Cohort 11 Graduates

Lennie Ciufo addresses a capacity crowd for the Graduation ceremony of LA Fellows Cohort 11.

The LA Fellows program graduated its most recent cohort on March 13th. The occasion was celebrated in a ceremony in the Fireside Room of Monarch Hall on the campus of Los Angeles Valley College. The room was filled with family, friends, job training staff, college officials, business leaders, WorkSource representatives and representatives from our elected officials.



LA Fellow Ruth Ford laughs along with one of
the many witty speakers.

As part of their training, every LA Fellow agrees to do 100 hours of project-based volunteerism with a nonprofit organization of their choice. The LA Fellows who were volunteering at an organization who had representatives in attendance each stood up and told the crowd about the organization's mission and a description of the project that they are working on. The nonprofits who are matched with Fellows volunteers from Cohort 11 include:

• American Red Cross Los Angeles Region 
• Center for Nonprofit Management
• Children’s Burn Foundation
• Community Career Development
• Foundation for Pierce College
• JVS – Marina Del Rey WorkSource Center
• Office of LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian
• Los Angles Ronald McDonald House
• ONEgeneration
• Silhouettes for Vets
• Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind
• The Trust for Public Land
• Universal City North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
• Valley Community Healthcare
• The Valley Economic Alliance
• A World Fit for Kids

Michelle Gilstrap of the Universal City North
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which is
hosting LA Fellow Erica Dozier as a volunteer
Social Media Event Coordinator.



Alan Percy explains the mission of nonprofit
organization A World Fit for Kids, where he is
donating his time as a volunteer Grant Writer.











Alex Bryman introduces Site Supervisor and Veterans
representative Anthony Rodriguez with JVS Marina Del Rey,
where she is volunteering 100 hours of service as a Career Counselor.



Bismark Romero and Brian Sullivan, two of the three LA Fellows of Cohort 11
 who are doing volunteer projects at the Center for Nonprofit Management,
stand and listen with pride as fellow Fellow Frank Sulzberger introduces the
organization and its representatives. Brian and Bismark volunteer their time as
Fund Development Associates at CNM.



Frank Sulzberger introduces Gigi
Nang and Linnie Riboli of the
Center for Nonprofit Management.
He completed his hours with
the organization as a
Consulting Program Associate.




LA Fellow Carol Blakeslee rings a bell. In many organizations, including
the Valley Economic Alliance, - where she is volunteering as an Economic
Development Consultant - and LAVC Job Training, home of the LA Fellows
program, a bell is rung to announce a  job seeker landing a position.


Like most graduation ceremonies, there was no shortage of speeches. The Fellows heard parting advice from instructors, words of encouragement from local leaders and reflections on the experience from two of their own.






Lennie Ciufo introduces Kenn Phillips, President of the Valley Economic Alliance, board member
 for the LA Fellows program, and supporter of the program since its founding almost five years ago. 

Mark Brenner with nonprofit veterans' group Silhouettes for Vets and
LA Fellows instructor Roberto Gutierrez strike a pose for the camera.
Silhouettes for Vets is hosting LA Fellow Reina Shelton, who is
volunteering as an Administrative and Coaching Intern.



All 28 Fellows were awarded certificates of completion from the program, a lapel pin, and several certificates of recognition provided by the elected officials who represent the Valley and LA areas. As expressed by the Fellows themselves, however, the most important thing they took away was a renewed confidence in their worth in the job market and optimism in the future of their careers. The LA Fellows program shares that outlook and is proud to welcome Cohort 11 to the ranks of the over 300 LA Fellows graduates to date.



Sydney Kamlager offers LA Fellow Ruth Ford
congratulations and a certificate on behalf
of Senator Holly Mitchell.

Instructor Lynnette Ward presents graduate Bismark
Romero with a framed certificate of accomplishment
provided by Congressman Tony Cardenas.

Josh Kurpies prepares to present a certificate from Assemblymember Richard Bloom as
Talene Dermenjian with Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian's office congratulates LA Fellow
Fred Jackson on his graduation and his articulate and heartfelt commencement speech.



LA Fellow Nancy Sisson hugs instructor Sam Borelli, in appreciation of the difference
the training she received has made in her job search. Fellow graduate Paul Stevens
looks on, sharing the joy of the day.

Proud LA Fellows Program Director
Allison Silver and instructor Larry Braman
wait in line to congratulate the Fellows
as they receive their certificates.

 


LA Fellows graduate Mark Manuculich landed a job prior to the end
of classes but was able to join his Cohort for the ceremony. He was
also honored for his service, as a veteran of the US Marine Corps.







Instructor Sam Borelli and LAVC Job Training's Lennie Ciufo look on as instructor
Lynnette Ward presents LA Fellows graduate and veteran Regina Shelton with one
of several impressive certificates provided by elected officials who support
the work the program does.

LA Fellow Justin Storrs, graduate of Cohort 11,
admires the certificate of recognition provided by Senator Holly Mitchell commemorating
the completion of the program

Talene Dermenjian congratulates Jen Johnson on
her graduation from the LA Fellows program.

