Orientations Scheduled for West Hollywood and Marina Del Rey, Two More at Los Angeles Valley College - Attend One Session to Learn About Becoming an LA Fellow

Who are the LA Fellows?

Los Angeles Valley College’s LA Fellows program is a unique collaboration combining professional development and volunteerism as a meaningful pathway to employment. LA Fellows are motivated, hard-working, enthusiastic professionals with solid work experience who are unemployed and are actively seeking their next career opportunity. A highly recognized program, LA Fellows has appeared in Forbes.com, the New York Times, KTLA Channel 5 news, and has been spotlighted by the Department of Labor.

Make a Difference in Your Career

LA Fellows receive nine weeks of free training in advanced job-seeking skills and executive-level topics including leadership, critical thinking, and generating job leads. Optional classes in advanced computer skills and grant writing are available to participants. Training begins July 27, 2015.

Be the Difference in Your Community

LA Fellows volunteer their professional expertise through project-based roles at local nonprofit organizations. Designed to use the skills and ideas taught in class to augment the nonprofit experience and reinforce learning, the program provides participants with invaluable career growth skills, job search assistance, and the opportunity to give back to the community while seeking full-time employment.

Become an LA Fellow

Attend an informational session to learn more about the program and application process. Job seekers only need to attend one informational session. Be prepared to stay two hours. Visit www.lafellows.org or call 818.947.2941 for more information.

Information Sessions:

June 26^th  - 10:30 a.m.

 JVS West Hollywood AJCC

at the

West Hollywood Library

625 N. San Vicente Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Parking is in the building and is validated for 3 hours.

July 1^st – 10:00 a.m.

 JVS WorkSource Center

13160 Mindanao Way #240

Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Check in at Suite 105

Free validated parking

July 7^th  & 10^th - 10:00 a.m.

 Los Angeles Valley College

5800 Fulton Avenue

Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096

Located in the Library building, Second Floor, Room 201

Free parking on the 4th floor of the Parking Structure at the corner of Hatteras St. and Ethel Ave. Campus map is available at www.lavc.edu/map.

My Experience With LA Fellows by Jen Johnson, Cohort 11

This special guest post is from a recent graduate of the program, Jen Johnson. She volunteered to speak at one of our recent orientations to let prospective applicants know how the program can change lives. Jen agreed to let us post her story here.

Why I applied to LA Fellows
        I applied to LA Fellows because I was at an impasse career-wise.  I was burned out and a little lost. I had been pursuing acting during the day and waiting tables at night for about 7 years.  I was making great money and enjoying my life, for the most part.
         Then I had a milestone birthday. My friends and family began asking me what my long term plan was and when I was going to get a "real job."  I started to get really down on myself.
        I suddenly wanted something more out of my  work  life. One night at the restaurant, a gentleman at one of my tables ordered swordfish and he didn't get the tartar sauce that was supposed to come with it.  He went off on me.  He lost his temper and was yelling at me so loudly that other tables were staring, trying to figure out what the commotion was about.  As I stood there being berated by this stranger, I thought, "Wow.  With all the things in the world to get upset over, this guy chooses to become irate over some missing fish sauce. There are people starving to death, wars being fought, and this guy is directing pure rage towards me over a condiment. I need a new job."
              I was looking for contacts on LinkedIn one December afternoon when I saw the page for LA Fellows and decided to check it out.

What I gained from the experience
           I was reminded of the things I do well. One of the first exercises the Fellows were asked to do is list the things we were best at.  I stared at that blank page for quite a while. I couldn’t think of

one thing to write on that list.  It had been a long time since I had a job that I was passionate about, where my skills and talents were nurtured.  And an even longer time since I had a job where my natural abilities rose to the top.
         Over the course of the next 9 weeks, I heard a lot of the same sentiments from the Fellows in my cohort.  Comments were made about being burned out, not wanting to return to the same line of work they once belonged to, not being appreciated for what they had to offer.  I found myself countering their statements and giving them positive feedback. It got me out of myself and I finally remembered what it felt like to be confident and to contribute to the workplace dialogue. I remembered the things that made me ME at work.

