"We are LA Fellows Because We Act on our Dreams."

On Friday, March 13th, the LA Fellows program celebrated the graduation of its 11th Cohort (class) of job-seeking professionals. Two individuals from the class represented their Cohort by speaking in the ceremony. The first speaker was Fred Johnson, who agreed to let us post a transcript of his heartfelt and inspiring speech: 

To Los Angeles Valley College President, Job Training Staff and Advisory Board, Mr. Lennie Ciufo, our awesome and dynamic job training leaders - Allison and Mary, to the WorkSource Centers who have generously funded the LA Fellows program, particularly Anthony Rodriguez and Candis Noel with the West Hollywood WorkSource Center who believed enough in me to fund my position within the LA Fellows, and to our nonprofit partners who have given us opportunities to volunteer within your organizations to regain our confidence, pride, and  job skills, and to our families and friends whose support have played an instrumental part in us being here - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

I am Fred Jackson and I am proud to be a Cohort 11 LA Fellow and honored to speak on behalf of my Cohort.

 

On January 2^nd, a diverse, motley crew of individuals came together to listen to Allison and Mary give us an orientation on the transformative journey that we were getting ready to embark upon. Little did we know what we had signed up for…

 

In our own different ways, we were all scarred, frustrated and depressed with the internet suck of job searching and sending our resumes into corporate electronic black holes and then being further pulled down by the repeated defeat and rejection of not being fully productive and gainfully employed.  So each of us decided to commit to the LA Fellows Program, challenging us to focus our job search efforts and to move beyond our comfort zones, shedding layers of negativity.

 

Over the next nine weeks, we learned from our incredible and dedicated program instructors – Andrea, Doug, Keri, Kim, Jim, Larry, Lynnette, Roberto and Sam how to assess the psychological and practical aspects of our career transition. We learned to develop an action plan and how to tackle opportunities with structured and focused approaches detailing our strengths, areas of expertise, interests, and values to uncover the hidden job market.

 

We studied how to rethink our thinking and change our brains, how to control our fears with emotional intelligence, and how to improve our resumes with SOAR stories - highlighting our expertise, the problems we have solved, and outlining our transferrable skills.

 

“Can you walk me through your resume?” or, “Can you tell me about yourself?” were the painful interview questions we learned how to tackle along with developing an elevator speech that will captivate an audiences within 90 seconds or less.

 

We were taught to have a personal brand always and consistently showcasing our unique qualities and being able to back it up with proof statements and in a changing world, we learned how to embrace change when someone moves our cheese.

 

We also studied the growing world of nonprofits involved in everything from health care, education, the arts and culture, and so much more! Through our volunteering at nonprofits, not only are we being re-engaged back into the working world, but we are making a difference and impacting the lives of burned children, developing parks and open space in economically disadvantaged communities, helping sick kids fight their illness, and much more at the various nonprofits where my cohorts are volunteering.

 

While improving our job search strategies and interviewing skills, we learned so much more about one another: who were the direct, task oriented Eagles, the wise, systematic Owls, the spirited Roadrunners, or the considerate Doves.

 

I could continue for nine more weeks talking about all we learned in the LA Fellows Program, However, today is the graduation for Cohort 11, so to Cohort and friends ….

 

Alan: I’ve witnessed you wrestle with your employment gap and I know that you will return to the Healthcare Industry as the trainer and leader that you are.

Brian: You’re Dr. Scientist and nothing can stop you because you are the “Master of your fate and the Captain of your soul.”

Justin: You are the teacher/leader that any employer would want and the Foundation for Pierce College is lucky to have you as a volunteer.

Gus: Move out of your way, trust and embrace your gifts. That is the only thing stopping you. You are a brilliant and creative writer

Diane W: Cleveland is in the house! Your background maybe varied, but your skills and ability to connect with people are solid.

Ruth: You don’t know this, but you share the name and characteristics of my beloved and departed Mother. You are smart, caring, passionate, creative, and talented! And the job you seek is just a few connections away.

Jen: You’re focused, funny and know what you want. Get ready grant writing world, Jen is coming and she is serious.