Instructor Sam Borelli presents graduating LA Fellow Gus Hulander with the iconic
LA Fellows lapel pin. Every Fellow dating back to the first Cohort
has received a pin to signify their place in the Fellowship.

LA Fellows Recognized by Elected Officials at Graduation

The LA Fellows program has gained recognition and appreciation throughout the community for reaching a vital and often overlooked part of the workforce as it relates to job search training and employment skills. We proudly give back to the community through our partnership with the nonprofit sector. We are honored that our elected officials are among those who value and recognize the work we do, and pleased that many of them were represented at the recent graduation of Cohort 11.
 

Glyn Milburn, representing the City of Los Angeles Office of Economic Development Business Team, on behalf of Mayor Eric Garcetti, gave an inspiring speech about the impact LA Fellows have on the community, both in business and the nonprofit sector. It is his second time joining us for the ceremony.

*******

 

Nikki Ezhari spoke on behalf of long-time program supporter Councilmember Paul Krekorian, in whose district, District 2, Los Angeles Valley College, home of LA Fellows and the LAVC Job Training Office is located. She congratulated the Cohort on the work that each of them has done to improve themselves while giving back and making positive changes. As in previous years, Councilmember Krekorian provided impressive certificates for each graduating Fellow.

 

*******

 

Assemblymember Richard Bloom, who represents the 50th Assembly District, was represented by Josh Kurpies, who spoke with great encouragement and support on the accomplishments that the Fellows just achieved and their readiness to achieve their next goals. LA Fellows partnered with the JVS West Hollywood WorkSource Center, which is located in Assemblymember Bloom's district, to recruit and sponsor half of Cohort 11. The assemblymember provided handsome certificates for each of the Fellows.

*******

Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian also recognized the powerful benefit of this program in the part of the San Fernando Valley where it, and his District, Assembly District 46, is located and sent Talene Dermenjian to speak on his behalf. Her warm words of appreciation for the work the Fellows put into their training and nonprofit volunteerism were as treasured as the distinctive certificates she presented on behalf of Assemblymember Nazarian.

*******

Sydney Kamlager, recently elected to the LACCD Board of Trustees, came to speak in her capacity as District Director for Senator Holly J. Mitchell of District 30. Senator Mitchell's office hosted an LA Fellow from Cohort 9 as a volunteer and has been a valued friend and supporter of the program ever since. The Fellows each received a beautiful certificate from the Senator, and Sydney spoke with pride and passion about the hard work the Fellows put in to make themselves more marketable as job seekers and ready to embrace the challenges of their next jobs.

*******

The Fellows were especially surprised to get the striking framed certificates from Congressman Tony Cárdenas, who represents California's 29th Congressional District, which includes Los Angeles Valley College. Brian Gavidia spoke eloquently on behalf of the congressman during the ceremony, congratulating the graduates and encouraging them in their future efforts.

*******

The LA Fellows program appreciates the value that these elected officials place on the workforce of this community and the support they give to programs like LA Fellows that work to curb long-term unemployment and get skilled professionals back to work.

LA Fellows Graduates its 10th Cohort

On Friday, September 19th, the LA Fellows program reached a milestone, graduating it's 10th class in a ceremony at Los Angeles Valley College's Monarch Hall. LA Fellows are unemployed mid-career professionals who commit to nine weeks of classroom instruction in professional development and job search techniques and 100 hours of project-based volunteerism in order to get back to work faster.

Lennie Cuifo, Director of the Job Training Office at Los Angeles Valley College,
addresses the capacity crowd.



Sara Lamog one of the two Fellows chosen by the class to speak
on behalf of the cohort, reflected on the road to becoming an expert,
what it means to be a Fellow, and moving forward.

Derrick Clemons, the other speaker chosen to represent the cohort
 at the podium, spoke about why he became an LA  Fellow
 and how the experience has changed them all.



Dr. Sue Carleo, former President of Los Angeles Valley College
and founding member of the LA Fellows Advisory Committee,
spoke to the Fellows about carrying on the legacy.

Congressman Tony Cardenas sent beautiful framed certificates for each of the LA Fellows to recognize the work they did through the program. Field Representative Brian Gavidia presented them to the Fellows with inspiring words of appreciation and encouragement.








Sydney Kamlager, District Director for Senator Holly Mitchell, shakes the hand
of one of 4 graduating veterans, Michael Robison, before presenting
a certificate of recognition on behalf of the senator (below).

Derrick Clemons accepts his certificate.

Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian, a long-time supporter of the LA Fellows program, also provided personalized certificates for the Fellows. Field Deputy Nikki Ezhari attended the ceremony on his behalf and congratulated each Fellow as she presented the certificate. 



Job Training Director Lennie Ciufo presents a certificate to LA Fellow Yoonsin Park
while WorkSource representatives, Barbara Washington and Doni Hooker, and
Instructor Roberto Gutierrez look on, applauding. The Canoga Park WorkSource center
provided the funding to make this cohort possible.

LA Fellows Cohort 10

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.