The Riverside County Summer Stimulus Behind the scenes

The Riverside County Summer Stimulus
September 10, 2009
Volume 1, Issue 4
Inside this issue:
Summer—izing It Up
Behind The Scenes
Behind the Scenes cont.
Your Hired
Sun Spot
Wrap Up / Behind the scenes cont.
You Got The Job!
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1
2
3
4
4
Stimulating your mind, the youth and our economy
Summer-izing It Up
It is time to acknowledge that
summer is winding down. The majority
of schools have opened their doors once
again to welcome the eager faces of our
youth. The biggest question facing them
all is usually, “ What did you do over
the summer?” From teachers to peers,
everyone wants to tell about their eventful summer vacation. Happily, the participants of the Summer Work Experience Program, (SWEP), will have by far
some of the most interesting and motivating stories of all. The buzz around
the campuses will be about the intriguing jobs and worksites the program offered, and the impartial, nondiscriminatory treatment each and every
youth received from the compassionate
providers who signed up to be a part of
the SWEP. There shall be stories about
how at the City of Riverside Youth Opportunity Center and the staff at Altura
Credit Union, offered money management classes to the SWEP members.
This was monumental for some who
were earning their very first paycheck.
There will be accounts from adolescents
who had never seen the inside of a mu-
seum and now can explain how to
clean fossils! There are those who are
not returning to school and have now
embarked on a career path offered to
them through the experience they
gathered from their facilitators in the
program. The stories that are most
motivating are of the hundreds of
youth who were hired permanently by
the site they were placed at. For these
participants, the outcome proves that
the training and assessments that were
put in place in the proposals from the
keen providers were indeed done efficiently. These young adults obviously
took their jobs seriously and understood the urgency to make a difference
in their own lives and in turn made an
impact on the environment around
them. The interns created bonds with
each other, as they all felt the importance of the work they were accomplishing. After all, they were contributing to helping our economy and local
community. The reward
they received from that
“sum-mers” it up.
Behind the scenes
These Smiles represent HOPE.
Above: Ryan Carr (17)Barr’s Furniture/Deanna Thompson(15), Melody Sibley(18)Temecula Community Center/Victoria Brown(18)City of Temecula Public Works
Dept./Gina Munoz(20)Temecula Community Center/Altura Credit Union money management class/Giselle
Martinot(18)Cornerstone Security/Bianca Torres(19)&
Cody Kozycarz(19) City of Temecula Finance Dept./Taylor
Stephen(19)Pennypickle’s Workshop/Stephanie Johnson,
Hemet YOC/Lupe Villa, Rubidoux YOC
The funds set aside by our Presidents’ stimulus plan reached places in Riverside
County that many may have never even heard of. In Western Riverside in a town
covering 38.8 square miles, hosting a population of merely 50,267 people, lies
Lake Elsinore. This historic town contains the Planet Youth Opportunity Center,
operated by the California Life Center. Another jewel that caters to imminent
needs of the young people in the community. As participants in the SWEP, the
Center was able to find jobs for 246 of the youth that walked through their
doors. Even the younger, less experienced members were placed appropriately at
the Alberhill Boys and Girls club in a an art workshop where
they embarked on an amazing art project that opened their
eyes to a world of possibilities. The group created a huge 6
foot dragon from wire and odds and
Right: Planet Youth
ends. Continued on pg. 2…
Opportunity Center
Pa ge 2
Behind the scenes cont… They dis-
The Riverside County Summer Stimulus
played their creation in an art exhibit held at the club. The team was so proud
of the teamwork they shared, and learned valuable lessons about presenting
themselves to the public. This is sure to assist them on job interviews and in
future endeavors. Also at Planet Youth, a different SWEP team was at work
dressing up the exterior of the center. The youth started by designing the layout
of the new patio. The much needed renovation has everyone pleased, including
the neighboring fire-station! The group is anxious for next summer to check on
the tree they planted, to see if it has grown as much as they have during this
experience.
Approximately 174 SWEP participants have been offered permanent
positions at the locations they served during the Program!!
Congratulations are in order, ...We wish much success to you!