Ava: Ms. Diet Coke, you have the knowledge, connections and leadership skills that will see you involved in policy work real soon.

Parvene:  You have co-owned and lead an award winning marketing firm for years. Winning is second nature to you and you will make a successful career transition.

Carol: You were the first Cohort that I met.  You are incredibly smart and moved to LA to be close to your children. It was only a matter of time before you were discovered in LA and now you are employed.

Denise:  You have walked with kings but kept the common touch as an airline executive. You have the emotional intelligence we all want in a leader.

Frank: You were taught to always do things right the first time. You got it right and now you’re employed as a Vice President of a bank.

Barbara: Once you land a teaching job with a Community College, let me know because I want to take any class you teach! You’re an empathetic instructor willing to go the extra mile to help your students achieve their “aha” moments.

Dianne M: Tenacious D, our Eagle, there is no denying you are a New Yorker and a natural leader and the executive position you deserve is looking for you.

Haisela:  Our prayers are with you. You walk quietly but carry a big stick! Teaching is in your blood.

Richard: You’re young, smart and gifted. The world is yours, go and conquer it!

Alex: My fellow Dove, you are smart, considerate, passionate, and creative. Don’t second guess yourself because the creative job you seek is just around the corner.

Bismark: You are smart, understanding, and a motivational leader and manager that I want running my team because you won’t let the ship sink.  

Erica: The once quiet, shy girl has said left the building. You have made tremendous strides and Shonda Rhimes better snatch you up while she can afford you. You will be an extraordinary writer, just believe in yourself!

Peter: You’re a smart, gifted and talented attorney. “Fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of a distance run.”

Paul: Don’t worry about the crutches, pun intended, they get in the way of employers seeing you stand with your skills, experiences, and background leading teams and managing a portfolio of buildings.

Nancy: Our Oklahoma Attorney who has the fortitude and will to “Hold on” and will soon be employed again.

Thor: Our Thunder God of Wealth! With the name Thor Gold, you are destined for greatness and you are the “Bright Shiny Penny” of our Cohort.

Valerie: You’re the powerful superhero that became employed first among our Cohort. You showed us how having drive, dedication, and a zeal for learning pays off.  

Bill: You struggled mightily with change, but ultimately you did it and are now employed.

Mark: You are confident, methodical, driven and employed! You are being all that you can be and thank you for serving our Country!

And last but not least,

Regina:  You’re thoughtful and resourceful with so many talents. Continue being who you are, because you’re fantastic and the job you desire will soon be yours!

 

In closing, no one can go back and make a brand new start, but everyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. We came to LA Fellows with our individual issues and baggage, but we are leaving and graduating uplifted, confident, prepared, and optimistic about our future.

We are LA Fellows because we are armed with tactics, higher self-esteem, and we have each other. We are LA Fellows because we plan and believe in ourselves. We are LA Fellows because we act on our dreams. We are LA Fellows because we will be employed and accomplish great things!

And, I thank you.

Fred Jackson is a Real Estate Development and Asset Management professional. He is currently volunteering with the Trust for Public Land, completing a 100 hour project to develop an opportunities report and working in park/open space development.

10,000 Hours of Practice, or 600,000 Minutes of Saying "I Can Do This."

At the recent graduation of LA Fellows Cohort 10, two speakers were chosen by their classmates to represent the group at the podium. One of those speakers was Sara Lamog, whose last position was in the Peace Corps, and who aspires to serve humanitarian causes on a global level. Here are the words of inspiration she shared with the audience who assembled to celebrate the day: 

Good morning, everyone -- Mr. Lennie Ciufo, our dynamic coach and Job Training Director; Allison and Mary, our dedicated program leaders. Good morning Marcos, Doni and Barbara, our representatives from the Canoga Park WorkSource Center who so generously made funding for this program possible.

Good morning to all of our immensely giving instructors -- I know you must be happy to see us all in our seats on time! Hello to all of our families and friends, whose support and strength have played a big part in us being here today.

And finally, good morning to my dear colleagues and friends in LA Fellows Cohort 10. My, how far we’ve come.

