Happy Holidays from the LAVC Job Training staff!

Job Training Program is a Win-Win - lavalleystar.com

Job Training Program is a Win-Win

http://www.lavalleystar.com/sections/news/job-training-program-is-a-win-win-1.1831148

Program pairs personal development with volunteerism to help out-of-work job seekers.


By Stephanie Colman
Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, December 15, 2010

As area unemployment holds steady at more than 10 percent, LA Fellows, part of Valley College's Job Training department, connects out-of-work professionals and area non-profits to create a win-win situation..
"LA Fellows is a unique training program that provides job seekers with a combination of professional development and volunteerism to serve as a meaningful pathway to employment," said Valley President Sue Carleo.

The program began in September and is funded by the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department through the City of Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board. Funding will support four sessions of thirty fellows each. More than 100 professionals applied for the first 30 openings.

Those accepted to the program receive 140 hours of training throughout seven weeks. Training is provided by Valley Job Training staff members and area executive career coaches, and includes critical thinking, resume writing, advanced computer skills, professional grant writing and generating business leads. The training is free, however participants must commit to volunteering a minimum of 100 hours with a partnering non-profit organization of their choice.


Project Coordinator Allison Deutch says placing fellows with area non-profits gives them the opportunity to participate in a real, hands-on activity where they can demonstrate initiative and leadership, and leave with a marketable experience on their resume.

"We want them to take on a project. It's not just stuffing envelopes for eight hours," Deutch said. "We work with non-profits that want (fellows) to come in and work on event planning, or work in the accounting department and doing an audit, or work on a Web site for a marketing project."

Paul Van Ast, deputy executive director for Community Career Development, Inc., a non-profit organization specializing in workforce development, has nothing but praise for the three LA Fellows originally assigned to his office.

"They were great. They jumped right in and helped with paperwork, interviewing and counseling," he said. "It was a huge help. It really was a great bunch of people. I've already asked when can I get some more."

Van Ast was so impressed with one of the fellows, he offered her full-time employment at the close of her volunteer service. So far, six fellows have successfully found work since completing the program and graduating in November.

Those still looking for work now do so with a renewed sense of purpose.

"The best thing about the program is that I now have more confidence in my job search. I know I'm not alone," said first-session fellow Kimberly James. "When you're out of work, it's easy to lose motivation. I really regained my motivation with this program. It's a confidence builder."

The next session of LA Fellows begins on Jan. 24, 2011. Interested applicants must attend an orientation session in the Valley cafeteria conference room on Dec. 21 or Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. and submit an application no later than Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.
For more information, visit www.lafellows.org or call (818) 947-2941.

HELPING - The L.A. Fellows place out of work professionals into volunteer jobs.

Countdown to CAPE Soiree: Following the Fellows of CAPE - examiner.com article

Countdown to CAPE Soiree: Following the Fellows of CAPE

http://www.examiner.com/asian-pacific-entertainment-in-national/countdown-to-cape-soiree-following-the-fellows-of-cape?cid=parsely#parsely

The executive leadership program, LA Fellows, has partnered with the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment in leadership and skill training, career guidance, and volunteerism. We caught up with the three fellows as they were rolling up their sleeves on work for the annual CAPE Soiree.

Friday, November 19: 13 days and 7 hours to go
 
Heather Iniba, younger sister of Katherine Iniba, celebrity host of Halo Halo on La’s Channel 18, is crunched over a computer at the CAPE office. Ken Choy, who has taken over press and celebrity coordination, continuously adds to the pile of Heather’s to-do list. She scrolls through IMDB pages for contact information as well as credits in order to compile media fact sheets—who knew celebrities required so much research. In between banter about the latest Harry Potter movie, Ken asks about her interest in the entertainment industry.
Heather is a trained dancer but also has interest behind the scenes in development and production.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to be surrounded by a great group of individuals who are supportive and work hard to increase diversity in the entertainment field.”