Rubidoux YOC: Elizabeth Perez(18) & Jennifer Perez(16) & Isabel
Leyva(18)(Dollar Tree)-Michelle Noe(19)& Joslyn Marquez(18)& Yurida
Vasquez(17)& Chris Vasquez(18)(Smart and Final)-Jesus Mejia(22) & Julia
Miranda(21)(Marshalls)
Goodwill of Southern California: Ana Santana, (TJ Maxx)
City of Temecula: Andrew Temple (18), Kory Alpichi (16), Keith Alpichi
(18), and Nick Abraham (16) (Magical Adventure Balloon Rides)-Marissa
Lay (22) (City Hall for City of Temecula)- Nick Martinot (22) and Bryce
Callahan (22) (City Maintenance the City of Temecula)-Angelica Serrano
(22)( Kennedy and Smith Inc)- Anthony Chin (17) (Little Caesar’s)Candice Luna (18) and Hannah Gross (18)(The YMCA)-Michael Crutchfield (18)and Kameron Eads (17)(Crown Books)-Gabriela Rodriguez
(18)(Boys and Girls Club)-Daniel Aguilera (19 (Shakey’s Pizza)-Zach
Sasscer (18) (Yogurt Point)-Gina Munoz (19) (Temecula Community Center).
Pictured: Cornerstone
Insurance Agency, Temecula City Hall, Rancho
Community Church,
Southwest YMCA, Imagination Workshop Museum, Temecula Public
Library, , Larry Green
Dealership (Blythe) Riverside Workforce Development Center, Woodcrest
Library, Inland Empire
Television Network
RCOE: Joshua Wethers (Best buy)-Ashley Robinson (Styles for less)Carlie Stone (Deloneys’s 100 Mile Market)-Michael Vasquez (Best Buy)Alejandra Avalos (Anchor Blue)-Christopher Cooper (Nature Vet/The
Gorman Group)-Malcom Fisher (Footlocker)-Andrew Lee (A New Tomorrow)-Maxine Hernandez (Kids Footlocker)-Juli Anna Lambert
(Claires)-Jessica Lopez (Kids Footlocker)-Alfedo Marin Jr.(Petco)-Rebecca
Acuna (Claires)-Alfanzo Corvera (Anchor Blue)-Kayley Baires (Walgreens)
-Adriana Avila (CVS)-David Casarez (Anchor Blue)-Jamila Williams
(Quiznos)-Cynthia Alvarez (Fantastic Sams)-Pearl Cathcaart (Fritts Ford)Juan Hidalgo & Eva Mendoza (Skip Fordyce, Inc)-Wendy Valdez (Jacobs
Development)-Elizabeth Vega (Menifee Smiles)-Debra Belton (Jefferson
Wellness Center)-Maritza Anaya (Dr. Powers Bros.)-Leiana Flores
(Careside Dental)-Raquel Gaeta (Dr. Shetha)-Janet Galam (Gentle Dental)Jazmin Garcia (City Hall Riverside)-Kaitlin Gonzalez (Color me Mine)Rochelle Gorman (Riverwalk Dental Spa)-Ariel Locke (CVS)-Victoria
Silcas (Dr.Sharma)-Andre Andrads & Beatriz Reyes (Dol lar Tree)-Alan
Anglin (Khol’s)-Michael Hydock (Dollar Tree)-Michael Lopez & Erin
Mathews & Carl Mendez & Eddie Flores & Patrice Street (Michael’s)
Awesome Worksites!
Family Service Association: Alejandra Bernardo, (Community Health
Worker- Mead Valley Community Center)-Rick Flores (Janitor- Administration) Damian Gonzalez (Office Assistant-Highgrove Community Center)
The city of Lake Elsinore is sure to be looking forward to the SWEP
returning since the community benefited significantly from the service at places such as the Animal Friends of the Valley, Storm Stadium, Nike Town, KFC, Sports Chalet, Trevi Entertainment Center,
Cont. on pg. 3
Dollar Tree; and so many more.
Left: Planet
Youth beautifying project:
At Right:: Trenita Whestone(15) Cedric Da-Silva(14)
Aaron Ward(14) Anthony Urrutia(15) Arthur Terty
(15), Rafael Jimenez (14), Josh Chavez (15), Jimmy
Muratalla (17) with the Dragon (Art workshop)
Planet Youth Yoc: Chrystal Brown (Lake Elsinore Library)-Ryan Haines
& Robert Jones & Michael Monsoor (Sports Chalet)-Jerika Hara & Aaron
Sanchez( Marshalls)- Anastasia Ortega (Dollar Tree)-Mocerrat Ruiz &
Nicole Monroe (Doggie Styles)-Haley Woodburrry & Aramis Sanchez &
Christian Sandoval (Trevi Entertainment Center)-Alejandro Cuara
( NIKE)-Jenaro Stultz ( KFC)-Jude Smith (Rocky Mountain)-Tiffany Sanderson (M.A.R.S. EDA)-Brint Dederich (Interstate Fire)-Marcello Da Silva
(City of Canyon Lake)
Escuela De La Raza Unida: Vicente Nunez (EOPS at the Palo Verde
College)-Maricella Godinez (Larry Green Chevrelet)-Eric Grijalva and
Freddie Cardenas (Dollar Tree)
Continued
on page 4...
