Facebook Hires Another JobTrain Graduate!

The BEST way to start the week is with a JobTrain bell ringing ceremony! 

Today, April 1, 2013, TAMMY OUTLAND returned to JobTrain with her precious daughter and proudly rang the Sharon Williams Legacy Bell, signifying that she's back in the workforce! Be sure to watch the exciting and inspirational bell ringing ceremony HERE

Tammy was hired through Flagship to work at Facebook as a bread maker. Tammy works 10PM to 6:30AM and absolutely LOVES her new job! 

According to Culinary Arts instructor Chef Adam Weiner, "I think she's brilliant and wonderful. Tammy's always smiling and very cheerful. It was just great having her in class! She was absolutely always a fabulous student!"

"I feel so excited about my future now and it's all because of everyone here. 

Thank you, JobTrain." -Tammy Outland

Meet the First Graduating Class of JobTrain's Life Skills Boot Camp!

On March 28, 2013, JobTrain celebrated the first graduating class of the LIFE SKILLS BOOT CAMP. Fourteen students completed the pilot program, which spanned 10-weeks and consisted of 20 individual workshops. The initial core classes emphasized goal setting and conflict resolution, the requisite soft skills needed for strong interpersonal communication and relationships. The curriculum concluded with survival skills and taught students the principles of how to manage their day-to-day lives.

The Life Skills Boot Camp was the brainchild of Russell Pyne, a longtime JobTrain advocate, board member for 17 years and former chairman of the board of directors.  “In a way, I like to think I was promoted,” he said of leading the workshop. “It was the next step in my evolution of getting to know JobTrain. Previously, I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with the clients.”

The boot camp and its curriculum were developed approximately a year ago, after Pyne taught a workshop on personal finance as encouraged by his dear friend and JobTrain Executive Director Sharon Williams. “As a VC, my life is focused on finance and entrepreneurship,” said Russell, who is founder and Managing Director of Menlo Park-based Atrium Capital.  ”Teaching the workshop was a wonderful experience. My students responded so positively that I decided I wanted to do more.”

 In order to launch the first ever JobTrain Life Skills Boot Camp, Pyne worked with one of his students, Alfred Banks and created a life skills curriculum. The objective of the pilot program was to level the playing field and establish opportunities for clients regardless of their backgrounds. “Some people have the benefit of growing up being mentored by parents, teachers and bosses. Others have no positive role models. Alfred and I tried to focus on the basic life skills you need to be prepared for the working world,” said Pyne.

The Life Skills Boot Camp graduation was remarkable, the enthusiasm and pride of its graduates and their families and friends was undeniable.  Philanthropist, community activist and comedian Michael Pritchard delivered an unforgettable keynote speech. 

“Don’t let the mediocre blow your candle out.  Create a group of people here in this room with this first graduating class. Make this a solid and tight of a group as you have ever been around. Stay close to each other in every way that you can. Love each other; support each other – and you will change our community, our country, our planet – our world,” said Pritchard.

 After receiving their certificates of completion, the graduates presented select JobTrain staff with awards signifying their appreciation for their ongoing support and mentorship.  

Sharon Williams Passes JobTrain Leadership Torch

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sharon Williams, JobTrain's long-time executive director, will step away from her position in late spring or early summer.  A reception and dinner will be held at the Four Seasons Silicon Valley in East Palo Altoon March 9 to celebrate Sharon's leadership and to raise funds for her "Life Skills" legacy to JobTrain.  

Sharon joined JobTrain as a GED teacher in 1973 and became Director of Development in 1978.  She took the helm as Executive Director in 1979.  During her thirty plus years in JobTrain's top spot, Sharon and her team transformed a beleaguered nonprofit into a premier job training and placement institution. Major accomplishments include the purchase and renovation of a 31,000 square foot training facility; accreditation through Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); creation of cutting edge training; and a diverse funding base that includes support from prestigious Silicon Valley leaders and corporations.

Sharon's most valuable contribution to JobTrain is perhaps the most difficult to define. Often referred to as JobTrain's "secret sauce", it is the upbeat and energetic spirit that permeates the organization. "We believe in the potential of every person who comes to us," says Sharon, "and that helps them believe in themselves. Once they know they can succeed, the challenge is nearly won." JobTrain currently helps 8,000 people each year, 500-600 of them through full-time vocational training. At least 85% of those who enroll complete their training; 75% are placed in jobs; and 12 months after placement, 84% are still working.

