Together We Make Texas Stronger — Texas Workforce Solutions! Local Workforce Development Boards (Boards), workforce and vocational rehabilitation partners, and educational partners stand ready to fulfill the needs of both employers and job seekers. Texas Workforce Solutions supports Texas communities in the development and facilitation of state-of-the-art programming that enhances the potential for success of businesses and job seekers. Join us in Dallas at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel for the 21st Annual Texas Workforce Conference, co-hosted with the Texas Chapter of The International Association of Workforce Professionals, as we present an information-filled conference that will reinforce our strength of partnerships, because Together We Make Texas Stronger!
Feature Photo:
Left to Right: Ignacio Salazar, President/CEO – SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc.; Frank Casillas, Central States SER; Eva Garza Dewaelsche, President/CEO – SER Metro Detroit Jobs for Progress, Inc./SERCO; Manuela Maldonado-Zarate, VP and COO, SER Metro Detroit Jobs for Progress, Inc.; Blanca Vargas, Central States SER; Frank Kross, Partner – PFS Financial, LLC –Des Plaines, IL, and Rojelio Padilla, Treasurer, President- Carlex Group.
Since 1971, La Alianza Hispana has been an icon of Latino leadership, consistently serving as a portal to hope for well over 30,000 Bostonians. As a hub of social service delivery, advocacy, and education, the organization has changed the landscape of community resources and improved many lives.
One of these lives was that of Nydia Mendez. Read her story below, and visit www.laalianza.org for additional stories of success.
The Journey is Everything. For over 41 years, La Alianza Hispana has been a starting point for many leaders in Boston’s Latino community.
La Alianza Hispana launched in 1970 with the vision and determination of community organizers/ teachers, Ana Maria Rodríguez and Betsty Trage. Inspired to change the reality of the impoverished Latino students they were seeing in their classrooms, Ana Maria and Betsy rallied the community to respond to the growing socio-economic challenges facing the Latino community. They made a strong case for support. By providing education and culturally appropriate family support, Latinos could and would thrive in Boston.
Once La Alianza Hispana’s doors opened, the Mendez Family entered with big dreams. Nydia Mendez, tells her story. “We came to Boston to study. My mother was an elementary school teacher in Puerto Rico and my father was a construction worker. When we arrived in 1968, the only jobs available for my parents were in the factories producing war supplies. My parents worked incredibly hard and struggled with learning English and teaching us English as well. They knew that in order to get ahead and realize their dreams, we all needed better educational opportunities. My mom is the one that enrolled the whole family in La Alianza Hispana in 1970. It became the lighthouse for our family. It was a safe place where we learned and connected with others who understood our struggle and our dreams.” Frieda Garcia, a La Alianza Hispana founder and the agency’s first executive director, had a profound impact on the Mendez Family. “She was such a role model for me. Frieda inspired all of us to get involved and take responsibility for ourselves and our community” shared Nydia.
Nydia and her brother were enrolled in La Alianza Hispana’s summer camp program while her parents took English classes. During high school, they both became peer leaders in the after school program. Nydia went on to earn a degree in education from Boston University. She launched her career as an educator in the Boston Public Schools. Over the last thirty years, she has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and has worked as a principal and an administrator. Nydia was the first Puerto Rican and Latina to become a school principal in Boston. She has also been involved in governance over Boston Public School’s bilingual education initiatives.
Today, Nydia is serving as the Program Director for English Language Learners for the Pilot Schools Programs, a division of the Boston Public Schools Department. On occasion, Nydia returns to La Alianza Hispana to organize Latino parents and engage them in bilingual education programs. She knows the power of a helping hand. She sees the impact access to education has on the whole family. She hears the stories of successful Latino family who mirror her own experience. She also understands the importance of giving back to the community that makes dreams a reality.
La Cocina VA, one of our affiliates, is doing incredible things!
Located in Arlington, Virginia, La Cocina equips unemployed and underemployed Hispanic adults with the skills and certification necessary to work in the culinary and hospitality industry. Participants also improve their English skills as they prepare to enter the workforce.