It’s been said before that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in something. 10,000 hours. That’s almost 60 weeks of non-stop determination and continued momentum. That’s 416 days of constant effort and learning. That’s 600,000 minutes of saying “I can do this” and truly believing you can.

Those may sound like some daunting statistics, but not to us LA Fellows in Cohort 10. Why? Because we’re already more than half-way there. As a cohort made up of 32 tenacious individuals, we’ve collectively blazed through 8,960 hours of training. That number includes 19 all-day classroom training sessions, 5 weeks of optional computer classes, and about a dozen days dedicated to personalized job search, networking and nonprofit exploration. That leaves a little more than 1,000 hours left to become an expert LA Fellow. And if you split that between 32 of us and add in each of our 100 volunteer hours at a local nonproft -- that’s a done deal.

Then again, for as close as we all are, why stop at that 10,000th hour? Although today may mark our graduation, who says we need to stop our own training and practice for becoming a full-fledged LA Fellow expert? I say, we keep marching -- but more on that in a little bit. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see how it all started.

...

On July 28th, Cohort 10 began its journey of chipping away at those 10,000 hours. It was in a room in the Engineering Building of this very campus we all sat, not knowing each other’s names and each of us curiously wondering where the people sitting around us had come from. What brought us here? What jobs had left us behind, or rather, what jobs had we left behind? Where did we come from?

At the time, the one thing that tied us all together was our commitment to the LA Fellows program. Nine weeks of rigorous, paradigm-shifting training that lay ahead of us--challenging us to put our best foot forward in our renewed job search efforts, step out of both our pasts, as well as our comfort zones, and onward onto that next step of progress and advancement.

And for nine weeks, that’s exactly what we’ve done, Cohort 10! We learned how to meet opportunities with sharp, narrow, focused approaches guided by our strong values, interests, and areas of expertise. We learned how to adapt and embrace change when someone moves our cheese. And in the event we have to confront a fight or flight-inducing situation, we learned how to control our fears with the emotional intelligence of a Navy Seal. Even better, as we learned how to tackle the dreaded interview questions like, “Can you walk me through your resume?” or my favorite, “Can you tell me about yourself?”, we learned how to captivate our audiences and walk them all the way to the answer (and Canada!) in 90 seconds or less.

All the while, as we perfected our job search strategies, we also had the opportunity to learn so much more about each other. Not only could we never go back to being mere strangers, especially after we all learned each other’s names by Day 2, we learned who among us were the direct Eagles of our group, who our wise, systematic Owls were, who the lovable, spirited Roadrunners were among us, and finally, who the considerate Doves were that we could turn to.

We also learned how to be there for each other, day in and day out. Whether it be in partner or group setting, together we learned how to perfectly craft a bullet-point and add it to our updated resumes. We uncovered who to share insights with about similarly targeted companies. We found out the tricks of the trade to mastering public speaking and we all learned how to become a drum band!

After 9 weeks, the LA Fellows program took us, a group of 32 diverse individuals, and molded us into true fellows, in every sense of the word.

Now, when I looked up the word “fellow” in the dictionary, I was surprised at what the definition is. It defines a fellow as a person in the same position, involved in the same activity, or a member of a group of people who have shared interests. To me, that definition connoted a very casual familiarity, one seemingly more based on happenstance, on chance -- and not so much by a conscious commitment or bond.

It was when I dug deeper and looked at all of the synonyms for “fellow,” that’s where I found words that more realistically conveyed the bond that LA Fellows truly have. Those synonyms are: colleague, friend, comrade, partner. Companion. That’s more like it! Wouldn’t you agree, Cohort 10?

As we sit here today, not only have we gained new insights and tools to the job search, we also leave here emboldened with a strong, lasting, and capable camaraderie. And to think, so much of that had to do with how we all took to heart one of the simplest requests from Allison and Mary on the first day: sit next to someone new every day. And as a result, I think it’s safe to say that our original wondrous curiosity of where we all came from has now become, “Where are we going?”

