JobTrain: 2011 Recipient of Bank of America's NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDER AWARD!

Bank of America Honors JobTrain with the 2011 NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDER AWARD

Bank of America honored the recipients of this year's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative grants at a ceremony on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View.

San Mateo County-based JobTrain and Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties each received $200,000 unrestricted grants and leadership training. Bank of America also recognized five "Local Heroes" for their community service work with $5,000 donations toward the nonprofit of their choice. The recipients and their charities were Charles Aronstam, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford; Chad Bojorquez, InnVision Georgia Travis Multi-Service Day Center; Christine Case, Expanding Your Horizons event at Skyline College; Lauri Steel, Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley, and Jeffery Trout, TriSoldier Project.

JobTrain Executive Director Sharon Williams accepted the award and is pictured here with Project Build student RAFAEL MORALES and Culinary Arts representative COSTANDINOS SIOTOS (Dino).

Click HERE to watch Dino's video and see how JobTrain is helping to transform his life.

JobTrain Alumna Brittany Philpart Becomes Health Educator

JOBTRAIN M.O.A. GRADUATE BECOMES STUDENT HEALTH EDUCATOR

Brittany Philpart, graduated from the Medical Office Assistant program at JobTrain in 2008.

After becoming a JobTrain graduate, Brittany was inspired to advance her education and began matriculating at Foothill College in Los Altos, Ca.

While pursuing her coursework, Brittany was hired at CVS and worked as a typist for their pharmacy department until August 2011.

TODAY, October 4, 2011, Brittany returned to JobTrain to share some amazing news. She was just hired to work as a Student Health Educator. Brittany is on an upward trajectory towards accomplishing her goals and becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

Brittany will graduate with an Associate of Science degree in Education from Foothill College in 2012.

Alumnus Profile of Success: Randale Conner

Why JobTrain Matters to Me: Randale's Story

Before discovering JobTrain, RANDALE CONNER lived a regretful existence involving drugs, criminal behavior and even incarceration. However, when Randale came to JobTrain his life was completely TRANSFORMED!

Randale pursued a course of study in construction and graduated with high marks from JobTrain’s Project Build program in June 2010. In addition to the quality and free vocational training he received, Randale accredits JobTrain for giving his life both purpose and meaning and for “equipping him with the tools for creating a successful life.”

Now, Randale Conner is an apprentice laborer at MOUNTAIN CASCADE and is extensively involved in the Hetch Hetchy Project. This massive undertaking involves upgrading and purifying the drinking water in Northern California by spring 2012.

To learn more about Randale's story, please click HERE to watch the YouTube video. And if you're interested in becoming part of the JobTrain family, wish to schedule a personal tour or subscribe to our newsletter, please contact Kail Lubarsky, Director of Marketing & PR at klubarsky@jobtrainworks.org

THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS

REDWOOD CREEK GRILL HIRES JOBTRAIN'S "FANTASTIC FIVE"

At JobTrain, our bell ringing ceremonies are ALWAYS a spectacular occasion. It’s a time of celebration and pride knowing that one of our students has found a job. When someone rings the bell, ALL students and staff gather in the Bill Walsh Lobby at JobTrain and collectively show their support for the new hire.

On September 16, 2011, enthusiasm could not be contained as 5 CULINARY ARTS students rang the bell. Affectionately regarded as the “Fantastic Five” John Akopyan, D’Shawn Barnes, Hugo Contreras, Dino Siotos and Eduardo Soto, were ALL hired to work at REDWOOD CREEK GRILL located in Redwood City, CA.

Chef Suzi of Redwood Creek Grill (featured in the photo above), attended the ceremony and beamed with joy watching her new hires enjoy the congratulatory remarks and accolades from their JobTrain family and peers.

Lieutenant John Munsey, Deputy Bob Madigan and Program Services Manager Debra Keller were our special guests from the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office.