Our apologies in advance if
there are any SWEP participants that may have been
overlooked. Good luck to
you all!
Pa ge 3
Behind the scenes cont….
The Riverside County Summer Stimulus
The Arbor Win Youth Center in Indio is well-known
for helping young adults find a responsible place in
society. This summer as they teamed with the SWEP
they were empowered to find jobs for 254 participants. The youth who benefitted from the program
are so eager to move forward with their
new skills, the community is in for a treat
with all of these confident youngsters.
Sun
Spot
Above: Various
SWEP youth at
Dollartree is Rich in youth
work.
The Dollartree in the City of Riverside certainly found a
Scott Drexler(22) Jr.
diamond in the rough when they received Jennifer Perez (19).
Journalist, pictured
Jennifer was just one of the hundreds of youth from the SWEP
below, Spotlights
that were hired on to a permanent position and she couldn’t be
Jennifer Perez and
happier. Although Jennifer has many interests, she is enjoying
her new employworking in retail. Especially since Dollartree is offering Jennifer a
ment success.
chance at a future. With the money Jennifer earns from working
she is going to be able to pay for school and training so she can
pursue her true passion for massage therapy and get certified in
auto-collision and re-finishing. Not only is the position at the
Dollartree assisting Jennifer financially, but it is also serving her on
a more personal level. When asked what the most rewarding part
about her job was Jennifer responded, “The reward is getting compliments for the good job that I have done. They [Dollartree] take
Pictured below: Jennitheir time to help me learn new things and are patient with me.
fer Perez(19) Dollar
She also commented about the SWEP, “It’s good. It helped me
Tree employee
out a-lot.” The experience helps you to not be nervous or shy. I
am hoping to get my brother to join the program.”
Pictured:“Free Interns” Freeway
billboard/Bobby Bonds Community
Center/ Western Center Fossil/Temecula Comm. Center/Planet
Youth Center/Hemet Youth CenThis young adult is no push-over either. She is deterter/Baskin Robins/Christina Bugarin mined to pull her weight at home. Jennifer has grown up around
Perris WIC Center/Mt View Comm. cars and mechanics due to her father and her brother always workChurch
ing on vehicles. She is determined to prove to the family that girls
Community involvement can do auto body work too. The only question that really remains
is not “if”, but “when” this balanced young lady will meet her
provide HOPE for our
goals. Most of the youth who joined SWEP were content to make
some extra cash for the summer and came out with an experience
Youth.
that will last a lifetime. If we can take anyThe SWEP prothing from this rewarding experience, it
viders who embarked on this task of revitalizing the
should definitely be HOPE!
summer work experience program were not new at this
sort of undertaking; Accordingly Goodwill of Southern California was very successful in their effort and
enrolled approximately 65 youth into the SWEP!
They placed them at such sites as Institute for Sales &
Service Excellence, TJ Maxx, Goodwill Retail Thrift
Stores, Palm Springs Volvo, Bridges of Hope, American Cancer Society, Palm Desert Library, and Animal
Samaritans. Our County appreciates their wholehearted
involvement. Cont. on pg.4
By Scott Drexler
At right: DollarTree(Riverside)
The Riverside County Summer Stimulus
Pa ge 4
Behind the Scenes Cont...
You don’t have to be in the desert to encounter an Oasis. In Perris, the Oasis Youth Opportunity Center, operated by Arbor Education and
Training, was sure to get involved in the SWEP. They are always making ways to contribute to the community. Along with the public, their
own center was able to benefit as they accepted affiliates, Donald Kelly(15), Shavion Davis(16), Adam Marmolejo(15) and their supervisor
Chris Hernandez(23) to assist in necessary maintenance around the center. Right next door the Women, Infants and Children center, (WIC)
was thrilled to employ Christina Bugarin(15) Having her there to help brought them control when the rush of customers came in. The Oasis
center boasts of being able to enroll and assist 312 passionate workers. Every one of them eager to work and make a dent in the
County’s employment crisis. For the young adults in the neighborhoods of Perris, the scenery can look bleak, but with the Oasis in
view they are sure to see a brighter future ahead, especially now that they have been involved first hand and have seen what our
County has planned to give us all HOPE.