Vocational training skills constitute one important aspect of a multi-faceted approach to success. "Vocational skills prepare our graduates for employment. These skills get them hired and help them launch careers," says Sharon. " But their life skills, their attitudes and habits, will determine long-term life success and deeper happiness." Life skills are modeled by JobTrain staff and are incorporated into every trainee's daily experience at JobTrain.  Life skills are also taught as a stand-alone course.

"Ironically," says Sharon, "this vital aspect of training is often perceived as an 'extra' and is at risk when funding limitations dictate cutbacks. Life skills are an essential ingredient in our formula for success. My legacy will be to assure the long-term continuation of life skills training."   

Sharon Williams has been an active community change agent for many years, always looking out for those who most need help.  She currently serves on the boards of Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN) and the East Palo Alto Digital Village. She previously served on the boards of the East Palo Alto Senior Center, Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, Leadership Mid-Peninsula, and the Workforce Investment Board of San Mateo County. 

Sharon Williams has been honored with many awards, including the Career Action Center's Woman of Vision Award, the Palo Alto Chamber's Athena Award, induction into the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame, the University of the Pacific's Distinguished Alumni Award and the Silicon Valley Women of Influence Award. Sharon is an ALF (American Leadership Forum) Senior Fellow. 

For information about Sharon's Legacy Dinner, scheduled for March 9 at the Four Seasons Silicon Valley, please contact Susan Boiko at 650-330-6521 or sboiko@jobtrainworks.org.                 

Sharon Williams Legacy Established to Fund Ongoing Life Skills Training

Life Skills training is central to achieving long-term success. This is where trainees learn the values, behaviors and habits that will propel them forward in life. Life Skills training instills the ethic of hard work, dependability, initiative and integrity. It inspires trainees to achieve balance and perspective, and to become enthusiastic participants in life.    

About JobTrain:

JobTrain transforms lives and communities in Silicon Valley.  Since 1965, we've helped more than 160,000 men and women in the Valley reclaim their lives from welfare, incarceration and unemployment by preparing them for successful careers in high-demand and emerging fields.  JobTrain, formerly OICW, transforms personal motivation into real skills that are the foundation self-sufficiency and self-esteem. In addition to "vocational training," we understand that fundamental and sustainable transformations require a high school diploma, computer literacy, one-on-one counseling, as well as access to basics like housing, transportation and childcare – and we assist our clients with all of these needs.  In a rough economy, JobTrain places 75% of its graduates in quality jobs.  Each individual success story proves that – with time, commitment and resources – powerful transformations do happen.

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Stanford University's Basketball Coach Becomes ATHENA Goddess

Cardinal Women's Basketball Coach & JobTrain Board Member Tara VanDerveer, Receives Prestigious ATHENA Award!

On November 16, 2011, Stanford University women’s basketball coach and PROUD member of JobTrain’s Board of Directors, Tara VanDerveer – was honored by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce with the prestigious ATHENA award.

Each year, the body receives hundreds of recommendations and nominations for exemplary professional women that personify excellence in their professional and personal lives. Perhaps the hallmark of the ATHENA award is selecting a woman that achieves remarkable success in her own right and creates opportunities and trail blazes on behalf of other women to follow.

JobTrain’s Executive Director and 2001 ATHENA winner Sharon Williams, presented VanDerveer with the coveted award. Williams praised VanDerveer for her brilliant career on the court, her recent induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and for serving as a role model for many young women across the world, especially those at JobTrain.

VanDerveer accepted the award from Williams and humbly said, “I’ve been called a lot of things. But, I have to say, a goddess has never been one of them.” She further added that Athena was her favorite Greek mythological character.

VanDerveer credited her mother (not in attendance) for instilling the core values and humility that keeps her grounded today. According to VanDerveer, her mother once told her, “Tearing others down – doesn’t make you any better.” Words to live by indeed.

After the standing ovation and applause, VanDerveer was presented with a proclamation from Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa along with his praise for being the instrument of change and inspiration for the community.

Despite her demanding schedule and need to return to hear team, VanDerveer graciously signed autographs and posed for pictures with her fans.

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.