By Charles Roberts
Editor
Highland Community News

Published: Thursday, February 2, 2012 10:58 AM PST

 May 13, 2010 Daily Bulletin: Students finish auto course (click to read article)

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Career Institute Participated in the Y4 Event as the largest provider in San Bernardino funded by the Workforce Development Department. The event was featured in the Daily Bulletin in the article below.
Youth looks to jump-start careers

County program gives insight for entering tough job market

By Wendy Leung Staff Writer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA –

About 450 youths heard nothing but encouragement on Thursday at a celebration marking the completion of a yearlong training and work experience program.

     Students ages 17 to 21 from across San Bernardino County gathered at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center to get some motivation before entering a daunting job market.

     The county’s year-round Youth Program, funded by the federal Workforce Investment Act, trains low-income youths with reading and writing skills, vocational training, internship opportunities and work experience.  Representatives from Monster.com, community colleges and other businesses provided tips to jump-start a career.

     Miguel McQueen of the county Department of Workforce Development said the program encourages youths to finish school and then gives them the tools to increase their employability.

     “The goal for today is to give them motivation and say, ‘OK, you already have this information. Now what are you going to do with it?’ “ McQueen said.

     Joselyn Chacon, 17, of Rialto said she’ll take the lessons she has learned to Chaffey College, where she plans to spend the next two years before heading to Cal State San Bernardino.

     Chacon, who is graduating next month from Eisenhower High school, wants to be a nurse and work with newborns in the delivery room.

     Through the Workforce Investment Act youth program, Chacon found an internship working with young children at a local preschool.

     “Right now, nobody’s really hiring,” Chacon said.

    “This gives you the experience … it really helped a lot.”

     Ashley Harrison, 21, of San Bernardino had been looking for a job for a year before finding an internship with the Department of Workforce Development.

     She has spent the past nine months planning various events such as the State of the County last month.

     “This program really gave an opportunity that’s hard to find,’ Harrison said.

     The daylong event wrapped up with a resource fair, where representatives from schools and business dispensed advice.

     Adrian Cisneros, an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance, told students what steps to take before coming an agent. He also had some rare good news to share about the industry.

   “The insurance industry is stable,” Cisneros said. “It’s one of the few industries out there that does not have massive layoffs”

Stimulus Package Pays for Internships at CI

Dis-advantaged Youth Turns Life Around......

Rancho Cucamonga, California, June 11, 2009 – There's something to be said for having a new outlook on life, 19 year-old José Carlon can vouch for that.  Jose is a smiley, polite, well-dressed, and humble young man from Apple Valley.  He had no idea that he was capable of setting goals and achieving them; a sentiment that is common among dis-advantaged youth who lack exposure to higher education, career opportunities, and the guidance to maneuver through it. 

 Watching Jose at his new job with the Career Institute, patiently helping others his age apply for a career mentor program he is also a participant of, it is hard to believe that he dropped out of high school his junior year.  He was so sure that school was not meant for him.  His family was feeling first-hand the effects of the poor economy, and he wanted to work and help support them.  He did not realize how tough it would be to get a job without a diploma.    

 This young man managed to complete two years of high school courses in a year and a half to graduate with a 3.2 GPA.  He gave a speech at graduation encouraging his peers to succeed and was surprised when he received a scholarship award for his outstanding achievements.  Beaming from ear to ear, he proudly spoke of a race between him and his cousin to see who would be the first in the family to graduate from high school.  Jose smiled and spoke of happily coming in second.   He doesn't care about the race so much as the diploma and the doors it has opened for him. "I always thought I'd be working in a truss yard, I never thought I'd be working in an office…It's pretty cool!"  He is thankful for his employer, the Career Institute (CI), which gave him a well-paying job and acted as a champion for his long-term education, career, and life success. 

 He also has himself to thank.  His large family with his mother, three younger sisters, and cousin are supportive, but having others outside of the family teach him to 'dream big, act big, dream bigger' continues to have a large impact.  "I'm the only person who has work right now.  My whole family doesn't have jobs."  Sometimes a young individual needs help from a mentor – some outside person that has taken a personal interest in their life – to believe in themself and establish goals they achieve.

CI specializes in education and career path guidance for youth ages 17-26. The sad truth is that Jose is one of the lucky ones to have acquired a collection of mentors which included his high school librarian that referred him to a career mentor at CI. Others have been struggling to find that same guiding light, needing access to job skills, interview techniques, resume writing, and education opportunities. But, there are an ever-increasing number of others getting similar assistance with the help of CI's Summer Work Experience, which is finding jobs and mentoring 400 youth throughout San Bernardino County this summer. Thanks to their partnership with San Bernardino County's Workforce Development District and support from the Workforce Investment Act.

 To the 17-21 year olds in San Bernardino County, "it's like having a life-coach."  And who wouldn't want one of those?  Youth participants of CI's Summer Work Experience receive work readiness mentoring, job placement, 180 hours of paid work experience, support funds for transportation and appropriate clothing, and an opportunity to earn additional funds by completing career skill-building projects.  You can find more information about Career Institute, its summer and year-round programs, and their success stories through their website at www.cinow.org.

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    May 21, 2009
San Bernardino County
Written by Stacy Bouchard

150 youth between the ages of 18 and 24 are working thanks to the Career Institute and its Summer Work Experience program!  Another 200+ youth will start in a few weeks as part of CI's second six-week work session.  In total, CI will be finding jobs and paying wages, transportation, and work attire costs for 400 youth this summer!  President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided funding to our partner and sponsor, San Bernardino County's Workforce Investment Board. 

Due to the current economic climate, there is an incredible need for entry-level/start-up jobs for youth that are journeying out on their own for the first time, desperately trying to find work and build their resume.  Thanks to San Bernardino County's support, participants are receiving work experience, an hourly wage, job readiness skills, transportation and clothing assistance, and career mentoring.  Youth participants have a high school diploma or GED, while some of these youth are Emancipated Foster Youth, from low-income families, and/or disabled.  Most have had to overcome incredible challenges in their young lives and many have never had a career mentor or the opportunity to gain work experience.  For most of these young adults this is their very first job. 

The Career Institute's goal is to encourage and support the giant leap from high school into the adult world.  With rising unemployment and greater competition within the job market this leap is further and higher than previous years.  Sandra Harmsen, Executive Director of the Department of Workforce Development noted, "These early work experiences are critical to the young person's transition into adulthood, and provide the opportunities they need to hone their skills and build the confidence they need to become productive members of our county's economy."

CI has four offices spread throughout the County of San Bernardino:  in Rancho Cucamonga, Lake Arrowhead, Victorville, and Barstow.  Employers throughout the county and from all sectors are graciously taking in youth to offer them valuable work experience and worksite mentoring.  Some are working with the Boys and Girls Club; others in offices learning how to file, answer phones, run copiers and fax machines; we have others working with local high schools in preparation for the fall; and even youth working for a lake marina!

CI encourages any potential employers or people wanting more information about this incredible Summer Work Experience program or other opportunities we offer to see their website at www.cinow.org.