2016 YOUTH SUCCESS STORIES
Meet Kimberly Rodriguez - HAWTHORNE
Workforce Challenge: Hawa Ganda is a graduate from Leuzinger high school, as well as the South Bay Workforce Investment Board’s Fit for Gold program. Originally from Burma, Ms. Ganda noted that after-school programs where high school seniors are trained to provide homework assistance, nutrition information and physical fitness activities to elementary school students did not exist where she grew up. Also, having a disabled parent, made it to where family finances were stressed and thoughts of post-secondary education were fleeting.
Workforce Solution: Despite her shy personality, Ms. Ganda’s training taught her how to work with individuals from different backgrounds, maintain a healthy life style and how to become an effective tutor and mentor to younger
students. Fit for Gold effectively became her first job. She enjoyed being able to help her family financially, while also maintaining a high grade point average. Fit for Gold program also gave her confidence and assurance towards her future goals beyond high school.
Outcome and Benefits: Ms. Ganda is currently attending Cal State Northridge, majoring in Psychology. Aside from being a full-time student, she also balances a full time job at LAX airport with Frontier airlines and credits Fit for Gold for her enrichment, maturity, as well as for her college and work readiness.
“Because of Fit for Gold I was inspired to become a social worker, and became a role model for my siblings and be a helpful citizen in my community.”
Meet Alejandra Roman - HAWTHORNE
Workforce Challenge: Alejandra Roman is a Hawthorne resident who attended Hawthorne High School. Ms. Roman has demonstrated resilience in the face of personal adversity. At the age of 12, she tragically lost her younger sister
after she was hit by a truck. Soon after that, her father became ill for close to one year. Now the sole breadwinner, her mother sought work to support the family. Nearly one year after her sister’s passing, she almost lost her
older brother when he too was hit by a car, hospitalized and then fell into a coma. Her brother, however, made a full recovery. These personal challenges made the prospect of finding employment extremely difficult
Workforce Solution: The SBWIB placed Ms. Roman in the Summer Youth Program where she proved to be a dedicated and enthusiastic young lady, eager to learn. The summer of 2016, she worked for the Events & Marketing Manager at Centinela Valley Union High School District and exhibited a phenomenal work ethic while performing
above expectations on all levels. Through her job as an assistant, she learned excel, data compilation, accounting, Photoshop, event, marketing and public relations support, as well as research and development.
Outcome and Benefits: She participated in several programs and clubs throughout high school and graduated with a 3.8 GPA. Ms. Roman will be attending the University of California, Davis, this fall to study Psychology. The work she has completed during the summer continues to equip her with a skill set that will be invaluable to her in college and her career.
“While personal circumstances could have hindered me, I used them to motivate me to do great things."
Meet Javari Regan - INGLEWOOD
Workforce Challenge: Javari Reagan graduated from Inglewood High School in June 2016. He was a foster youth living with his sister. His father is deceased and he has little contact with his mother. Mr. Reagan went to the Inglewood One-Stop because he needed to find a job in order to contribute to his household and help his sister with living expenses.
Workforce Solution: Mr. Reagan entered the Bridge-to-Work Foster Youth program at the Inglewood One-Stop in March 2016 and registered for the Blueprint for Workplace Success class. Mr. Reagan indicated that the class was the best he had ever taken and that it helped him prepare for the work environment in ways he had never considered. He stated that the course helped build his confidence in speaking to adults as well as increasing his understanding of what employers expect from new employees.
Outcome and Benefits: Mr. Reagan was placed in a paid-work experience assignment at Fallas, a local clothing business, where he worked for three months. He consistently received high marks on his bi-weekly evaluations by his worksite supervisor, all while finishing his senior year of high school and earning his diploma. Mr. Reagan has
since been accepted into the United States Army National Guard and was deployed for a nine-week boot camp in Georgia in mid-July. After boot camp, he will then transfer to Alabama for eight weeks to aviation school.
“Working with the Inglewood One-Stop gave me the confidence to believe in myself despite the barriers in my life. I am hopeful that with the right attitude and skills, the sky is the limit.”