1000 Words: What Is the Drumming Thing All About?

It can be hard to describe to people what the LA Fellows experience is before they've lived it firsthand. Knowing that a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are a few to help you visualize what it's like to be an LA Fellow.

Regular readers of our blog and Twitter account may have noticed all the pictures of people sitting in a circle beating on drums, and wondered, "What does that have to do with helping people to get re-employed?" LA Fellows is an intensive program involving classroom training and 100 hours of real-world project-based volunteerism designed to enhance the job search by kicking it to the next level. It does not put the job search on hold; LA Fellows continue looking for that next job using the skills and experience they get from the training. The drum circle we do each cohort is not just a chance to let loose and have fun, it is an exercise that incorporates many of the concepts touched on in the classroom and presents them in a hands-on way that leads to new insights and confidence.

Participants gain greater insight on:

• leadership
• integrating in and contributing to an established structure
• conflict resolution
• creativity
• effective listening and communication

The Job Training Office at Los Angeles Valley College, and the LA Fellows program, has been lucky to have musician Roberto Gutierrez on staff to lead the circle for all 11 Cohorts. The drum circle is cited by many Fellows as one of the most memorable days of the training.

Learn more about the LA Fellows program at www.lafellows.org.

Another Free Workshop: Creativity & Innovation

 Are you a creative person?

Here’s the answer: YES.

Team Business Burbank is back this week with another valuable FREE workshop. This workshop features another LA Fellow favorite, Larry Braman, who's also the president of Global Career Consulting & Placement, where he draws on his experience in both the business and creative worlds to help individuals and teams create more fulfilling and productive careers. He is known for delivering fun, interactive, and meaningful learning experiences. The approach of this workshop is that everyone has tremendous creative potential. It may be challenging at times to access it—but it’s there.

If you’re not able to innovate and enable your team to do the same, your career —and your team’s output—may suffer.

Learn and experience new ways to:

· Access your creativity at work and beyond

· Inspire and unleash creativity in your teams

· Get out of the way so that new ideas can surface

· Solve old problems

This workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 (2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.). As always, there is no charge to attend. If you're considering applying to the LA Fellows program, or missing the days you did spend with us, this is a great chance to sample just a bit of the type of professional development training we are able to offer job seekers.

To reserve your seat, contact Team Business at their website, www.itsmyseat.com/teambusiness.html.