Besides what Choy hands her, Jennifer Sanderson, Director of CAPE and other team leads for the Soiree assign the 27 year old tasks as well.
“For the Soiree, I am building and establishing relationships with new and existing In-Kind Sponsors. I am assisting with the silent auction, gift bags, ticket/membership sales and personally increasing public awareness about CAPE and the Holiday Soiree by word of mouth and through social media forms.”

We ask if she has felt the crush of having to fulfill everyone’s needs; she answers diplomatically, “I am motivated to work hard and help out in any way to help contribute to the Soiree's success.”

Saturday, November 20: 12 days and 10 hours to go.

Sharon Morgan arrives for an early morning production and volunteer meeting at a coffee shop across the street from Vibiana, the site for the Soiree, in downtown Los Angeles. In a few hours, they’ll take the group of volunteers to tour the converted church which has become one of LA’s hottest venues.
Sharon takes a moment to pause, “They are an incredible group of people who have achieved great success, and who are willing to volunteer their time and expertise to help others succeed in a very tough business. I'm honored to be associated with them.”

The notoriety and achievements of the individuals behind the scenes doesn’t stop Sharon from taking the lead on getting the volunteers oriented with the venue. While doing so, she makes mental reminders to update the team leads: Time-lapse camera (Jennifer); Tip Sheet (Ken); and on it goes.

“CAPE offers great educational classes, industry contacts, and exclusive job postings; working with CAPE has allowed me to meet people who work in a variety of roles in the business, so I can figure out where the best fit is for me.”

Roxanne V. Jackson, the third fellow, chimes in, “I’m excited about having a chance to meet with brilliant people such as Quentin Lee, Lisa Ling and Tzi Ma.”

As she rushes off to the kitchen with Ada Chan, the events planner, to finalize positions for the notable restaurants and caterers who will be offering their finest creations at the Soiree, she clarifies, “The most exciting and rewarding opportunity in working for CAPE, is that I'm surrounded around some pretty incredible people, from the Board members on down to the Intern. Not to mention, being on board and supporting the efforts of the Soiree.”

Do Gooders Amaze: A Blog Posting from Jean Franzblau

http://jeanfranzblau.com/blog/

Do Gooders Amaze




I am accidentally in the nonprofit world. Like Alice in Wonderland, I tumbled from being a solo business owner giving seminars in corporate America to being a solo business owner in economic freefall to being an unemployed professional scrambling for a job.

A nonprofit job came my way, I landed it, and here I am. Oh, the irony; my job is to help people find work.



It has been a fascinating first seven months. In meetings, I find myself confused when decisions are made with the client not the cost in mind. These nonprofit folks are wired differently! My colleagues are those who didn’t accidentally find themselves here. They chose careers in a world where there are no (gulp!) year end bonuses.



I am rubbing elbows with those who think up good ideas to help people and then implement them. Here’s the latest example a few friends of mine are involved with – http://www.lafellows.org/. It’s a program for people who are unemployed and want to do good in the world. It combines job search training, networking and volunteering. I couldn’t think of a better way to give job seekers a schedule around which to organize themselves, people to hang out with and the right mix of resources. 70% of participants land jobs!



If you know people “looking for their next opportunity,” let them know about LAFellows.org. It’s free!



I’m glad to be a voyager in the Land of Nonprofit. I think it’s rubbing off on me.

I heart LAFellows.org

LA Fellows Cohort 2 Orientation Dates Announced!

Interested in applying to be an LA Fellow? Join us at our orientation meetings for the next cohort.

Orientation Dates and Locations
All orientation meetings will be held at Los Angeles Valley College at 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096. You may park in Lot B located at the corner of Oxnard Street and Fulton Avenue. Parking tickets will not be issued during the orientation meeting. You only need to attend one orientation.

