P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network

Meeting Summary

May 2005

It is with great pleasure that we extend our heartiest appreciation to the Los Angeles Urban League Work Source Business & Career Center for serving as a wonderful host to the May 2005 P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network Meeting.  Special gratitude to Antoinette Anderson, Elainea Robbins, Anita Wallace and Victor Bozeman for coordinating and hosting the meeting and ensuring to the details for all of the attendees.  Thank you!  Also, we extend much appreciation to both Regina Robinson and Munzell Johnson for their senior management involvement.

Much appreciation goes to Delights by Lionel for catering such a fine breakfast for all of the meeting attendees.  Anyone wishing to use this service can contact the owner Lionel Anderson at (323) 971-5068, or DelightsbyLionel@aol.com

Elainea Robbins provided an excellent welcome on behalf of the Los Angeles Urban League and shared an article about the retirement of Jack Mack, the Executive Director.  Ms. Robbins can be reached at (310) 600-1106 ext 249, or email: erobbins@laul.org

Phallu Morgan, manager for the business assistance center of the Los Angeles Urban League described the business services offered by the Work Source Business & Career Center.  Most exciting are the free training classes for Photo Shop and Illustrator software.  Mr. Morgan can be reached at (323) 600-1337.

Michael Richardson provided an excellent overview on the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) “We Build” Program.  The LAUSD has a $14+ billion school construction and renovation program underway and are seeking local residents for job participation.  There is a six and ten-week pre-apprenticeship training program offered through Mr. Richardson’s group.  New Contributors and non-diploma people are welcome and encouraged to participate.  Mr. Richardson can be reached at 213) 633-8857, or email: Michael.Richardson@lausd.net

Also with LAUSD, Robert Hamm from the Facilities Department offered job opportunities for Custodial work.  Starting pay is $10.66 per hour with benefits.  Applicants cannot have a criminal record, must speak and write English, High School diploma, and transportation.  Work shift will probably begin at 1:00 PM to 9:30 PM.  Mr. Hamm can reached at (213) 633-8090, or email: Robert.Hamm@lausd.net

Marilyn Johnson, Executive Director with JobStarts, Inc. shared vital information for people wanting to start a business or improve their soft skills for better job placement potential.  JobStarts has a free-of-charge intense four-week program for aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs.  It is sponsored by Comerica Bank and seeks candidates from around the county, particularly residents living in the Service Planning Area #6.  Frank Melli, JobStarts Business Coordinator added that on May 10, 2005 a micro-enterprise training class will start.  This is a training led instruction with specific experts leading the discussions on goal setting, marketing, accounting/finance, legal structure and venture capital.  Ms. Johnson and Mr. Melli can be reached at (323) 290-6626.  Respectively, their email addresses are Mjohnson@jobstarts.org and Fmelli@jobstarts.org

Clifford Graves, General Manager for the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department shared a cornucopia of information about the job and economic development processes conducted through his department.  There are a variety of divisions within this department that deal with everything from gang intervention, bond funding, youth and family services, rapid job response, community block grant funding, self defense and community awareness through the Girl Today and Woman Tomorrow Program, and much more.  Mr. Graves showed a film that airs on television describing specific accomplishment of the department’s work.  Some of the bond programs include adding green space and gymnasium for schools, brown field development, and cultural development projects.  There is a $230 million empowerment zone apportionment ready for business use around a 19 square mile radius from downtown to East Los Angeles.

There are a18 WorkSource centers funded through his department all offering language skills, resume preparation, family development network, barriers to self-sufficiency, and services available to low to moderate income individuals throughout the system.  Mr. Graves briefly discussed a report called ‘One Out of Five’ which is a report on Out-of-School & Out-of-Work Youth in Los Angeles and Long Beach (approximately 93,000 young people).  He indicated you could obtain a copy on the department website at www.lacity.org/wib/youthsummit.

Mr. Graves encourages everyone wanting to contact him or obtain additional information to visit his department website: http://www.lacity.org/cdd/

The next meeting is set for 10 AM, Monday, June 6, 2005, at the People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), 340 N. Madison Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004, 323-644-2200.  (Couple of blocks east of Vermont near Beverly Blvd.)

For specific PCN member announcements go to: http://bizpartnership.biz/events.htm

May PCN meeting attendees:

Albert Napoli, Metropolitan Water District

Algie McNeal, GROW, LA Department of Public Social Services

Allyson Lavalais, Los Angeles World Airports

Anita Wallace, Los Angeles Urban League

Antoinette Anderson, Los Angeles Urban League

Barbara Banck, Housing Authority, County of Los Angeles

Betty Randell, Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services – GAIN

Brenda Stevenson, Los Angeles Opportunities Industrialization Center

C.J. Scott, Los Angeles Urban League

Carla Cortez, Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services

Carlos E. Ruvalcada, Community Centers, Inc.

Carol M. Milhorn, Goodwill

Carolyn Hines, Hines Hospitality Group

Connie Brown, PPL-Identity Theft

Cynthia Tollette, Fremont-Washington CAS

Dean Jones, Southland Business Development Partnership

Diana Ramirez, Los Angeles Urban League

Dinah White, State of CA, Employment Development Department

Don Duren, Drew University Head Start

Dr. Malika Salaam, M. Waters Employment Preparation Center

Elainea Robbins, Los Angeles Urban League

Ernest Gibbs, Los Angeles Urban League-Milken Center

Frank Garcia, Century Community Training Program

Frank Melli, JobStarts, Inc.

Gene Persip, Community Centers, Inc

Greg Scheib, Community Development Department--LAWA Project

James Jones, Gangsters for Christ

Janet Canaway, PATH

Jessye Scott-Stafford, Los Angeles World Airports

Joseph Rouzan, Community Development Department, LAWA Project

Josie Starling, Wings of Refuge, Inc.

Joy Tsuhako, Social Security Administration

K. Korey Johnson, Beyond Shelter

Kenisha Humphrey, Goodwill Long Beach

LaVonté Jackson, Goodwill Industries-Long Beach

Marian Dial-Aiken, Automotive Training Center

Marilyn Johnson, JobStarts

Michael Bennett Los Angeles Urban League

Michael Medina, Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services

Michael Richardson, Los Angeles Unified School District

Mindy Owes, Resources Advancing Family Transitions (RAFT)

Nancy Pelayo, Community Development Department, City of Los Angeles

Olibra Bailey, Century Community Training

Oliver Buie, Grace Community C.M.E. Church

Patricia Pascua, Harbor-UCLA Ami/Able Program

Phyllis Mack, Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE)

Phyllis Norwood, Los Angeles Southwest College

Portia Smith, State of CA Employment Development Department, Crenshaw Office

Regina Robinson, Los Angeles Urban League

Rick Stoff, Chrysalis

Robert Hamm, Los Angeles Unified School district

Sandy Annino, Long Beach Job Corps

Shirley Lockridge, Los Angeles Southwest College

Silvana Cavuana, Beyond Shelter

Taft Robinson, County of Los Angeles

Tiffany Hooker, Los Angeles Southwest College

Trena Lawson, Romona’s Vocational School

Vernell Taylor, Union Bank of California

Victor Bozeman, Los Angeles Urban League

Vivian Hochschild, SASSFA Paramount

Whitney Daniel, Meaning & Purpose, Inc.

William Martinez, Wilshire Metro Worksource community Career Development

Xavier Colston, SiteMasters Planning

This email is forwarded by the Southland Business Development Partnership, 700 North Bullis Road, Compton, CA 90221, (310) 637-7248, and facsimile 310.637.7412.  Should you wish to discontinue your community service email information notices, simply reply “Remove From List.