Oasis Opportunity
Center
What would you do if 2,695 young adults emerged in your presence all of whom
are looking for guidance, instruction, life skills and a hopeful outlook to encourage them in their weakened state in life? This was the scene this summer in
Riverside County, and needless to say, our County stepped up to the challenge.
Certainly the funds from the stimulus plan were instrumental in helping these
youth, but it was also the drive these youngsters encompassed to change their
positions in society that kept them engaged. It was also the dedication of the
providers to teach them the importance of giving back to our economy by being
a positive part of it. We thank all of the participants, and a special thanks to
our President for keeping our County on the map. HOPE to see you all again next
year!!
Truly,
Tania Kaigler– Editor/ tkaigler@rivcoeda.org
Riverside County Economic Development
Left: Jr Journalist,,
Jessica Marquez(17)
Supervisor/editor,
Tania Kaigler
Agency/Workforce Development
Participants
looking forward
to SWEP 2010!!!
Congratulations to these SWEP youth.
Riverside Community College: Adrian Catalan(20)Office Assistant/Ashlee DeCarmo(20)
Receptionist/April Getten(24) Student Ambassador/Danielle Goode(19)Food Service Worker/
Kylie Knox(18)Receptionist/Barbara Mathews(23)Student Ambassador/Abigail Metcalfe(18)
Instructional Aide/Joanne Panoke(19)Tutor/Broke Whitlock(18)Receptionist/Brittany Taylor(20)
Office Assistant/Elizabeth Posada(19)Circulation Assistant/Clenesha Rider(24)Food Service
Worker/Timothy Chin(20)Food Service Assistant/Anabel Martinez(19)Instructional Assistant/
Maggie Martinez(19)Instructional Aide 2/Michael Garaysi(19)Assessment Clerk/Jessica Walters
(19)OfficeClerk
Above: Katlyn Thomas (22), Adam Drexler (19),
Jose Valdez (18), I.E Network/Sung
Koo(18)Temecula Community Center/Hemet
YOC/Phu Au, Project Coordinator Temecula/SWEP youth at Riverside Community Center/SWEP Youth at Hemet YOC/ Alfonso Campos/EDA, Lindsey Thayer, Yecenia Cervantes,
Temecula Boys and Girls Club/SWEP youth at
Job training at Corona High School
Left::
SWEP
Youth
The Arbor Win YOC: Melina Carirllo (CV Insurance)- Edwin Cisneros (Angel View)- Katherine
Guinea (Tarbell Realtors)-Janet Hernandez & Jose Hernandez & Tianna Zamora & Mirtha
Galvan & Francisco Rodriguez (Marshall's)-Monica Meza & Jazmine Mikulak & Jonathan Rodriguez (Cathedral City Boys and Girls Club)- Ronnette Moore (Hot Topic)-Carlos Munoz
(Riverside County EDA)-Jonathan Olloqui (Oasis Peer Support)- Blanca Morales (Wonder Cuts)
Empire Youth Yoc: Chelsy Dowding, Allyson Verth, Jessica Leon, Inez Chavez, Desiree
Zaragoza, Angela Cervantes, Marcos Rodriguez, Janet Ochoa, Joshua McNamara, Carrie Rule
man, Sean Bliss, Darci Swain, Kevin Ceron, Tashay Ardoin, Stephanie Quinlan, Cole Keener,
Jose Mata, Fernando Sanchez, Jessica Zengri, Elizabeth Pena, David Barkan, Marina Weiss, Emily
Martin, Ehiden Borbon, Javier Soto, Abraham Alcantar, Cassandra Ritchie, Martin Alcantar,
Alyssa Dean, Laura Enllanche, Abel Gamez, Tamid Gradford, Daniel Granger, Jessica Ketcham,
Briana Luciano, Vanessa Nieto, Eric Palomares, Anthony Ramil, Elizabeth Ventura, Lakesha
Hunt
Oasis YOC: Ashley Bolt/Quiznos-Jordan Bryant/Payless Shoes Source-Beatrice Banda/Rancho
Medical Clinic-Devon Spurgen/EZGO Insurance-Felisha West/Juice it Up!-Janette Vargas/
Nuview School District-Francisco Villa/AES Auto Smog Check-Nick Aranda/Mt. San Jacinto
College