Monday, December 13, 2010
1:00pm
Cafeteria Conference Room


Tuesday, December 21, 2010
10:00am
Cafeteria Conference Room


Thursday, January 6, 2011
10:00am
Cafeteria Conference Room


Look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulations Ara!!!

Congratulations to LA Fellow Ara who landed a job at Bank of America. She starts work today. We hope she has a great first day! Ara recently thanked LA Fellows for the program's help in landing her job:

“I got a job thanks to LA Fellows! During training, there was a job fair at LA Valley College. The valuable training we received in the LA Fellows program focused on the importance of networking, what to say, and how to say it with confidence. With the support of LA Fellows, I was able to do this more successfully at that job fair than I ever had before. A recruiter from the fair hired me as a temp-to-perm Bankruptcy Specialist at Bank of America.” Ara Easley, LA Fellows, Cohort 1

Ara proudly shows off her certificate at the LA Fellows graduation.

Marching to a New Beat - LA Fellows Drum Circle

During training the LA Fellows expressed their strong bond through a fun and energetic drum circle led by instructor Roberto Gutierrez!

Congratulations Diana!

Congratulations to LA Fellow Diana on her new job!!!! Diana secured a full time position five weeks into LA Fellows training and started working the Monday after graduation! She shared how her experience as an LA Fellow helped her with her job search.

"The LA Fellows program gave me the knowledge, confidence and motivation to move forward with my job search. I would have never interviewed for the Legal Analyst position I'm currently in at my company if it wasn't for the skills and awareness I developed over the course of the seven weeks of training. I know I would have eventually found a job without having been part of LA Fellows, but the process moved much smoother and my time was better spent once I was able to focus on the tools I needed to land the job I wanted. For the first time I felt that I was in control of where I was going rather than following wherever my job search led me. The kicker is that I enjoyed every minute of the learning and being around my colleagues. My unemployment experience went from headaches and loneliness to self-empowerment and camaraderie. As an LA Fellow, I was no longer alone." Diana Rado, LA Fellows, Cohort 1

Diana, left, collaborates with her group during LA Fellows Traning.

INTERNING AT LAST - By LA Fellow, Jo Ellen Krumm

As I head for work – my LA Fellows internship at Valley Village in Winnetka – my energy rebounds and I look forward to the afternoon. This is my first internship. My college didn’t have an intern program back then and I was busy working on the school newspaper, studying, and just plain working. As a magazine editor, I mentored many journalism interns, but this is my first time as the intern.

I am thrilled to be working at Valley Village, which serves developmentally disabled adults. I’m working with two great professionals -- Jenny Daniels Freese, director of marketing and development, and Anush Sumian, development coordinator. I’m learning about the valuable programs here and how important all of the funding is to our clients. I’m also helping to put together grant proposals and letters of intent, and finding out about the long days and many meetings of development professionals.

Another first about the LA Fellows program is that I had a wide choice of well-managed nonprofits to which I could apply. It’s like having your choice of dream jobs available, and I thank our LA Fellows staff for that.

With my journalistic skills of research and writing and my LA Fellows training in nonprofit management and funding, I think I can make a difference in the nonprofit sector. I look forward to my new career.

Jo Ellen Krumm, center, participates in a visual representation of "LinkedIn" during a class presentation.

Taking a break from the classroom

LA Fellows enoyed moving the classroom outside with instructor Larry Braman on a beautiful October afternoon.



Christine Stenberg's Graduation Speech

When Allison called me with the good news that I had been selected to speak at graduation I had different emotions go through my mind.




First - panic......if you recall our first day in class I announced that one of my FEARS was speaking in front of a group of people.



Next, I thought what an honor to have my classmates select me to speak........



Finally, I thought you have successfully completed the LA Fellows program and what better way to show one of my accomplishments than by overcoming my fear of speaking......



So...here I am.