…

So my dear fellow Fellows, where are we going? More importantly, where are you going and where do you want to go? As today’s graduation may mark the culmination of our formal training, let’s take a moment and look at this ending from another angle.

I propose we see today as another first day of an adventure, just like July 28th was for us 9 weeks ago. Let’s continue to change seats everyday from here on out, only now that we’ve graduated, let’s change those seats metaphorically. Let’s promise to continue putting our best foot forward and stepping out of our comfort zones by challenging ourselves (and each other) to say Yes when we are inclined to say No.

Most of all, let’s continue the precedence--the lifestyle--of an expert LA Fellow, long after we’ve achieved our 10,000th hour. As we part ways today, let’s promise to continue dedicating our time and effort to preparation, opportunity, service, heart, and success. Together, let’s continue to seek out and explore the pathway to meaningfulness when we want to so easily cling to comfort.

Cohort 10, let’s continue marching onward to that next step of personal and professional growth!

Thank you.

 

"LA Fellows Has Been All I’d Hoped For and More"

LA Fellows Cohort 10 chose two of their members to represent them during the graduation ceremonies held Friday, September 19, 2014 at Los Angeles Valley College. The first speaker, Derrick Clemons, is a writer and Marine Corps veteran with a long career in entertainment who is seeking to leverage his writing and interpersonal skills to transition to a job in the human services field. These are the thoughts he shared on the process of going through LA Fellows and how it changed his life:





LA Valley College Job Training staff, LA Fellows advisory board members, Canoga Park Worksource center, our valued nonprofit partners, family and friends. Greetings on behalf of the fellows of the mighty COHORT 10!

My name is Derrick Clemons and I am honored to have been asked to speak to you today. One of things I’ve been asked to speak to you about, is why did I want to become an LA Fellow.

I had become so disenchanted with my job search that to be honest, the only reason I attended the LA Fellows orientation was to be able to say that I have tried everything. After the TV show I was working on moved to Atlanta, I had been out of work for the entire year and my job search had really become very poor. 

I would spend hours on the Internet even though I knew that applying online was a complete waste of time. I employed some of the tactics that had served me well in the TV business like tracking down hiring managers and contacting them directly. This lead to a few call backs from various HR personnel, but strangely, those calls were all to tell me not to call them again. Ever. I also went to the orientation because my mom suggested it to me and I really didn’t want to hear about it later if I didn’t go.

As soon as Allison addressed the orientation and told us that she had made the transition from working in the TV business, because she was looking for something more stable, I knew that I was in the right place. It was at that moment that I went from being skeptical, to feeling determined to be a Fellow. I now viewed LA Fellows as my pathway out of the TV business and into a more stable rewarding career in the nonprofit world. When the orientation ended I immediately went up to Allison and told her my name and suggested that she put a gold star on my resume. I told her how our backgrounds were similar and that I wanted to follow in her footsteps.

I remember there was a lot of nervous energy in our first class, when our instructor Lynnette asked us to take turns describing ourselves to each other. One by one we all took turns saying how we used to be this and we used to be that. Lynnette told us (in a very matter of fact way) that no matter what has happened and no matter how long we have been PRE-EMPLOYED, that we are still professionals in our fields of expertise and that the circumstance doesn’t change that. This kind of instruction and self-esteem building started on day one and has lasted the entire cohort.

 

It is such a wonderful thing to see the broken, discouraged and frustrated people we once were, start to get a piece of ourselves back slowly but surely one class at a time. The instruction that we have been given has proven to be very valuable and we have learned the value of being the “known candidate” and the shiny penny. We want to thank you Lynnette, you have given us so many tools to use moving forward not just for our resumes, job search and interviews, but useful knowledge to be a successful person in everyday life. The LA Fellows program is lucky to have you.

All of our instructors have been amazing.

I really appreciate the wisdom and personal stories Dr. Arora shared with our class.

I didn’t know how to use a strategic marketing plan for a job search before Larry taught us. Larry showed us that the job search requires focus. We need a sharp object and certainly not a blunt instrument.

My thanks to Keri for bringing all of us up to speed on the ever changing world of social media. I’m still not ready to tweet, but at least now I see how it can be a valuable tool. Keri even managed to make me look good in our class photos.