The benefits of being in Cohort 11
        The instructors were great. Of course they expected us to be professional, but they created a space for us to be real. We didn't have to put on a brave face if we weren't feeling brave. A lot of times, we were frustrated, emotionally spent and lost. Allison, Mary and our instructors created a safe space for us to be heard and be honest.
        Without this crucial first step, I don't think the growth that occurred would have been possible.

        With the support of our Fellow members of Cohort 11, a sense of camaraderie grew.  Through the classroom instruction and dialogue, we got to know each other and were able to point out one another's strengths.  Talents long since forgotten about rose to the top, brought to our attention by our peers in Cohort 11.

Where I volunteered/ what I got out of the experience
        I volunteered at Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind, or TLC for the Blind for short.  TLC for the Blind was started in 1975 by a group of families who had relatives living with being blind and/ or deaf, and some also had developmental disabilities.  The usual course of action for people with these circumstances was to be institutionalized. But a group of relatives got together and decided to create a better way for their loved ones to live- enabling them to create lives full of dignity and independence.
        I liked the idea of a group of people banding together to improve the lives of the people they loved.  They didn't wait for something to happen; they took action.  40 years later, TLC remains the only facility of its kind of the San Fernando Valley.   I thought, "This is the kind of place I'd like to spend 100 hours volunteering."
        My boss at TLC allowed me to work independently- which is something I value.  I didn't even know that about myself until LA Fellows. My boss also gave me the opportunity to write a grant. I applied for a grant to get a shade structure for the playground at TLC. It felt so empowering to have the opportunity to potentially affect the lives of hundreds of children, who wouldn't be able to play outside without the grant and a shade structure.
        I could not have had a better volunteer experience!

How LA Fellows helped me move forward

Jen (right) with her WorkSorce case manager,
Candis Noel from JVS in West Hollywood

          I also got a job out of the LA Fellows experience!  A week before speaking at this orientation, I was offered a position as a Grants Coordinator at a very well-known and respected nonprofit.  I will be writing reports to wealthy donors who have the capacity to help people who need it; people who may be in a similar position as I was in just 6 months ago. I'm sort of like Robin Hood!

          LA Fellows helped me redefine my sense of purpose in the world.  I couldn't have imagined that after 3 months as an LA Fellow, I would find a job, let alone one that incorporates so many of my passions and talents in a way that is going to help people who need it!  I cannot encourage you enough to apply to this program.  LA Fellows will not just change YOUR life- it will change the lives of individuals in your cohort, in your community- and beyond.

Three More Orientations - Find Out About & Apply to be an LA Fellow

We are very proud to have been invited back to conduct an information session for Cohort 12 of the LA Fellows at the JVS WorkSource location at the beautiful West Hollywood Library on June 26th at 10:30am. We have also added another on-campus orientation on July 10th at Los Angeles Valley College, home of the LA Fellows program, where we'll be answering questions and explaining the program to all interested job seekers and others. Go to www.lafellows.org/apply for all the details.

New Orientation Dates and Location Added for Cohort 11



 

Opportunity... by LA Fellow Sara Lamog

Have you ever heard of the Thomas Edison quote, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” If you have, well done! If not, no worries -- we’re one in the same. 

Before embarking on the LA Fellows journey I didn’t know a lot of things, this quote being one of the them. Or more accurately, maybe it was that I didn’t know how to do a lot of things. That all began to change when I attended an LA Fellows orientation.

 

It was last May when I first caught wind of the program. Recently returned from serving in the Peace Corps, unemployed, and living at home, I was deep in my job search. One late night, my mom told me she saw a story on the KTLA news about a career opportunity that might be a good fit for everything I’d been looking for. “It’s for non-profits,” she said. “You’d be good at that. It’s called LA Fellows.”