Each of us Fellows, arrived at LAVC via different paths. However, our common theme was we were attempting to manage our own unemployment. We dealt with our situations in different ways, but realized that we were not achieving our goals. We recognized that we needed assistance and the commonality that brought us together was the desire to ‘better’ our situation. Thanks to LAVC and all the individuals and organizations that partnered together to create the LA Fellows program, we were able to begin our journey toward rebuilding.



Our first accomplishment was being selected into the program. Next, we spent the last 7 weeks acting like sponges absorbing as much data as we could from each of the great instructors and also from one another. We explored approximately 40 different topics - all of which provided us with a wealth of knowledge.

The classroom phase of our journey has ended, however, our adventure continues. We are now working with our Non-profit partners and will continue to gain knowledge via our experiences. These experiences may lead to employment opportunities for some. Others will journey down yet another path looking for their next adventure.

In any case, we may not be seeing one another as often. However, we recognize the bond that we have created between each of us. We have become an LA Fellows Family (our acronym is LAFF). The importance of this family is that like any family, we know that when one or more of us is in need we can call upon the others and they will be there for support.

In closing I ask each Fellow to think about what this program has meant to them. For me I realize that I have learned many things, however, the #1 item that I walk away with is a new found confidence. This experience allowed me to re-acquaint myself with my strengths and also to recognize the manner in which I should present myself. That realization provided me with the confidence to move forward and be successful. As we were taught......We were successful before, we will be successful again. If that success does not arrive on our first attempt - SO WHAT! Keep moving forward - there is an opportunity awaiting each of us.

Finally, I thank you so very much for this opportunity. I am a better person because of this experience and the program has positively changed my life. I am PROUD TO BE......AN LA FELLOW

Christine presented "Proud to be...an LA Fellow" tshirts to all of the LA Fellows and staff.

Kimberly James Graduation Speech

Good Afternoon everyone! I am Kimberly James and I am honored to have been chosen to be your graduation speaker.

LA Fellows, look around at the staff, partners, instructors, fellow Fellows and think about all that we’ve learned in the past seven weeks. We have all come a long way in our job search.

I’d like to tell you a story. As most of you know, I take the train from downtown out to LAVC four times a week. And for anyone who knows the Red Line, there are some pretty crazy things that happen. Earlier this week while I was riding the train to class, a fight broke out – a physical one with a lot of yelling. Then a woman yells out, “Hey! HEYY!!” “Do not become a permanent victim from a temporary situation.” And everyone fell silent with these words.

I believe that these are very powerful words - “Do not become a permanent victim from a temporary situation.” These words are important for us as LA Fellows. We may not be fighting on a train, but we have found ourselves in a very difficult situation. We need to remember to not fall victim to our current situation.

I want to thank our instructors for sharing their wisdom with me. You have each empowered me to become stronger and to take a proactive role in my job search.


• I now know who I am, what my values are, and, in the words of one of our instructors, what my business would be.

• I have also had great guidance to put together a solid marketing plan – giving me a direction for my job search

• I’ve learned what it means to position myself. To always think of where I’m going, and not just where I’ve been especially when it comes to marketing myself on a resume.

• I’ve been pushed to set future goals, not just for the next week or month – but even 10 years out. I’m encouraged to keep moving forward.

• And most importantly, I’ve been reminded that a good attitude will take me where I need to go. And of course, who could forget – You deserve what you accept.


I call on all of my LA Fellows – as we move on to our next steps – Please do not forget what you have learned, what has motivated you, and how far you have come.

Once again, “Do not become a permanent victim from a temporary situation.” But keep taking steps to move forward toward your goals.

We’re not done yet – we still have work to do!

On behalf of the LA Fellows, I would like to thank the Job Training Team and partners for creating and implementing this program.

Also, thank you to all of our trainers who have shared their wisdom with us – and for kicking us into shape.

Nonprofit organizations – thank you for taking us in and providing us with great internship opportunities.