I want to thank Kim for giving us the inside information on what the hiring managers are really concerned with and how to better be prepared. I know now that when asked what have I been doing in my time off not to respond “what in the world do you think I’ve been doing?!! Don’t you know that the economy is bad and jobs are hard to come by?!!"

I think about team building exercises like the drum circle. Thank you Roberto, we came oh so close to being on the same beat.

Andrea Mitchel has been remarkable. Not only has she given us wonderful instruction on grant writing, she has challenged and inspired me to believe that this is a path that I can follow… so much so that she has become a professional reference of mine. To say that I appreciate her would be an understatement.

The real beauty of this experience has truly been getting to know my fellow Fellows. The job search can be a confusing and isolating experience. The last few years of my professional life have been very challenging to say the least. Having worked in a very stressful, cutthroat environment followed by a prolonged period of unemployment had really begun to take a toll on me. The LA Fellows program has restored me and given even more confidence to handle the challenges that lay ahead.

Meeting such a diverse group of people who are talented in such a wide variety of fields lets us all know that the loss of a job is not an indictment of one’s character. Surely if these thoughtful, intelligent, hardworking, decent people can find themselves unemployed then it really can happen to anyone.

I think that this was an important lesson to realize. Over the course of the last few weeks we have gone from individuals, alone in our job search without the necessary tools, to a highly focused, skilled community group supporting one another.

I think about the moments in class where we exchanged ideas, told stories and challenged each other to move beyond our comfort zone. Seeing everyone come out of their shell really brought us closer together.  I think of Sara singing a song for the class and Nancy making everyone wristbands and classmates shedding tears when revealing intimate details of their lives. Most importantly, I see my classmates going to job interviews and nonprofit work with their newfound confidence.

Most things in life are not as advertised, but LA Fellows has been all I’d hoped for and more. I will never forget the great people I’ve met here. I wish the very best to everyone associated with this wonderful program.

May God bless you all. Thank you.

LA Fellows Graduation Speeches Cohort 9, Part III

Our third and final graduation speaker of the Cohort 9 graduation ceremony was Leroy McKinney, a Customer Service professional. Leroy was asked to speak about the final piece of the LA Fellows journey, the training and how it moves the Fellows forward beyond the program. Here are his words:

Good Morning Everyone,

The Dictionary defines volunteerism as the practice of volunteering one’s time or talents for charitable, educational or other worthwhile activities, especially in one’s community.

One of the unique things about the LA Fellows Program is the partnership between career development and volunteerism.

Each Fellow is encouraged to meet with three nonprofit organizations.  The purpose of this process is to find a match between the nonprofit organization and the Fellow.  Once the match has been made, the nonprofit receives a qualified volunteer and the Fellow has an opportunity to use the skills learned in the LA Fellows Program at the nonprofit.

I gathered Fellows’ comments to describe their volunteer experience.  Allow me to share them with you.

“The interview process made me feel more confident each time. “

“I am grateful for the opportunity to do good things. “

“It felt good to know that the nonprofit organization wanted me. “

“My volunteer experience is providing me with new skills that I probably would not have acquired.”

“I feel great volunteering for an organization that helps nonprofits and I'm learning a lot at the same time. “

“I volunteer because I get more than I give and done that since I was in the 6th grade when I first came to the U.S.”

 “Volunteering is like riding a bike with training wheels because it gets you comfortable enough to ride off on your own and get back to work.”

The bike metaphor is a great description of the LA Fellows Program. 

(Bike Pantomime)

When I started the LA Fellows Program, I was a little wobbly riding my bike which I called Job Search.  My tool kit for my bike was adequate.

As the program progressed, I learned that my bike was called Career Development.

As I pedaled my bike, I saw a billboard on the left that said “Emotional Intelligence.”  On the right, I saw “Be the Bright Shiny Penny.” A voice went off in the back of my head saying “Don’t be the Debbie Downer.” I put these concepts in my tool kit.