The next morning, I was glued to my computer screen--looking up the website, learning about the program’s mission, and reading the testimonials. When I saw that there were three upcoming orientation sessions scheduled within the next three Fridays, I thought the timing of it all was too good to pass up.

To be completely honest, the time spent between finding LA Fellows and attending the orientation was marked by doubt (“Am I ready for this?”) and insecurity (“What if I’m not what they’re looking for?”), but ultimately belief in the challenge (“Yes I am, I can do this”). There it was: an opportunity dressed in overalls and looking like work. I decided I was ready and I was going to make it work.  

When orientation finally arrived, I remember walking into the room feeling nervous but just as excited to get a glimpse of the program first-hand. For those two hours, I was hooked on the program’s mission to help individuals finding meaningful employment. I was transfixed by the excitement, dedication, and understanding each of the speakers showed the crowd as they spoke about their LA Fellows experience. But what really clinched it for me was how inspiring the Program Director’s enthusiasm was for both the program she led and the people she worked with.

As I left the orientation that day, not only did I feel even more excited and eager to become an LA Fellow, I felt different about myself. Instead of feeling like my career path was taking a step in a new direction, I felt as if my career path was becoming more focused, realigned, and reaffirmed. And that was only after attending the orientation! 
 

Fast-forward to present day. Here I am a proud LA Fellow. I am beyond happy to say that I am employed as part of the LA Valley College Job Training team and have gained a broader outlook on all of the things I’ve learned from the program, including the saying “Opportunity is missed by most people because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work” (thank you Lynnette Ward). Orientation proved to be just the beginning of an eye-opening journey to finding more focus, alignment, and affirmation for both my career goals and for myself. To any future Fellows reading this, I hope you’ll find it does that for you too.

 

Three Orientation Dates Added for Cohort 10

Due to the tremendous response we've received after the recent KTLA story on the program, three additional LA Fellows orientations have been added for the class that will begin training on July 28th, Cohort 10. We are looking for unemployed midcareer professionals who are motivated, hard-working and enthusiastic, with solid work experience, who are looking for their next career opportunity.

LA Fellows receive free professional training covering executive level topics including advanced job search techniques, critical thinking, negotiating, and advanced computer skills. LA Fellows also volunteer their time and talents by sharing their professional expertise at local nonprofit organizations through meaningful project based roles. Throughout the program, LA Fellows will gain invaluable career growth skills, job search assistance, and receive the opportunity to give back to the community while they seek full-time employment.

Interested job seekers will need to attend one orientation in order for their application to be considered.

 

When:             Informational sessions begin at 10:00am.
Be prepared to stay two hours. 
 

                        Friday, June 13^th

Friday, June 20^th 

                        Tuesday, July 1^st   

Where:           Los Angeles Valley College

5800 Fulton Avenue

Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096

 

                        June 13^th & 20^th            Located in the Administration Building

July 1^st                         Located in Library Building, Room 200 A

 

Parking:         Free parking in Lot B at the corner of Oxnard St. and Fulton Ave.

You can read more about LA Fellows on our website, www.lafellows.org, see the recent KTLA story on LA Fellows at http://ktla.com/2014/05/05/a-look-inside-the-hidden-job-market/#axzz30woBrrTO and follow us on Twitter at @LA_Fellows. 

Top 10 Reasons A Job Seeker Might Need LA Fellows

10. You know there has to be a better way to move yourself out of unemployment than answering job postings on the internet, but you're not sure what it is.

9. The closest you come to using social media in your job search is borrowing your neighbor's newspaper when they're finished.

8. You break out in a cold sweat at the thought of "networking."

7. You've heard so many different opinions on your resume, you're not sure what's right anymore.

6. You've started to avoid people who might ask how your job search is going because you don't have anything new to tell them.