And finally, I personally would like to thank each and every Fellow here in this room. I have truly learned a lot from each and every one of you and would like to thank you for your openness to share your experiences and your expertise with me each day.

So thank you! And congratulations to the first class of the LA Fellows Program!

Click here to watch Kimberly James Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JNSqeHhkq4

Congratulations LA Fellows Cohort 1!!!!

Congratulations to the first LA Fellows class for completing their 140 hours of classroom training.

We had a really fun graduation ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments!

We are so proud of the LA Fellows!!!

Job Seekers Graduate from Inaugural LA Fellows Class

JOB SEEKERS GRADUATE FROM INAUGURAL LA FELLOWS CLASS
Thirty LA Fellows graduate from unique training and volunteer program




Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Valley College’s Job Training department will celebrate the graduation of the inaugural class of the LA Fellows program. Thirty participants are graduating from the program, including four individuals who have already been offered full-time employment positions. The graduation ceremony will take place at Los Angeles Valley College at 5800 Fulton Avenue in Van Nuys on Friday, November 12, at 1 p.m. in the college’ s Fireside Room in the Campus Center Building.



“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the LA Fellows program because I can say that it was this program that has reenergized me, and motivated me to believe in continuing to pursue the career that I really wanted,” said Patrice Alvey. “It gave me the right career coaching, which strengthened my belief that I could achieve my career goals of transitioning from advertising and publishing to healthcare.” Alvey will begin her new position as Utilization Management Coordinator II at Health Net, Inc. later this month.



The LA Fellows program provides unemployed individuals with skills training and volunteer opportunities while they seek full-time positions. The first class of LA Fellows was selected through an application and interview process. They received seven weeks of training at Los Angeles Valley College covering executive-level topics including critical thinking, navigating the hidden job market, and grant writing. In return, participants volunteer their time and talents by sharing their professional expertise through project-based roles at local nonprofits.



Alvey is currently volunteering with The Music Unlocks Success In Children (M.U.S.I.C.) Foundation. Other LA Fellows are volunteering for organizations including Valley Village, Tree People, and Meeting Each Need with Dignity (MEND).



“Valley Village is thrilled to be participants in the LA Fellows program,” Jenny Daniels Freese, Director, Development and Marketing, Valley Village. “Our Fellow is amazing and while she is learning from us, we are learning from her as well. The Fellows program is a wonderful training program for displaced workers and we are happy to be a part of the training experience.”




Los Angeles Valley College Job Training created the LA Fellows Program in partnership with Valley Industry & Commerce Association, City of Los Angeles Community Development Department, The Valley Economic Alliance, Employment Development Department, Los Angeles Valley College Foundation, Los Angeles Community College District, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. The fellowship was made possible through funding from the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department through the City of Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board.



As a result of this pilot LA Fellows program, 120 unemployed individuals will each receive 140 hours of training and will volunteer 100 hours. Throughout the program, LA Fellows participants acquire new skill sets, encounter countless opportunities to network with professionals, and project a marketable career candidate impression while presenting a community-focused image. In addition, participating nonprofits will gain a highly skilled volunteer to assist with a project at their organization.



“This is a much needed bridge to help our local job seekers,” notes Fran Inman, immediate past chair of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. “Los Angeles Valley College, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and their partners are finding creative and resourceful ways of supporting the essential work of our nonprofits. These job seekers will not only gain marketable career skills but will help these organizations with the important work they do for our community.”



Job seekers and nonprofits are encouraged to visit www.lafellows.org for more information.

Breath of Fresh Air

LA Fellows instructor, Michael Tompkins, asked the LA Fellows what they'd gained from the program and recorded their responses on the board. The LA Fellows shared that the program had been a "breath of fresh air," "invaluable," and "fun."

Positive Attitudes and Understanding Others

 Instructor, Jim McJunkin, encouraged the LA Fellows to always have a positive attitude in the training session, "Your Secret Weapon: Attitude"

Later Jim helped the LA Fellows get to know themselves better and learn how to understand others in the training session, "Understanding Yourself and Others: Masks"

Congratulations Patrice!