Up ahead on the left was “The Blunt Instrument Won’t Open the Golden Door.”  “What was that about? Oh yeah. When creating your resume focus on specific and concise entries. Vagueness takes you further away from your goal.” On the right was Informational Interviews.”  I put those in my tool kit.

Next, I saw on the left a billboard that said “Networking” and another that said “Volunteer.”  Then I saw “Got Business Cards?” These were placed in my tool kit as well.

I was at the half-way point of my journey and a warning sign beckoned ahead.  The sign said “Change Ahead: S-Curve 5% downgrade.” “What do you mean S-Curve?  I don’t do S-Curves. I’m the straight guy! Why do I have to do an S-Curve?”

As I began my descent into the S-Curve, I heard voices in my head that said “Take deep breaths. Embrace the change.”  I hear these voices as I continued my ride.

About half-way down the S-curve, I noticed that I hadn’t fallen off my bike called Career Development. I thought to myself that I can do this.

Soon afterwards, I noticed there was unexpected road construction.  There were jack hammers and people everywhere.  “Can you believe this?  This wasn’t on the map!” So I began navigating these obstacles on the fly.

Before reaching the bottom of the S-curve, I saw a billboard for “Maximizing Your Social Media Presence.” I added this to my tool kit and continued on.

When I reached the bottom, a sign said “This Part of the Journey Has Ended.”  I moved my bike to the side.

That is where LA Fellows Cohort 9 is today. There will be obstacles in our path in the future.  But we can take solace that we don’t have to face these obstacles alone. When we need support or another opinion to face these obstacles, we can reach out to the other Cohort 9 Fellows through our Facebook Group and phone/e-mail directories.

We will not be afraid because we have Choices. We can choose to go around the obstacles or jump the obstacles.  We no longer have to crash into obstacles which knocks us off our course and kills our momentum. We can ride our bikes with confidence knowing that the LA Fellows Program has better prepared us for the future.

(End Pantomime)

At this time, I would like to thank those people responsible for the program.  Without them, we wouldn’t be here. 

Lennie, Allison, Mary, Keri, Roberto, Dale, Doug, Lynnette, Larry, Jim, Kim, Andrea, Helen, Kristi, Marcie, our local Worksource Centers, nonprofit organizations, advisory board and special guests; let’s give them a round of applause.

Lastly, could I have the LA Fellows Cohort 9 stand? Cohort 9 is gathered here today as those bright, shiny pennies ready for the next challenge! Thank you and God bless!

LA Fellows Graduation Speeches - Cohort 9, Part II

Cohort 9 selected three members of its ranks to speak at the commencement ceremony held on Friday March 21. Unlike previous cohorts, they coordinated their speeches as a progression of 3 to tell the story of their journey through the LA Fellows experience. These are the words of the second speaker, Phyllis Baginski.

Many, many years ago the tribe was in great danger and the leaders did not know what to do.  So they went to the wise old shaman of the tribe.  But he too, was afraid, for he had no answers for the People’s fear.  He decided therefore, to go on a medicine quest to implore the Great Spirit for guidance.

He went into the wilderness and fell into a trance and when he awoke he had knowledge of a sacred place he must go to and a sacred dance he must dance and a sacred song he must sing.  So he went to the place and he danced the dance and he sang the song, and the people were saved.

Years later the People were once again in great danger.  As before, the leaders came to the shaman for guidance.  And he said, “I do not remember the place but I do remember the dance and the song.”  So he danced the dance and he sang the song, and the people were saved.

After that, the same thing happened, the danger returned and the leaders came once more for help.  The old man said, “ I do not remember the place or the dance but I do remember the song.”  So he sang the song and the people were saved.

Then it was the time of the last of the great shamans.  One final time the people were in danger, and the leaders sought the wise elder’s aid.  His memory was dimmed by his years and he said, “ I do not remember the place, or the dance, or the song, but I do remember the story.”  So he told the story – and the people were saved.

Stories heal.  Stories communicate.  Stories are swirling all around LA Fellows.  Stories were told in the front of the room by the instructors.  We told stories by the seat of our pants from our seats in the classroom.  We told silent stories – not a word being said.