5. It's been months since you had an interview.

4. When you splurge on Starbucks, you're more excited about being around other people than you are about the coffee.

3. You're starting to think that you aren't applying for the right positions.

2. You tell time based on which daytime talk show is on.

1. You're still reading this...

If what you're doing isn't giving you the results you're looking for, it's time to try something new. The LA Fellows program has a proven track record of helping people move out of unemployment faster through a unique combination of training and project-based volunteerism. LA Fellows helps you focus your job search and add new skills as you continue to search. Come to our orientation, listen, ask questions and decide for yourself if this might be helpful for you; see our orientation schedule here: www.lafellows.org/apply.

Are you ready to change for the better?

One More Orientation Added for LA Fellows Cohort 9

One additional LA Fellows orientation has been added for the class that will begin training on January 13th, Cohort 9. We are looking for unemployed midcareer professionals who are motivated, hard-working and enthusiastic, with solid work experience, who are looking for their next career opportunity.

LA Fellows receive free professional training covering executive level topics including advanced job search techniques, critical thinking, negotiating, and advanced computer skills. LA Fellows also volunteer their time and talents by sharing their professional expertise at local nonprofit organizations through meaningful project based roles. Throughout the program, LA Fellows will gain invaluable career growth skills, job search assistance, and receive the opportunity to give back to the community while they seek full-time employment.

Interested job seekers will need to attend the orientation in order for their application to be considered.

When: 
Friday, January 3rd, 9:00am. Be prepared to stay two hours.

Where:               
Los Angeles Valley College
5800 Fulton Avenue – Job Training
Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096
Located in Administration Building         

Parking:              
Free parking in Lot B at the corner of Oxnard St. and Fulton Ave.

Additional information may be found on our website, www.lafellows.org.

"The Experience of a Lifetime"

 

By Kristi Hazama, Cohort 8

Last spring, I had returned from Japan where I taught English for two years.  Feeling motivated and hopeful, I was eager to return to the higher education field and felt excited about the new possibilities.  Immediately, I began submitting resumes and online applications and started researching job opportunities.   Week after week, I remained optimistic, anticipating the phone call that would change my life forever.  However, as time passed, I heard from absolutely no one.  The silence was deafening; the utter lack of response was quite distressing.  And slowly my spirits started to decline.  I wondered if I would ever find a job. 

Around June, a family friend mentioned LA Fellows.  I was hesitant about pursuing this opportunity, thinking I’d receive a job offer soon enough.  But deep down, I was simply afraid.  LA Fellows would be a step out of my comfort zone, teaching me to take a more proactive approach to my job search. 

I decided to attend the final mandatory orientation, albeit still with much reluctance.  But throughout the orientation, I knew there was something different and unique about LA Fellows.  By the end of the morning, I knew this would be the experience of a lifetime.

LA Fellows was indeed, a life changing experience. 

I gained a new level of confidence in my skills and as I rediscovered this confidence, I also gained more clarity into my professional interests and values.  And while this newfound confidence and clarity through LA Fellows was a huge personal win, I am most grateful for the camaraderie among my colleagues in cohort 8. LA Fellows is so unique because it connects people from different educational, professional and life experiences.  I learned a great deal from my cohort, and their support was absolutely incredible.

 

Also, I was helped personally and professionally through the LA Fellows’ volunteer experience.  My hours were completed at the ALS Association, which focuses on the fight to defeat Lou Gehrig’s disease.  It was an incredible experience as we hosted a number of “Walks to Defeat ALS” to raise awareness and funds in the fight to defeat this debilitating disease.  I had the privilege of collaborating with the Walk Directors; we focused on outreach to donors, coordinated with volunteers, oversaw the logistical planning. Volunteering was such a fulfilling experience as you build relationships with people in the organization and make a contribution in a meaningful way. 

I would not be where I am today without LA Fellows.  It truly has been a precious gift, one that keeps on giving.

 

Kristi with Danny Syto and Jennifer Garcia, graduates of Cohort 8