Congratulations Patrice on securing full time employment!!!

Patrice is a marketing professional who decided to make a career change into the healthcare field. She researched and targeted a company she wanted to work for and strategically pursued a position at the company. Her position will begin in mid November so she will continue attending the LA Fellows training up until her start date!

The LA Fellows cheered for Patrice when she shared her exciting news

 

Patrice will continue attending LA Fellows training up until her position begins

LA Fellow: Genine Chambers

Hello! My name is Genine Chambers and I have the honor of being in the esteemed first cohort of LA Fellows. I originally learned about LA Fellows after attending a Job Fair. I decided to apply because I recognized the unique opportunity that was being made available to the group. The opportunity to gain invaluable professional development training for free, try out some job skills in a very appreciative non-profit environment, and to network with other professionals both in LA Fellows and in the non-profit.

The application process included going to an orientation meeting, filling out an application, being selected for an interview, and then being offered a place in the first cohort. The training has made it all worthwhile. We have been exposed to skills like Emotional Intelligence, Leadership skills, Conflict Resolution, and Advanced Computer skills. The Fellows themselves are a tremendous group of highly skilled and professional individuals. It is an honor to say that I am one of them.

Thank you all for a tremendous opportunity.

Genine

Upgrading Computer Skills

Many LA Fellows took advantage of the optional computer class which covered Word Macros, Web Pages, and Hyperlinks.

Congratulations Mark and Orestes!

Congratulations to the first two LA Fellows to land full time positions, Mark Maltun and Orestes Cardero! After accepting the position Mark started work right away and was unable to share his good news in person. Orestes had a few days before his job started so he was able to announce his exciting news.

 Orestes shares his good news with the LA Fellows

Orestes thanks the LA Fellows for their support and encouragement

Welcome LA Fellows Cohort 1!

Congratulations to the first cohort of LA Fellows! The first two weeks of training have been a great success. We've covered topics including: Team Building, Career Exploration: Finding Your Focus, Introduction to Nonprofit Work, Grant Writing 101, The Psychology of Interviewing, Networking, Job Search Best Practices, Resumes and Cover Letters, and many more. We also held an optional computer class that many of the LA Fellows took advantage of that covered Transitioning to 2007, Intro to Word, and Mail Merge .

The first cohort has truly become a team sharing ideas, helping, and supporting each other. This week the LA Fellows are in the process of connecting with nonprofit organizations to start the volunteer portion of the fellowship.

If you are interested in being a part of our next LA Fellows cohort, check http://www.lafellows.org/ to find out when the next orientations will be held.

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who applied to be an LA Fellow.Those selected for the first cohort will be notified this week.

LA Fellows orientation

The first two orientations for LA Fellows have been a great success. Thank you to all of you who have attended. If you are interested in learning more about the LA Fellows program, it's not too late! We are holding two more orientation sessions. All the details are available at http://www.lafellows.org/apply.html . We hope to see you there!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
2:30pm
Cafeteria Conference Room



Friday, September 10, 2010
2:00pm
Cafeteria Conference Room

First LA Fellows Orientation

We are so excited about the first LA Fellows Orientation which is today at 2:00pm. We hope you can make it!

When:

Monday, August 23, 2010
2:00pm

Where:
Los Angeles Valley College
5800 Fulton Avenue
Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096
Faculty Lounge (located near the cafeteria)

Parking:
You may park in Lot B which is located at the corner of Oxnard Street and Fulton Avenue. Parking tickets will not be issued during the orientation meeting.

Orientation:
At the orientation, you will meet Los Angeles Valley College Job Training’s staff, learn more about the LA Fellows program and application process, and get your questions answered. Dress for orientation is corporate casual.