Speaking of words.  There’s the resume. It’s factual, strong, important.  You fire bullets, load it with accomplishments.  You’re armed.

But that’s not all.  Its “Tell me something about yourself.”  On paper and in person.  Like a documentary.  The kind where the filmmaker follows the kid in 1^st grade, then in middle school, college, marriage, kids, divorce.  A living, breathing documentary of you and me.

That’s when you’re ready to take the resume on the road.  We call this “networking”.  Where you tell somebody something about yourself and they tell you about themselves.  You’re LinkedIn.  After a time you have a relationship.  And through that relationship you may get to meet a hiring manager at the “interview”.  Here the stakes are higher.  You must persuade.  Be the one.  Be strong in your weaknesses.  

I watch “The Voice”.  A singing competition show on TV.  Adam Levine, one of the judges, turned to another judge at one point and said, “Please, let this one be the one.”  Be the one. They want you to be good. 

All the while this was going on, in the cracks and crevices of the day-to-day, were the stories we told each other. Caught moments at lunch under the trees or on the way to Parking Lot B.   We started out talking about ourselves as professionals. We talked about our families, our sons and daughters.  Soon we dropped down a little deeper and talked to one another about what we saw in each other.  “I really admire how you’re always willing to get up there.” “You know, I can see you as a CFO.” “You have an analytical mind.”  And so we became willing to be seen and became comfortable being the person on the resume with all the accomplishments.  As we dropped a bit deeper the stories got shorter.  A look, a smile of encouragement or a touch on the arm was all it took.  Deeper still, was the story of the donuts, until we devoured them.

We had musical accompaniment for our story.  We actually got to dance the dance and sing the song to the beat of drums.

Then move on we must, for we never got too comfortable in this program.  We took our story to the non-profits.  And would explore new worlds and new civilizations that Leroy will tell you all about.

And finally, there’s the over-riding story that goes on.  Whirring like an engine.  Sustaining and supporting us all as we made our way through the LA Fellows Program.  It’s the vision and structure of this program that supports a space that people are invited to enter and be transformed.  With deep appreciation to the creators and sustainers of that space.  You danced the dance and sang the song and the people were saved.  

Phyllis is among the first success stories for Cohort 9 beginning a new position with Home Goods the week prior to graduation.

LA Fellows Cohort 9 Graduation Speeches - Part I

Cohort 9 of the LA Fellows was a uniquely creative and diverse group of professionals. When the time came to choose the two speakers who would represent their class at the graduation podium, they chose three instead and decided, unlike any of the previous groups, to collaborate on one three-part speech.

Ruscha Robbins, an author and soon to be grant writer who came to us from the real estate industry, was the first speaker. Her segment of the speech was about the phase of life before LA Fellows, "those dark bleak days where you think you are alone in unemployment, to the magnificent day when you finally hear ‘we want you’ that leads to that first day in class, and the beginning of something new and wonderful."

Cohort 8 Graduation - Katie Mills

On Friday August 30, 2013, Cohort 8 of the LA Fellows program celebrated their graduation. One of their chosen speakers was Katie Mills. Here are the words of reflection she shared to celebrate their LA Fellows experience:

 

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, WE ARE COHORT 8.

Was I shouting? Was I yelling? I hope so, because our teacher Larry taught us to start our public speaking by yelling like crazy people – he thinks this conveys confidence. I’m not sure that was loud enough, so can I ask my cohort to stand up and help show Larry and our guests today that we have learned to greet people?

(Everyone in Cohort 8 yells together):

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, WE ARE COHORT 8.

Thank you  – This teamwork is just a small demonstration of the camaraderie that we have built over the past eight weeks in LA Fellows, and we’ve done so by watching each other go through embarrassing activities that took us out of our comfort zone.

In early July, we came in here as 22 isolated job seekers and have become over these past seven weeks a transformed community dedicated to supporting one another in becoming the bright shiny pennies that our teacher Lynnette coached us to be.

