The Power of a Cohort

Another powerful component of the LA Fellows program is the cohort experience. Each of our classes, which we call cohorts, is chosen for a variety of factors including commitment to finding employment, willingness to get out of their comfort zone and try new things, attitude and an ability to work in a team environment.  The program is designed to not only give strategic and temporal structure to the job hunt but to also create a supportive diverse social structure to provide encouragement, accountability and inspiration far beyond the instructional portion of the program.

Members of LA Fellows Cohort 8 at a recent breakfast meeting at Corky's Restaurant in Sherman Oaks.

 

Cohort 8 is a shining example of how that works. They graduated in August of 2013 but despite new jobs and all the activity and responsibilities of day-to-day life, they keep in touch via email and phone and periodic get-togethers. They organized the first LA Fellows all-cohort mixer last Fall (http://lafellows.blogspot.com/2013/12/first-la-fellows-reunion-mixer.html) with great success. They pass on job leads and help each other with freelance projects, they touch base with where they are in life and in the career arcs that they are pursuing.

 

They took to heart an important part of what LA Fellows teaches: job search does not end when you sign on the dotted line and start you first day at a new job. The world has changed and jobs rarely last for decades any more. It's important to be ready for the next job when you need it, and an important part of that is the people in your network, the people who will support you in your journey.

 

LA Fellows will soon be looking for a new group of job seekers who are ready to change the way they see and prepare for the future and we hope that we will find a dedicated group like those in Cohort 8. You can find more information about LA Fellows, including how to apply, at www.lafellows.org.

 



The Nonprofit Service Piece of LA Fellows

A big component of LA Fellows that sets it apart from other programs that help job seekers transition back into the world of employment is the 100 hours of service each Fellow contributes to a nonprofit organization of their choice. The program includes instruction on the nonprofit sector, optional grant writing classes, and conversation about how to make strategic choices on how and where to donate time in order to complement the goals of the job search.

 Adding volunteer work to the job search helps participants in several ways.

Let's face it: unemployment in 2014 can be a discouraging journey. Hiring managers, mindful of the cost of hiring the wrong person, often take longer to make decisions, taking candidates through rounds of interviews over months before settling on the one they want. Many employers, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of resumes submitted, don't get back with applicants to let them know when they've received their application or gone with another candidate, even after interviewing. As the days and weeks and months go by it can be easy for a job hunter to start to question why they haven't gotten hired, and slip into depression. It can be hard to keep up morale but getting accepted as a volunteer by a nonprofit can definitely be the encouragement they need.



Upper right photo, L to R: Cohort 9 LA Fellows Victoria Kordysh, May Wang, Wil Walker and Phyllis Baginski contributed their time to Operation Gratitude, which provides much needed care packages to the men and women who serve our country's armed forces.



Meaningful volunteerism, using the skills that are exercised on a professional level every day to make a substantive contribution to the goals of the organization, can be a huge confidence boost, reminding the job seeker why they were so successful in their career in the past and that they still have those skills to contribute.

Working with an organization that the job seeker feels a connection to in some way and being able to further their mission can also be a source of pride and something that they can speak about in interviews with authority and enthusiasm as recent experience.



Terry Scott-Mitchell (center), LA Fellow from Cohort 9, with other volunteers
 working the information table for the Center for Nonprofit Management

Volunteering is great for networking as well. You meet a cross-section of people you might never otherwise come in contact with, and many times have the opportunity to talk and learn about each other as you work. It's not surprising that people who donate their time to nonprofit organizations tend to be involved, generous and caring individuals. These are the kinds of people that prove to be valuable assets to any network.

Finally, nonprofit organizations benefit from the experience

and skills developed by professionals

Terry Scott-Mitchell and Leroy McKinney,
LA Fellows from Cohort 9 who
volunteered at
the Center for Nonprofit Management

who have worked in the for-profit sector. As long as they are open to learning and respectful of the culture, job seekers may find that a career change to the nonprofit sector is a win-win situation, and a volunteer position can showcase their value and the kind of contribution they can make in this industry.

LA Fellows from Cohorts 1-9 have served a wealth of organizations across the Los Angeles area, many well beyond their time in the program. It's an important part of what makes the LA Fellows experience a valuable platform for helping job seekers move forward in their careers.

Training Opportunity

Not everyone who's unemployed can wait for the next session of LA Fellows to start. 

If you're unemployed in the Los Angeles area looking for that next step and training is the route, step aboard the next orientation for the Metro Bus Operator program. It's another program - free for participants! - run by LAVC Job Training and it has a very high placement rate for those who complete the course successfully.

