Menlo Park Mayor Visits JobTrain

Mayor, Defense Attorney, Supermom: Always Makes Time for What Matters Most

Despite the constraints of leading weekly city council meetings, working as a lawyer, vying for a seat on the San Mateo County Board of Directors and raising two children; Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith always makes time for her constituents.

Recently the mayor visited JobTrain and spent quality time at our preschool. If only you could've seen the children's faces beam with joy when Keith entered their classroom with an armful of toys. The kids

looked up at Keith with an inquisitive expression seemingly conveying, "Is it Christmas time already?"

Keith didn't give a second thought about wrinkling her suit or getting dirty by sitting on the floor. Rather, she simply and immediately immersed herself in the sea of smiley faces. After reading them a story, Keith played with them and shared accounts of what her own children loved to play when they were their age.

When it came time for Keith to leave, without any prodding from their teacher, the preschoolers thanked the mayor for their new toys, hugged her like she was part of their family and made sure she knew that they wanted her to come back again real soon.

New San Francisco Restaurant Hires Culinary Arts Student!

JobTrain Student Joins San Francisco Restaurant The Dancing Pig!

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

On February 27, 2012 Culinary Arts student TRA'CEY DUNCAN was ringing the bell so loudly - that you may have actually heard him.

TODAY he begins his first shift as an evening Prep Cook at the awesome and newly opened restaurant The Dancing Pig! This place is already receiving rave reviews for their delectable and totally delicious BBQ ribs.

Tra'cey is committed to maintaining his course of study at JobTrain while working in the city. He'll graduate in May. In addition to being a stellar student, TRA'CEY has accumulated more volunteer hours at JobTrain than any other student.

Please join me in congratulating Tra'cey! And be sure to say "hello" when you're placing your order at The Dancing Pig!

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2012/02/dancing_pig_opens_strong_1.php

JobTrain Supports Ronald McDonald House

Giving Back to Community: JobTrain Brings Spirit of Mardi Gras to Children and Their Families

Happy Fat Tuesday! Although we celebrated the occasion a day early…

In case you can’t tell, those masked individuals pictured include JobTrain board member Isaiah Vi; Culinary Arts student: Tra’cey Duncan and staff: Kizzy Carter, Sasha Gourevitch, Kail Lubarsky, Ana Gomez, Ilya Benjamin and C2 Vea.

We spent President’s Day, working at the Ronald McDonald House sharing smiles, making memories and serving a delicious and authentic New Orleans feast of “Kizzy’s AMAZING Crescent City Gumbo,” Sweet French Bread, potato salad, fried chicken and Southern Banana Pudding! It was a terrific teambuilding exercise.

Patients and their families absolutely LOVED the food and were sincerely grateful that JobTrain was there. However, we didn’t just provide an amazing meal – but an experience – a temporary “reality respite” that these families so desperately need. I wish that you could have seen the smiles on the kids' faces as we placed beads around their necks and gave them masks to wear. This indelible memory will be with me always.

After we served second and third portions (yes, they liked it that much), we then joined the families and patients for dinner. Connections were made with parents about our vocational training programs and there was genuine interest about the work that we do and the services we offer. JobTrain informational packets will now be part of the resources provided to families with an extended stay at RMDH.

The Ronald McDonald House at Stanford is a phenomenal organization. For nearly half a century, JobTrain has thrived in Silicon Valley because of the kindness and generosity of community members. We recognize how fortunate we've been and it's our privilege to serve our community as well. JobTrain is definitely looking forward to our next Meals for Munchkins event!

BREAKING NEWS: Jim Harbaugh to Speak at JobTrain's annual Breakfast of Champions!

It's Official - Harbaugh is Coming! Will YOU be there?

JobTrain just received confirmation that Jim Harbaugh will speak at our upcoming Breakfast of Champions event on Friday, May 4, 2012.

Harbaugh won the 2011 Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award for leading the 49ers back to the playoffs.

In his first season as head coach, Harbaugh guided the 49ers to a 13-3 mark and the NFC West championship game.

The Breakfast of Champions is Silicon Valley's premiere non-profit event and one that you can't afford to miss.

There's still time to become

an event sponsor and to purchase

tickets to this incredible event.

Please visit www.jobtrainworks.org

to register for the 28th annual

Breakfast of Champions.

If you'd like more information about

JobTrain and our special events, please contact Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Kail Lubarsky at 650.330.6569 today!

JobTrain "Likes" Facebook

On January 31, 2012, a small army of JobTrain students and staff attended the Menlo Park City Council meeting in support of Facebook.

JobTrain was the FIRST non-profit to receive support from Facebook back in 2011. The partnership has been a powerful resource for JobTrain students and residents of Menlo Park.

Stay tuned for exciting posts about our new and exciting plans with Facebook!

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.