SER is a private, nonprofit corporation providing educational and workforce opportunities in 14 counties throughout northern and central New Mexico. Since 1970, SER has helped address the needs of New Mexico’s communities by empowering individuals and businesses with the necessary resources to grow and prosper. SER’s ultimate goal is to place its program participants in permanent, productive and unsubsidized employment.
Headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, SER presently provides Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services, partners with Santa Fe Public Schools to provide GED preparation and instruction and manages a Child Development Center that serves our community and program participants by providing childcare services. SER is an acronym for ”Service, Employment and Redevelopment” and in Spanish, SER means ”to be”.
SER is governed by a volunteer board of directors comprised of representatives from communities throughout New Mexico.
Mission & Vision
For over 30 years, we have dedicated our time and effort to addressing the needs of New Mexico communities by empowering individuals and businesses with the necessary resources to grow and prosper. Our mission is to place our program participants in permanent, productive, unsubsidized employment.
From GED programs and employment training to childcare and pre-employment screenings, our vision is to provide the training and skills needed to create a permanent skilled workforce in New Mexico communities.
Success Stories
Bernalillo County
Employed Worker Training – Utility Light Table – 09/12/2017-09/13/2017
T&D Services, LLC Accounting Manager Greg Carr reached out to the WIOA program with the intent to send a new employee to train for the entry level engineer position he recently filled. T&D Services, LLC continues to expand and through new contracts with specific clientele the Employed Worker Training subsidies allowed T&D to train an Engineer Level 1 employee by sending him to a two day Milsoft Utility Light Table Software training accumulating 16 total hours. The training was intended to aide in the knowledge of the software program that is widely used in the utility industry to simulate devises, like fuse and reclosers in electrical circuitry. The employee is a recent college graduate with little work or industry experience and this training assisted in him being able to make more of a contribution to the team and enables him to be able to work on more projects with his advanced skills.
Alvin Sanders
Alvin became part of the WIOA program in February 2016. After being a Real Estate Consultant and working as an Administrative Assistant for Goodwill, Mr. Sanders decided it was time to retire and give back to the community. Alvin Sanders came to WIOA seeking assistance in obtaining a degree in Human Services with a concentration in Substance Abuse studies at CNMCC with the goal of becoming a Licensed Substance Abuse Associate (LSAA.) After 4 semesters in school training, Alvin obtained a Human Services Associates degree and is working under supervision of a licensed drug abuse counselor in order to obtain his LSAA State License. While working close to this counselor, Mr. Sanders obtained the opportunity of employment with the Albuquerque Center for Hope and Recovery as a counselor at $15.00 per hour. Alvin Sanders is looking to continue his education in the future and gain a LADAC license “my ultimate goal is to help the minority groups in the community who are struggling with Alcoholism and Drug abuse” client also states, “I would like to thank WIOA program for allowing me the opportunity to accomplish my mission of helping others.”
Diana Rivera
Diana was working in a position that she enjoyed for nine years, when suddenly she was given the news that the company was relocating to another country. Diana was in a career that she enjoyed and thought that she would be working in the Electrical Assembly Industry for many years to come. She took the opportunity to explore the options that were available to her through the WCCNM center and had a conversation with a Career Counselor in regard to educational options that were available through the WIOA program. Diana attended an orientation in order to gain information, and decided that this was the chance to transition into the Health Care Industry. Diana began the process of reviewing the Dental Assistant program at New Mexico Institute of Dental Assisting and decided that this learning environment would be the perfect fit for her. She began attending and had a few struggles in understanding the methods until one day, she finally understood her role and the dedication she would have to apply in order to successful in the field. Diana completed the Dental Assistant program at the top of her class, went through the clinical rotation and was hired as a Certified Dental Assistant upon successful completion of the DANB (Dental Assistant National Board) exam. She is currently employed as a Dental Assistant at Smiles for Kids Dentistry and Orthodontics and is working 40 hours per week, earning $14.00 per hour. Diana is extremely grateful for the opportunity that the WIOA program has provided for her and plans to advance to a Degree in Dental Hygiene once she has mastered Dental Assisting.
