of whom are program alumni!

Opportunity Junction (OJ) will celebrate the Administrative Careers Training (ACT) Class 66 graduation on Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. The ceremony will be held online and open for all to attend. Please sign up here.

Save the Date to Celebrate - April 23, 2022 Please save the date to join us in celebrating Opportunity Junction's 22nd year of transforming lives. The 2022 annual Imagine Gala will be held virtually on April 23, 2022, from 5-6 p.m. PST.

Doreen achieves her dream of a healthcare career Doreen Katiba immigrated to the United States in 2018 for a few reasons: she wanted to see a new side of the world with new opportunities, she wanted to make new friends, and most importantly, she wanted to reunite with her husband who was already in the U.S. In Kenya, Doreen had served many patients as a counselor, helping with their emotional and social needs. Her dream in the United States was to receive healthcare training to help with patients' physical needs as well.

Here we are, still dealing with COVID-19 but with plenty to be grateful for. Even during these unprecedented times, the Opportunity Junction family is full of holiday spirit and doing all we can to share it with others. To help ease the seasonal pressure on the families we serve, OJ is continuing its tradition of providing Thanksgiving meals to fill up holiday tables.

On November 18, 2021, Opportunity Junction was awarded the Economic Justice Award as part of the East Bay Philanthropy Awards. The philanthropy awards are an annual celebration of impact, innovation, and generosity in the social sector. They are hosted by the East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC).

Motivated job seekers are still looking to launch careers, and we are here and eager to serve them! From administrative careers to certified nursing assistant careers, and many things in between - our team is fully equipped to help individuals gain the skills and confidence to take their career to the next level at no-cost to them.

Empty shelves, delivery delays, and "sold out" signs have become the norm this holiday shopping season. But, what if we told you we have the perfect gift - one that will make double the impact, that can be purchased and delivered in just minutes, and one that will keep giving for generations to come. Give the gift of Opportunity this holiday season.

We are proud and grateful to announce the following new grants and funding partnerships: The Lowell Berry Foundation: The Lowell Berry Foundation continued its multi-year relationship with Opportunity Junction with a grant toward support of the Administrative Careers Training (ACT) program. First Republic Bank: First Republic Bank, via the Federal Home Loan Bank AHEAD program, committed funding to OJ's Healthcare Career Pathway (HCP) program. The AHEAD program has previously supported the ACT. Tipping Point Community: Opportunity Junction's largest single funder, Tipping Point Community, continued its support of OJ's core operations. This contribution marks are decade of partnership between the organization, with Tipping Point providing strategic and programmatic guidance in addition to its financial support.

Diana discovered her dream career in public health Diana Aleman, alumna of the Opportunity Junction Administrative Careers Training Program (ACT), has launched her dream career, been promoted, and started on the next steps toward her long-term career goals. In addition to climbing the career ladder, she has been using her renewed skills and confidence to bring resources to the community.

On November 18, 2021, Opportunity Junction will be awarded the Economic Justice Award as part of the East Bay Philanthropy Awards. The philanthropy awards are an annual celebration of impact, innovation, and generosity in the social sector. They are hosted by the East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC).

We are proud and grateful to announce the following new grants and funding partnerships: Bank of the West: Bank of the West provided continued support to Opportunity Junction in the form of a grant to the Administrative Careers Training Program. Bank of the West’s corporate philanthropy program seeks to respond to economic challenges and promote healthy neighborhoods in the communities served by the bank, funding nonprofits working in a number of areas, including job training and employment.

When you commit to making a small donation every time one of our interns secures a job and rings the bell, you reward the hard work of motivated Contra Costa job seekers that are launching careers that lead to financial security for themselves and their families. Become a part of their success stories today by joining the Bell Ringers Club!

An Excel Wizard With Kindness to Spare The Opportunity Junction family tree has many branches. Everyone from our staff to our Board of Directors to our participants helps make us the organization we are. One group that we couldn’t function without is our dedicated and selfless volunteers. We’ve had countless wonderful people volunteer their time and expertise to help OJ’s participants over the years, people like Mike Carroll. Mike, who teaches Microsoft Excel at our Technology Center, has made an immense contribution to Opportunity Junction.

Class 65 of the Administrative Careers Training (ACT) program graduated from training on Friday, September 24 th , celebrating over Zoom with friends and family. Pittsburg City Council Member Juan Banales served as the Special Guest Speaker.

Vickie started over and gained a new career Vickie Ore started over in her career after nearly 20 years in the grocery industry the only way she knew how: by jumping in head first. “I was petrified to leave what I knew so well, but I also believed this was my opportunity to learn something new and launch my new career,” she shares. When a friend told her about Opportunity Junction’s Administrative Careers Training program, she applied and began right away That was February, 2020. Vickie had no idea at the time that her leap of faith into change would be exacerbated by the pandemic and the shutdown that followed.