P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network
Meeting Summary
March 2005
Superb information was shared at the March 2005 P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network (PCN) meeting. Many thanks to Phyllis Jasso and Pat Lamparello for hosting the PCN members at the Veteran’s Affairs campus. The Veterans Affairs department provides a tremendous amount of important and critical patient need services and we extend our greatest appreciation to all of these people who are dedicated to the work and also to the committed program volunteers for extending your time to our country’s veterans. Thank you Mr. Lamparello for providing a tour of the facilities to the PCN members.
Daniel Gatica and Mergaite Zepeda from Chrysalis gave a fantastic overview about how this organization is changing lives through jobs. They have three locations from downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pacoima, which is the office, represented by Mr. Gatica. Chrysalis began feeding and clothing the homeless over twenty years ago. Now, in addition to their beginning services they provide long-term job training that includes soft skills and job readiness programs. They specialize in one-on-one employment counseling and have a 93% placement success rate. The services offered are in multiple languages and clients receive the services free of charge. Anyone wanting to reach Mr. Gatica can call (818) 834-4357, or email him at GaticaD@changelives.org. Ms. Zepeda can be reached at (818) 834-4357, or email ZepedaM@changelives.org
Pat Lamparello gave an informative overview on the basic services provided by the Veterans Industries. Since 1968, the Veterans Industries is helping businesses save money with local pickup and delivery services, including shrink wrapping, pack & re-pack, assembling, all the way up through complex machines. Businesses receive a tremendous tax break from using the services by eliminating employee overhead expenses. To reach Mr. Lamparello call (818) 891-7711 ext. 9941, or email: pat.lamparello@med.va.gov.
Len Ciufo from Los Angeles Valley College shared a great success story and program initiative that the college produces. The program upgrades employment skills and has already placed 600 people in San Fernando, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Ontario and West Covina markets. The LA Valley Program is a career training process to get people into living wage positions with sound benefits. The LA Valley College is collaborating with over twenty partners for this workforce-training endeavor. The college has multiple grants in-place to meet the demand and is encouraged about the future training processes. Should you want to reach Mr. Ciufo, (shoe-foe) he can be reached by email at CiufoLA@LAVC.edu.
Sether Hills shared a brief glimpse into veteran patient care at the West Los Angeles Healthcare Center. The doctors have a high level of specialization including, but not limited to, physical medicine & rehabilitation, recreation therapy, occupational therapy, kinesiotherapy, cardiac, biochemistry, vocational and much more. On Thursday, May 5, 2005 the VA is presenting a special healthcare program on Rehabilitation and the Stroke Patient at the 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, Bldg 500, 2nd Floor East Wing-Dayroom. For more information the contact number Ms. Hills is, (310) 268-3337.
Ida Cousino got everyone involved with a special program called Veteran Gardens. This is a program that works with any veteran that is not suitable for competitive employment. They work closely with their clients to build them into a 40 hour per week position to support the growth and selling of plants. In essence it is horticulture therapy for the veterans and the customers include restaurants, florists, and the general public. The Veteran’s Gardens number is (310) 268-4062, and the hours of sales are Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, (Friday to 11:00 AM).
Mindy Owes presented a new program to the PCN members about Resources Advancing Family Transitions (RAFT). This public benefit, nonprofit organization provides affordable housing and access to supportive services to single mother families. RAFT provides training for placement to entry-level positions with the legal field, such as receptionist, file clerk, and general office services. Should you want more information, please feel free to contact Ms. Owes, Executive Director for RAFT, at (310) 670-4617, or email appointed1@msn.com.
Ida Cousino from the Veterans Gardens was very gracious to donate a generously proportioned and dazzling flower arrangement from the Veteran’s Gardens. It was raffled and won by PCN member Ms. Adela Sherrell with the A.D.E.L.A. Foundation.
The next PCN meeting is Monday,
April 11, 2005 at Ascension
Church, 517
W. 112th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (just off Figueroa Street).
Our host is Donnicus
Cook of Broad Spectrum (310) 693-6505, Ext 103. We look forward
to another fine meeting including our special guest, Mr. Joseph T. Rouzan
III, Community Development Department--Workforce Development Division who
will share new information about the $15 million LAX Community Benefits
Agreement/Jobs Program.
March PCN meeting attendees:
Adela Sherrell, A.D.E.L.A.
America Solis, State of CA Employment Development Department
Anita Wallace, Los Angeles Urban League
Antoinette Anderson, Los Angeles Urban League
Billy Williams, Business Training Schools
Brenda Stevenson, Los Angeles Opportunities Industrialization Center
Carolyn Hines, Glitter Promotions-Hines Hospitality Group
Daniel Gatica, Chrysalis
Dean Jones, Southland Business Development Partnership
Deborah Deras, Department of Rehabilitation
Duffy Leahy, Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs
Elainea Robbins, Los Angeles Urban League
Eric King, West Angeles CDC Empowerment
Frank Garcia, Century Community Training Program
Joseph Ciccone, Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs
Joy Tsuhako, US Social Security Administration
Judith Trester, Pierce College
Martha Urbina, Net Tech learning Center
Mergaite Zepeda, Chrysalis
Oliver Tyrone, A.D.E.L.A. Foundation
Pat Lamparello, Veterans Industries
Phyllis Jasso, VA Veteran Industries
Portia Smith, State of CA Employment Development Department, Crenshaw Office
Saudra Rosete, Southeast LA Worksource IEIC
Steven Sanders, Compton Community College, CalWorks
Susan Peterson, State of CA Employment Development Department
Taft Robinson, County of Los Angeles
Vu Hien, Pasadena GROW
Len Ciufo, LA Valley College
Mindy Owes, Resources Advancing Family transitions (RAFT)
Ida Cousino, Veterans Gardens
Sether Hills, VA Veteran Industries
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