Melissa Flores
Kumba Coffee is a café inspired by coffee and tea from Africa. Owner Patrick Mapalo is from Zambia Africa and has opened a Kumba Coffee in downtown Albuquerque. Patrick made a visit to the New Mexico Workforce Connection and found out about all our services including the WIOA program. Patrick was looking to hire Melissa Flores after meeting her at one of our job fairs. Melissa had recently graduated from a six month Women’s recovery program. Melissa was eligible for a WIOA on the Job Training position as a low income adult with limited work experience. During Melissa’s OJT Patrick will be training Melissa about leadership, management, project management, problem solving, planning, delegation, internal communication, time management, procurement, human resources, and budgeting and costing.
This will give Melissa the training and experience she need to transition back into the workforce. Melissa states that she is happy working at Kumba coffee and with the services offered by WIOA. Melissa’s entry level wage is $9.00 an hour with the opportunity in time to advance into a management position with a significant pay increase.
Sam Woo
Sam completed WIOA eligibility on 09/26/2016, qualifying as a Dislocated Worker. Sam was let go from his place of employment in February 2016. He came to WIOA, stating that he’d always had an interest in computers and had done his research on the IT industry. He felt that the IT field would provide him with job security and that it would be a field which he’d enjoy. Sam attended CNM Ingenuity for their IT Professional Series from 10/12/2016 to 06/29/2017. Sam began working for TEK Systems in July, where he picked up a 2 week assignment. He then obtained a contract position with APS through TEK Systems. He will begin working full time for APS in November, as an IT Technician making $15 an hour.
Justin Carmichael
Justin was working at VisionQuest as a student intern earning $16.00 and working part-time. With the help of WIOA and upon graduation Justin was able to become a full-time employee earning $22.00 as a Software Engineer. Through his on the job training he was able to learn more coding for algorithms and helped develop software development plans. Justin was awarded 900 hours for this training and he has successfully completed his Skill Upgrade.
Sandoval County
Candice Dahozy
Candice comes from a small farming community on the Navajo Indian Reservation in west central New Mexico. After completing her engineering degree Candice found herself out searching for work with no work experience. Candice came to WIOA looking for a program that would take her further in school however when introduced to the idea of working with the degree that she had already earned for a company that needed an engineer, Candice was all in. Candice was placed into an on the Job Training position as a Civil Engineer with High Water Mark on 10/05/2017 at a starting wage of $26.00 per hour. Candace completed her OJT on 4/07/2017 and has been tremendously successful in her new role. Candice has become a cornerstone of the company and plans to further her education in the near future
Torrance County
Briana Lopez
Briana is a low income adult who has not been able to increase her earning potential due to her lack of credentials. She has a limited skill set and has only worked in entry level positions. Her last position was a production worker for a few months and before that she worked at Smith’s Food and Drug as a customer service representative. Briana has never been able to successfully gain full time employment at a self-sufficient wage which lead her to explore career options in the healthcare industry.
Briana came to the Workforce Connection seeking financial assistance to continue her studies in Medical Assisting with Brookline College. Briana was initially assessed for WIOA funding purposes and an individual employment plan was created. Based on her assessment, completion of a Labor Market Information and eligibility she received WIOA funding to continue her education. She has subsequently successfully completed her course work at Brookline College and has also completed her clinical internship with a local health care office. Briana has been hired at USA Pain clinic as a medical assistant and stated that she is very happy with her work.
Valencia County
Mark Kmatz
Mark began employment with Valencia County Government in 2015. Mark was hired as a Guard at the Valencia County Detention Center. Through the WIOA program, Mark was given the opportunity to train to become a Deputy Sheriff. The WIOA on the job training funds allowed Mark the opportunity to move up the career ladder and provided the county the opportunity to promote a trusted employee into a position that required community trust and the ability to protect. Mark completed field sobriety training and certification courses in defensive driving, handgun and weaponry training and in-the field training with another officer. Mark received excellent reviews from his commanding officer. Mark was earning $16.00 per hour prior to WIOA on the job training skill upgrade. He currently earns $19.50 per hour with full benefits. He enjoys working to protect and serve the county.
Throughout American history, the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos have enhanced and shaped our culture. The presence of Hispanics and Latinos in the United States has enriched our country and given a face to a culture characterized by hard work, family values, and… (more…)
For Immediate Release: September 14, 2017 Contacts:Office of the Governor: Brian Coy, (804) 225-4260, Brian.Coy@governor.virginia.gov | Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development: Barbara…