Application:
The LA Fellows application is available online at www.lafellows.org . You are encouraged to fill it out prior to attending the orientation, but it is not required to attend.

What:
The LA Fellows program will provide unemployed individuals with skills training and volunteer opportunities while they seek full-time positions.

LA Fellows participants will be selected through an application and interview process. They will receive seven weeks of training at Los Angeles Valley College covering executive level topics including critical thinking, advanced computer skills, and how to generate effective business leads. In return, participants will volunteer their time and talents by sharing their professional expertise through project based roles at local nonprofits.

The LA Fellows participants will acquire new skill sets, encounter countless opportunities to network with professionals, and project a marketable career candidate impression while presenting a community-focused image.

Spread the word:
If you know other job seekers who might be interested in the program, please encourage them to attend.

Los Angeles Valley College Job Training Launches LA Fellows Program

Job seekers are encouraged to apply for this unique training and volunteer program

Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Valley College Job Training is searching for unemployed men and women for the inaugural class of the LA Fellows program. The program will provide 120 unemployed individuals with skills training and volunteer opportunities while they seek full-time positions.

Interested individuals are invited to attend one of the following informational meetings Los Angeles Valley College at 5800 Fulton Avenue in Van Nuys:

- Monday, August 23 at 2 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge

- Monday, August 30 at 2 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge

- Wednesday, September 1 at 2:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria Conference Room

- Friday, September 10 at 2 p.m. in Cafeteria Conference Room


“Valley College is very excited to be working with local industry partners to launch the LA Fellows program,” said Dr. A. Susan Carleo, president of Los Angeles Valley College. “This unique training program will provide job seekers with a combination of professional development and volunteerism to serve as a meaningful pathway to employment.”

LA Fellows participants will be selected through an application and interview process. They will receive seven weeks of training at Los Angeles Valley College covering executive-level topics including critical thinking, advanced computer skills, and how to generate effective business leads. In return, participants will volunteer their time and talents by sharing their professional expertise through project-based roles at local nonprofits.

As a result of this pilot LA Fellows program, 120 unemployed individuals will each receive 140 hours of training and will volunteer 100 hours. The LA Fellows participants will acquire new skill sets, encounter countless opportunities to network with professionals, and project a marketable career candidate impression while presenting a community-focused image. In addition, participating nonprofits will gain a highly skilled volunteer to assist with a project at their organization.

Los Angeles Valley College Job Training created the LA Fellows Program in partnership with Valley Industry & Commerce Association, City of Los Angeles Community Development Department, The Valley Economic Alliance, Employment Development Department, Los Angeles Valley College Foundation, Los Angeles Community College District, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. The fellowship was made possible through funding from the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department through the City of Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board.

“This is a much needed bridge to help our local job seekers,” notes Fran Inman, immediate past chair of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. “Los Angeles Valley College, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and their partners are finding creative and resourceful ways of supporting the essential work of our nonprofits. These job seekers will not only gain marketable career skills but will help these organizations with the important work they do for our community.”

Applications for the LA Fellows Program will be accepted until Friday, September 10. The program will start on September 27.

Job seekers and nonprofits are encouraged to visit www.lafellows.org for more information.

LA Fellows announce the orientation dates

LA Fellows orientation meetings will take place:

Monday, August 23, 2010
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Faculty Lounge (located near the cafeteria)

Monday, August 30, 2010
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Faculty Lounge (located near the cafeteria)

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
2:30 – 4:30pm
Cafeteria Conference Room

Friday, September 10, 2010
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Cafeteria Conference Room

All orientation meetings will be held at Los Angeles Valley College at 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096. You may park in Lot B (map available http://www.lafellows.org/apply.html ) located at the corner of Oxnard Street and Fulton Avenue. Parking tickets will not be issued during the orientation meeting. You only need to attend one orientation and are encouraged to attend the earlier dates if possible.

Welcome

Welcome to the LA Fellows blog. Check back often for updates on the program.