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow, we’ve been on a transformational journey, and today we’re celebrating because we HAVE found our courage, our hearts, and our brains through LA Fellows. We’ve melted the scary Wicked Witch, we’ve pulled back the curtain on the all-powerful Oz, and we’re here today to mark this amazing journey from downbeaten job seekers to eager and excited interns who are ready to land a rewarding job. Thanks to LA Fellows, we have learned to have a vision today rather than merely a survival plan.

Like the travelers on the Yellow Brick Road, we in Cohort 8 have bonded because we’ve survived so many challenges together. Standing in front of your peers and yelling “good morning” might not seem so scary to you in the audience, but it was intimidating to actually sit and watch while each one of us stood in front of the class like little mice yelling in squeaky voices and doing it over and over and over again until we sounded like big, brave lions. Ditto for leading the beat in the amazing and wonderful afternoon of the drum circle with Roberto. I won’t even mention how Jim tied us up with rope on the very first morning of class, or how Lynnette forced us to be confident and proud of ourselves.

I want to credit Lennie Ciufo, Allison Silver, Mary Turner, and Keri Luna for providing a fantastic, well-planned curriculum that took us at a good pace on a journey of reflection, action, and intentionality. They also recruited truly wonderful teachers, and I speak for all of us when I say thanks to Jim Marteney, Lynnette Ward, Larry Braman, Andrea Mitchel, Kim Eberhardt, Roberto Gutierrez, Tony Jaramillo, Doug Card, and Allison Silver.

Some of our most important bonding experiences were not on the curriculum. For me, our cohesion began early, in our second week of classes, when one of us had a medical emergency. Seeing one of us down while the EMTs rushed in – that symbolized our vulnerability:

·         first of all, as humans, w/ the mere fact of mortality,

·         but also as unemployed adults living on budgets, no one sure if the other even had medical insurance or someone at home to take care of us.

We recognized then that we were all in this together, that we had already become comrades on a team, no longer isolated individuals. (And, I’m happy to report that our friend bounced back immediately.)

Seeing people step up and take responsibility for someone in need is empowering, and it set the tone for the rest of our time together. Allison, Mary, and all our teachers had always embodied an ethos of support, caring and respect. When we collectively embraced this during that second week of classes, it snowballed, expanding exponentially as we all authentically began enjoying, appreciating, and looking out for each other.

The sweet moments were when Danny made us all Filipino deep fried bananas, when Mark brought the pie made by his mother, Mrs. Barbara Washington, when Daryl brought the flowers and Dawn brought the strawberry cake for Allison’s birthday.

I’d like to thank LA Valley College, the Job Training Department and the LA Fellows Advisory Board for supporting a program whose positive impact radiates out into our society as a positive response to the economic challenges that characterize the past five years. Globalization and technology have altered job stability, and weakening wage power makes more and more workers vulnerable in our tough economic times.   

I want to note that today’s graduation takes place just before the Labor Day holiday and two days after the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, which was also called the March for Jobs & Freedom, fighting for economic justice alongside civil rights.  There is an intimate link between employment and our nation’s political wellbeing, and the contribution being made by LA Fellows is significant and deserves recognition.

I want to thank our families and friends who have supported us through these eight weeks – I’m especially grateful to my husband for taking on more than half of the cooking, grocery shopping, and dog-walking responsibilities, and for his support of the goals I set during LA Fellows.

Let’s have a round of applause for our supporters.

We’re happy to have our supervisors here from our nonprofit organizations. Our internships allow us to use our skills, even those that have been buried under pragmatism and responsibilities, and to give back to society some of the caring and generosity we have been so privileged to enjoy in LA Fellows.

Cohort 8 greeted you in one voice at the beginning of my talk, and yet there will be 22 different endings to our story as we leave our program and move on. We are graduating into the important role of LA Fellow alumni, serving as ambassadors in our nonprofits and – soon -- in new jobs of the transformative work being done here at LA Valley College by Lennie and his team.

So Cohort 8, let’s click our ruby slippers and remember:

There’s no place like LA Fellows, there’s no place like LA Fellows, there’s no place like LA Fellows, and for that, we thank you all for supporting us as we journey forth.