P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network
Meeting Summary
September 10, 2008The New Directions, Inc was a marvelous host for the September 2008 P.O.W.E.R. (Partnership Opportunities With Economic/Educational Resources) Collaborative Network (PCN) meeting. Deidra Vandiergriff completed a great job coordinating this meeting! The PCN members also wish to thank Brigitte Slayton and Matt Davison for making this a great opportunity to network and to learn more about the variety of New Directions, Inc. services.
Ms. Vandiergriff shared that Los Angeles has the largest population of homeless military veterans in the nation. An estimated 20,000 veterans live on the streets of L.A. -- eleven percent (11%) of all homeless veterans nationwide. Many of these men and women suffer from co-occurring disorders, including substance abuse, mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as chronic medical problems.
For the past 16 years New Directions has provided comprehensive long-term substance abuse treatment to our nation's veterans. More than 800 men and women seek outpatient services from the agency each year, and 225 veterans receive round-the-clock care at four different residential treatment centers. Also, currently in development is a 150-unit supportive housing facility for disabled veterans. Ms. Vandiergriff’s office number is (310) 268-3465, or email dvandiegriff@newdirectionsinc.org.
Eddie Purtuas, California Employment Development Department presented impressive details on the upcoming “Honor A Hero, Hire A Vet” Career Expo and Job Resource Fair scheduled for October 15, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Expo is open to all job seekers, but is especially designed for veterans and is part of the California Governor's Statewide Initiative, "Honor a Hero, Hire a Vet," to help veterans make a successful transition from military service to civilian life. The press coverage is enormous and any employer participating will have a large opportunity to be recognized at a well publicized and noteworthy event. Mr. Purtuas’ office number is (310) 680-3820, or email epurtuas@edd.ca.gov.
Jerlene Tatum, US Vets, presented with Mr. Purtuas indicating the importance that this is one of the State's largest and most distinctive resource fairs for veterans. More than 125 employers are expected to participate, and Tom Johnson, Secretary of the California Department of Veteran Affairs, will be the opening speaker. Sponsorships are still welcomed and Ms. Tatum’s office number is (562) 388-8020, email jtatum@usvetsinc.org.
Regina Lee, El Camino College – CalWorks shared a generous overview on how El Camino is assisting people with educational enhancement and job placement needs. For example, Ms Lee’s responsibilities include the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program, which is a state funded program designed to assist single parents who are recipients of TANF/CalWORKS while attending college. Another program is the Extended Opportunity Program and services (EOPS) to assist low income and educationally disadvantaged students (challenged by language, social, economic and education) achieve their educational goals at El Camino College. We wish to thank Ms. Jeanette Magee the manager of the program for extending Ms. Lee as such a valued resource to the PCN members. Ms. Lee’s office number is (310) 660-6058, and email is rlee@elcamino.edu
Dean Jones, Director for the PCN announced that the Choreographers of Careers© Awards committee has completed its selections for the 2008 recognition program. The awards program this year is hosted by the Los Angeles World Airports, Wednesday, October 8, 2008. Our keynote speaker for the meeting and recognition awards is Ms. Barbara Halsey, who is the Executive Director of the California Workforce Investment Board. Ms. Halsey was appointed to this position by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in May 2007. The mission of the State Board is to foster partnerships between business, government, education and economic development to meet the workforce needs of all local businesses. Mr. Jones’ office number is (310) 637-7248, or email POWERSOLA@aol.com
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The next PCN meeting is Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 10 AM – Noon. The Los Angeles World Airports, Flight Path Museum, 6661 West Imperial Highway, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (two blocks west of Sepulveda Blvd.) is hosting our October meeting. Our distinctive meeting hosts are Allyson Lavalais, Jamie Gutierrez, Rose Cote, and Clarence Espinoza, (310) 417-6490. A buffet breakfast is offered compliments of LAWA as a special treat to all PCN members beginning at 9:15 AM.
PCN Meeting Attendees for September 2008
Anita Wallace, Los Angeles Urban League
April Lawrence, Office of Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Arcelia Sandoval, Personal Involvement Center, Healthy Marriage
Barbara Lynn, Personal Involvement Center- Healthy Marriage
Billy Williams, Los Angeles Urban League
Brad Carson, Los Angeles County Probation Department
Carolyn Christian Hines, Hines Hospitality Group
Daniel Gibson, Los Angeles County Community Development Commission
Darryl Fisher, California Employment Development Department
Dean Jones, Southland Partnership Corporation / P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network
Deidra Vandiergriff, New Directions, Inc.
Delores Adger-Frisby, Goodwill, Serving the People of Los Angeles County
Devona Gardner, US Pretrial
Diane Klessnes, US Department of Veteran Affairs
Dorian Frank, US Department of Veteran Affairs
Eddie Purtuas, California Employment Development Department
Elainea Robbins, Los Angeles Urban League
Erick Cerda, Los Angeles Probation Department
Franco Vega, The Midnight Mission
Hector Garcia, US Department of Veteran Affairs
James Jones, Gangsters For Christ
Jamie Gutierrez, Los Angeles World Airports
Janaya Thomas, Goodwill, Serving the People of Los Angeles County
Jeanette Magee, El Camino College
Jennifer Frank, Mentors International
Jerlene Tatum, US Vets
Jo Tenner, Compton CareerLink WorkSource Center
Keith Sweet, Los Angeles Urban League
Ketren Williams Tolbert, KWT – Karing With Tenderness
Larry Hoberman, Lawrence Funding
Laura Balverde, El Dorado Community Service Center
Loretta Jackson, Broad Spectrum Community Development Corporation
Luz Ross, Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services
Mary Sutton, Los Angeles County Department of Health – West LA
Maryd Miller, City of Los Angeles-Youth Opportunity Movement
Matt Davison, New Directions, Inc.
Michael Bennett, Los Angeles Urban League
Michael Williams, El Camino College
Pat Atitebi, Lutheran Social Services Center
Patrick Rodriguez, US Small Business Administration
Regina Lee, El Camino College – CalWorks
Rosalyn Clark, Los Angeles Police Department
Salvador Barajas, Goodwill, Serving the People of Los Angeles County
Sarah Crowley, Covenant House California
Sheila Wiley, Jobing.com
Tony Jackson, Los Angeles Police Department
Vernell Taylor, Union Bank of California
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PCN started in January 2001, focused on job coordination for community residents in order to assist in public & private sector work placement. The PCN members are community builders serving to identify, nurture, & mobilize local assets by enhanced networking to rejuvenate economies, strengthen business investments, & ultimately build up civil society. The PCN meets monthly sharing job recruitment, funding, training, workforce projects, & other related topics at various member locations.
P.O.W.E.R. - Partnership Opportunities With Economic/Educational Resources