Career Fair & Health Expo at Los Angeles Valley College

Los Angeles Valley College, home of the LA Fellows program, is hosting a Career Fair and Health Expo on April 17th in conjunction with the Valley Economic Alliance. This event is a great opportunity for job seekers to network and meet employers with a wide range of career positions and is open to all. Additionally there will be free health screenings and activities:

As has been our tradition in years past, LA Fellows will be on hand to assist exhibitors and guests. Look for them - they'll be the "bright shiny pennies" who are smiling, being helpful, and wearing the nifty lapel pin with our logo. (Sorry, those pins are not for sale - you have to earn them!) If you're considering joining our next cohort in July, take the time to meet them and learn about their experience first-hand.

Also, if you're doubting the value of job fairs and need some inspiration, read our previous post from LA Fellow Ara Easley, who got her position after attending this event a few years ago:  http://lafellows.blogspot.com/2011/09/ara-easley-shares-how-her-la-fellows.html  You never know which networking connection can lead to that next step in your career, so take a page from the LA Fellows philosophy and "Say Yes" to this opportunity!

Additional Photos from Cohort 9 Graduation

Lennie Ciufo, Director of Job Training at Los Angles Valley College addresses the room
at the LA Fellows Cohort 9 graduation ceremony March 21, 2014.

Sydney Kamlager, District Manager for
Senator Holly J. Mitchell, presents certificates
provided by the senator's office and expresses
her support for the program. 

 





Wilbur Walker receives his certificate from
LAVC President Alma Johnson-Hawkins

Class speaker Leroy McKinney works his
way through the receiving line 

Lennie Ciufo congratulates Cohort 9 graduate Terry Scott-Mitchell

 

Nan Karin expresses her thanks
to instructor Larry Braman




Lorraine Barton and Tina Mahdavian pose for a post-graduation photo

Cohort 9 LA Fellows CJ de Dios and Phyllis Baginski

LA Fellows Dulce Kelley and JJ Rodriguez enjoy the graduation festivities.



Lauren Yokomizo, Victoria Kordysh, Ruscha Robbins, Maysa Kafadarian
and Joyce Burrell Garcia of LA Fellows Cohort 9.

Distinguished Guests at Cohort 9 Graduation

In addition to our class speakers, there were a host of distinguished guests present at the LA Fellows graduation ceremony for Cohort 9. They expressed overwhelming support and confidence in the power of this program to assist mid-career professionals in gaining skills and moving back into re-employment faster. Joining us that day were:

Glyn Milburn, representing the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for the Office of Economic Development



Aura Garcia, Mayor Garcetti's East San Fernando Valley Area Representative

Lennie Ciufo, Director, LAVC Job Training

LAVC President Alma Johnson-Hawkins

Sue Carleo, Founding member of LA Fellows Program and
former President of Los Angeles Valley College 

 

President Johnson-Hawkins with Sydney Kamlager, who attended representing the office of Senator Holly J. Mitchell.

Senator Holly Mitchell sent certificates of recognition for each of the Fellows to commemorate the day.  The Fellows were also presented with certificates of achievement provided by Councilperson Paul Krekorian, who represents the 2nd District.

 

Several of our instructors took to the podium with advice and words of wisdom to inspire the Fellows as they move forward to the next step of the journey.

Instructor Lynnette Ward

Instructor Doug Card

Instructor Larry Braman

Instructor Jim Marteney

Instructor Keri Luna

There were 16 nonprofit organizations hosting LA Fellows this cohort and several attended the ceremony. We were priviledged to welcome guests from Liberty Hill, The Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management, Children's Burn Foundation, Senator Holly J. Mitchell's office, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Representatives from the WorkSource centers who invest not just funding but encouragement, case management, expertise, and effort to assist the Fellows through the program and beyond were there in full force. We had representatives from the JVS Northeast San Fernando Valley center, Community Career Development, and the Van Nuys and Canoga Park locations of ResCare Workforce Services.

David Fierro, Coordinator for the Veterans Community Employment Development program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who has been very generous in sharing employment opportunities and events with our office, joined us. Special certificates were awarded to our two veterans from this class, CJ de Dios who served in the Army, and Diana Offen who served in the Air Force.


LAVC President Alma Johnson-Hawkins (center left) shakes the hand of Fellows graduate Diana Offen as Lennie Ciufo and Sydney Kamlager, District Director for Senator Holly Mitchell, look on. 

Fellow Ruscha Robbins goes through the receiving line, receiving her certificate and handshake for completing the program and delivering one of the three gradute speeches of the day.

 We'd like to thank all of our speakers, supporters and guests for attending what was one of our best ceremonies yet. The LA Fellows program relies on the partnership of our network for its success and ongoing promise of empowering and enriching the workforce of our city. Thank you!

Free Workshop

There's time before the next LA Fellows Cohort begins, so if you're in the LA area and looking for ways to keep your skills sharp while searching for that next step in your career, register to attend this free workshop. Great information and a great opportunity to network with other professionals!

 

Update: You can register for this free seminar by going to http://www.itsmyseat.com/TeamBusiness.html and clicking on the session or by calling 818-238-5198. Here is a schedule for this and other upcoming sessions available through Team Business: