P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network
Meeting Summary
December 11, 2006

The P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network (PCN), a provider of human resources outreach connectivity conducted a great informative December meeting. Our host was the Southeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center (SELAWC).  We wish to thank the SELAWC Manager Mareta Papu and Business Service Representative Billy Williams for coordinating the agenda of speakers and refreshments for the members.  Additionally we want to say thank you to JoAnne Fonseca and Eileen Arthur for taking time to accommodate the members.

We also extend sincere appreciations to Bob Nelson the President of UAW Labor, Employment, and Training Corporation, contract management for SELAWC to meet the PCN members and allowing the staff to run such a top-notch assembly of job developers.

Our meeting was exciting as it centered on a theme of ‘transportation’ opportunities around the greater Los Angeles area.  Stephanie Bellamy, Recruiter Human Resources with FedEx Ground, first energized us with a well-rounded presentation on the hiring activity and opportunities at the company.  There are great opportunities for Part-Time Seasonal Package Handlers at FedEx Ground, now through January 13, 2007.  All applicants must be 18 years and out of high school, pass a background check and able to work available shifts for two-4 hour days.  Shift times are 12:30 PM, 6:30 PM, 11:30 PM, 3:00 AM and 5:00 AMMs. Bellamy can be reached by email at, stephanie.bellamy@fedex.com, or visit their website at; www.fedex.com

Scott Lloyd, Human Resources Recruiter, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (METRO) gave a great impromptu presentation about hiring 1,000 qualify people today.  METRO has a growing demand to augment its staff due in part to the cyclical retirement patterns of its current employees, plus the need to meet the demand of new and expanding transportation lines.  All applicants will begin as bus operators and have room for advancement after eighteen months of full-time assignments.  All specific training is provided by METRO.  Mr. Lloyd can be reached in the METRO Human Resources Department at (213) 922-6217, and the website address is www.metro.net

Jamie Gutierrez and Joyce Sloss, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), presented on the First Source and Job Training program.  LAWA has the first opportunity to fill airport positions and is seeking partnership opportunities with economic/educational resources [P.O.W.E.R.] to help recruit or train people for specific airport related positions.  All job development organizations are encouraged to speak with Ms.Sloss to determine a level of participation with this new program.  Her email is jsloss@lawa.org, and/or you can contact Mr. Gutierrez at (310) 342-1434, or email; jamiegutierrez@lawa.org,

Portia Smith, State of California Employment Department is leaving for her well-earned retirement at the end of this month.  Portia has given 100% of her passion about helping her clients and other workforce professionals.  Portia contributed significantly to all of the resource fairs presented by the PCN and the annual Choreographers of Career programs.  She has attended or ensured the presence of a substitute at every monthly meeting of the PCN since its inception January 2001.

We will truly miss the wonderful Portia Smith as a regular part of the PCN meetings.  We wish Portia many happy returns in her plans as a state retiree.  We can only imagine the number of invites she will receive wanting to take advantage of her new post state work time.  On behalf of the entire PCN members, we say congratulations and best wishes to you Portia.

A large portion of the PCN members stopped and paid a special tribute to long time PCN coordinator Dean JonesMr. Jones was extremely excited and elated to see such a warm outpouring of PCN members who spent extra time to recognize consistent work of sharing workforce information to help improve the quality of life for the residents of the greater Los Angeles area.  Mr. Jones thanked everyone for the special tribute and was overwhelmed by the gratitude.  He stated his pride with working with such outstanding people and shared the recognition with Al Washington (not present) who initiated the collaborative.  Mr. Jones looks forward to continuing this work and being part of such a giving organization where each member seeks the best opportunities available to share with other people.

The next PCN meeting is set for Monday, January 8, 2006, hosted by Broad Spectrum Community Development Corporation and the City Long Beach Workforce Development Bureau.  This is Broad Spectrum’s third time hosting the PCN and does a fine job with sharing financial and tax information for both individuals and businesses.  Our agenda and refreshments sponsors are Elnora Ragland and Donnicus Cook, (323) 693-6505.  The meeting will take place at the Renaissance Center for Working Families, 1900 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806.  Please note that for the meeting free parking is earmarked for PCN members next door at Faith Chapel Mortuary.

PCN Meeting Attendees for December 2006

Antoinette Mosely, Southeast Los Angeles-Crenshaw WorkSource Center

Arelettia Jones, Los Angeles Opportunities Industrialization Center

Angela Samstag, Southeast Los Angeles-Crenshaw WorkSource Center

Armine Moysesyan, University of Phoenix

Autumn McCoy, Century Housing-CCTP

Belonda Stringfield, Crystal Stairs

Billy Williams, Southeast Los Angeles-Crenshaw WorkSource Center

Blanche Octave, County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department

Bobbie Smith, Los Angeles Urban League

Bob Nelson, Southeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center

Carlos Ruvalcaba, CODELA

Carolyn Christian Hines, Hines Hospitality Group

Cecile Harris Walters, City of Long Beach

Charles Jackson, Hub City News

Clarence Espinosa, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

Daniel Tabor, LAANE

Darryl Fisher, State of California Employment Development Department, West L.A.

Dean Jones, Southland Business Partnership

Deidra Vandiegriff, New Directions, Inc.

Denise Hollis, Los Angeles Urban League

Efrain Ruiz, Los Angeles Superior Court

Eileen Arthur, Southeast Los Angeles-Crenshaw WorkSource Center

Elizabeth Russell, Job Corps

Elnora Ragland, Broad Spectrum, CDC

Gaston Herrera, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Social Services, GAIN Region I

Gayle Collins, Los Angeles South/Compton Juvenile Service

James Jones, Gangsters for Christ

Jamie Field, GC Services

Jamie Gutierrez, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

Jennifer Frank, Mentors International

Joanie Knight, Forte Tax Academy

JoAnne Fonseca, Southeast Los Angeles-Crenshaw WorkSource Center

Joanna Han, Korean Community Church D

Jonathan Bennett, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH)

Jonathan Jones, Los Angeles Urban League WorkSource

Joseph Alvarado, LACCDC

Joy Tsyhako, Social Security Administration

Joyce Sloss, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

Kimberly Penniman, Archdiocese Youth Employment (AYE)

La Toya Lagman, Covenant House California

Lanette Ramirez, Didi Hirsch CMHC, Department of Rehabilitation Workforce

LaVerne Daniels, State of California Employment Development Department

LaVonté Jackson, Goodwill Serving the People of Southern L.A. County

Leslie Jimenez, Dayle McIntosh Center

Leslie Parness, GPC/JVS

Linda Lew, El Camino College

Linda Oropeza, LAUSD, Metro Skills Center

Lonnie Anderson, Los Angeles Metro Churches, Ex-Offender Action Network

Marlan Cooper, Brinks Incorporated

Maretta Papu, Southeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center

Merwin Gerard, Los Angeles County DPSS, GROW Program

Michael Richardson, Los Angeles Unified School District -- ‘We Build’

Mindy Owes, R.A.F.T., Inc.

Monica Anderson, Ex-Offender Action Network, L.A. Metro Churches

Portia Smith, State of California Employment Development Department

Rene Casarez, CASA of Los Angeles Superior Courts

Robert Hamm, Los Angeles Unified School District

Rose Cote, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

Scott Lloyd, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority “METRO”

Shirley Lockridge, Los Angeles Southwest College

Stephanie Bellamy, FedEx Ground

Stephen Thompson, Los Angeles Opportunities Industrialization Center (LAOIC)

Susan Tenner, Abram Freidman Occupational Center

Tiffany Hooker, Los Angeles Southwest College

Tyron Horn, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Vernell Taylor, Union Bank of California

Vilma Delgado, Dayle McIntosh Center

Wally Aquilar, State of California employment Development Panel (ETP)

Young Choi, LAUSD-Career Development Branch

Yvonne D’Ambra, South Bay One Stop

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PCN started in January 2001, focused on job coordination for community residents, assisting them with 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.