New Orientation Dates and Locations Announced for LA Fellows Cohort 14

Orientation Dates Announced for LA Fellows Cohort 14 - Classes Start March 21st

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.

1000 Words: Confidence is Key

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.

The LA Fellows are encouraged to step outside their comfort zone and try new things, whether it's social media, taking on a leadership role, public speaking, networking, or starting from scratch on their resume and rewriting it in a way they never considered. The basis for this is the idea that if what they had been doing up to this point was working, they would not be encountering the roadblocks that they find in their current job search. LA Fellows' instructors pull together the best practices available to job seekers right now, and give them a supportive space to test them out. 

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

1000 Words: Questions and Answers

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 words to try to explain.

It's challenging being a job seeker and having questions that no one can seem to answer, or getting different answers depending on who you ask. The cohort experience gives Fellows a chance to ask questions in a safe, non-judgmental environment where they can learn from both the instructors and the other people in the class.

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

Orientation Dates for LA Fellows Cohort 12 Announced

1000 Words: Networking, Interviewing, and Resumes - Oh My!

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.

There's an old joke wherein a tourist asks a New Yorker he meets on the street, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" and the New Yorker answers "Practice, practice, practice." The same is true of someone seeking a job. Although everyone would assume they know their own story, it takes practice to present it concisely and clearly in a way targeted to show an employer why they are the best candidate, whether in person at an interview or networking event, or on paper. LA Fellows provides a safe, supportive environment to hone interview skills, learn the art of networking, and craft a resume that a candidate can be proud to present.

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

1000 Words: Classroom Instruction

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.

The training in LA Fellows gets participants back into the classroom, many after a long time of being out of school and busy making a career. Our instructors are top-notch, experienced in their fields, and up on the current trends in what gets candidates hired. We even have a hiring manager, currently working for a large local employer, who comes in two days to give the Fellows insight as to what the person on the other side is thinking in a job interview and how to frame their answers to best convey their brand. Classes are taught academy style to keep learning dynamic, and interactive exercises are included to reinforce lessons and create a bonding team experience that supports the cohort model.

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

Free Workshop: Providing Excellent Customer Service

On Wednesday April 29, 2015, Team Business Burbank and Los Angeles Valley College Job Training office (home of LA Fellows) is presenting another free 2-hour workshop: Providing Excellent Customer Service. These free workshops are a great resource to share with your network and are relevant to business professionals across the board, regardless of their current employment status. Instructional workshops like this add value to a resume, give professionals a chance to network and meet new people, and are also a great talking point when an interviewer asks, "So what have you been doing since your last job?"

 

Everyone is welcome. Share this on your social media sites and be sure to register!

 

A Challenge for Cohort 11

After four years and helping over 300 LA Fellows, it’s exciting to receive updates from the Fellows to hear how their lives have changed since going through the program. We were moved recently when we received an update from Nick Koutouras from Cohort 2. He wrote:

Allison,

I hope all is well.  I just wanted to share some good news. 

Four years ago, almost to the day, I started Cohort 2 as a mid-career professional trying to find my way into the next stage of my life. This year, on January 1, 2015, I officially started my year as Chairman of the Board for the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House. 

Four years ago, I had never raised even a single dollar for charity.  Today, I am honored to let you know that I have helped bring in thousands of dollars to the organization through both personal and professional contacts.

Four years ago, LA Fellows introduced me to Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House.

Today, I thank you, Allison, and the rest of the team for creating the LA Fellows program. 

Today, I thank Lynnette Ward for suggesting I attend LA Fellows. 

And, today I thanked Jeffrey Janis, Director of Development at Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, for posting a volunteer opportunity with LA Fellows.

However, we need some help out here. 

 

My challenge to Cohort 11 is simple.  Engage with your LA Fellows program leaders.  Listen and hear what they say.  Apply their advice and tools. Accept their critique.

Courageously make a change in yourself.   Proudly own your destiny.  Be that shiny penny. 

Passionately execute your responsibilities with your non-profit partner.  Make a difference.  Make a profound difference in yourself and in your community. 

I want to hear about another LA Fellows success story.  Will you be that success story?

 

Best regards,

Nick

 

We are so proud of Nick and all of the over 300 graduates to date who’ve made LA Fellows a success. The fact that they keep giving back is another testament to the strength of  the program's teaching. We hope that, as graduation approaches, Cohort 11 will rise up to meet the challenge Nick has put forth. 

For more information on the Los Angeles Ronald Mc Donald House and how you can get involved, please check out their website at http://rmhcsc.org/losangeles/

 

New Orientation Dates and Location Added for Cohort 11



 

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