East Palo Alto Career Center April 10, 2019 Community Input Meeting

Summary Report

Prepared by Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center May 10, 2019

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ContextIn2017,anagreementwasreachedbetweenJobTrain,theCityofEastPaloAlto,AmazonandtheSobratoCentertoestablishaCareerCenterinthenewAmazonbuildinginEastPaloAlto.PertheCityofEastPaloAlto’sFirstSourceHiringagreementwithAmazonandtheSobratoOrganization,AmazonandSobratowouldprovide,fundandstafftheEastPaloAltoCareerCenterat2100UniversityAvenuetohelpEastPaloAltoresidentspreparefor,fund,secureandretainjobs.TheCitydesignatedJobTraintoruntheCareerCenter.InMay,2017,JobTraincontractedwiththePeninsulaConflictResolutionCenter(PCRC)toconductoutreach,planandfacilitateacommunitymeetingtogetinputfromtheEastPaloAltocommunityonwhatservicesshouldbeprovidedattheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter.OnMay23,2017,PCRCsupportedJobTraininhostingacommunitymeetingtogatherinputonwhatservicesareneededintheCareerCenter.Subsequenttothemeeting,aTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee(TAC)wasestablishedtoprovideadirectconnectionbetweenthebusinesscommunityandEastPaloAltoresidentsandtoprovideindependentadviceandjudgementonstrategicissuespertainingtotheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter.BasedoncommunityinputandadvicefromtheTAC,JobTrainopenedtheEastPaloAltoCareerCenterintheAmazonBuildinginNovember,2017.InNovember,2018,aftertheCareerCenterhadbeenoperatingforoneyear,JobTraincontactedPCRCtorequestsupportinconveningcommunitymembersinordertoshareinformationabouttheprogressoftheCareerCenter,checkinwiththecommunityabouthowtheCenterisservingthem,andgatherinputonwhatisgoingwellandwhatadditionalservicesareneeded.Thefollowingobjectivesfortheconveningwereidentified:

• ReporttotheEastPaloAltocommunityontheservicesprovidedbytheCareerCenterandthenumberofresidentsserved.

• EngageinadialoguewithcommunitymembersabouthowtheCenterisservingthemandwhatadditionalservicesareneeded.

• ReceivefeedbackfromcommunitymembersontheCenter’sservicesandwhatcanbeimproved.

• Developawrittenreportoutliningfindingsoftheconveningandsurvey,andrecommendingapproachesforcontinuedcommunitycollaboration.

ProcessandMethodologyPlanningandPreparation:PCRCstaff,JobTrainstaffandoneortwoTACmembersmetviaphoneseveraltimestodefinemeetingobjectives,developandreviewthemeetingagenda,identifyquestionsforsmallgroupdiscussion,clarifyrolesofstaffandparticipantsandcoordinatelogisticsforaneffectivecommunitymeeting.PCRCandJobTrainheldanin-personmeetingonApril9,2019toreviewfinalmeetingdetails,finalizerolesandreviewthedraftPowerPointpresentation.

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Outreach:WithinputfromPCRC,JobTraindevelopedaflyertonotifypeopleofthecommunitymeeting.PCRCtranslatedtheflyerintoSpanishandTongan.Inaddition,JobTraindevelopedaninfographiccardhighlightingtheservicesprovidedbytheEastPaloAltoCareerCenterandthenumberofjobseekersservedoverthepastyear.Usingtheflyerandtheinfographic,PCRCconductedoutreachinEnglish,SpanishandTongantoEastPaloAltocommunitymemberstodisseminateinformationabouttheCareerCenter’sprogressandtoinvitepeopletothecommunitymeeting.PCRCconductedoutreachviain-personvisitstocommunityorganizations,individualphonecallstocommunityleaders,socialmediapostsonFacebookandemail.Intotal,PCRCmadeapproximately90contactstoinvitepeopletothecommunitymeeting.SeeAppendixAforthelistoforganizationsandindividualscontactedbyPCRC.CommunityMeeting:OnApril10,2019,acommunitymeetingwasconvenedbyJobTrainandfacilitatedbyPCRCattheRavenswoodFamilyHealthCenterAnnexat1846BayRoadinEastPaloAlto(seeAppendixBfortheagenda).Priortotheformalstartofthemeeting,attendeeswereabletogetdinnerandwereaskedtoviewandanswerquestionsthatwerepostedaroundtheroominaGalleryWalk)ThequestionswereaimedatidentifyingwhetherpeoplehaveusedtheCareerCenterandtogathertheirfeedbackbasedontheirexperiences.Atthebeginningofthemeeting,BarrieHathaway,ChiefExecutiveOfficerofJobTrain,welcomedparticipants,sharedthepurposeofthemeeting,introducedJobTrainstaffandmembersoftheTAC,andintroducedthePCRCfacilitators.MichelleVilchez,ExecutiveDirectorofPCRC,reviewedthemeetingagendaandgroupagreements,describedtheroleofthefacilitators,andconductedabrieficebreakertoidentifywhointheroomhadusedtheservicesoftheCareerCenter,andwhohadattendedtheinitialmeetingin2017.MichellethenintroducedArtTaylor,ChiefProgramOfficerofJobTrain.ArtTaylorgaveapresentationfocusingonhowtheCareerCenteranditsserviceswereestablishedbasedoninputfromtheMay,2017communitymeetingandadvicefromtheTAC.HealsoprovidedasummaryofresultsanddatafromtheCenter’sfirstyearofoperation,anddescribednextstepsfortheCareerCenter.ThePowerPointpresentationisincludedasAppendixCandaninfographicoftheCareerCenter’sannualreportisincludedasAppendixD.Highlightsofthepresentationareasfollows:

• KeyfindingsfromtheMay2017communitymeetingandactionstakenbyJobTrain:o RecognizingtheuniqueexperienceofEPAandprovidingcustomized

programmingandservicestothetalentpoolinEPA:TheCareerCenterhasdevelopedrelationshipswithemployersandtheycontacttheCareerCenterwhentheyneedtalent.EmployersareinformedthatshouldtheyreceiveareferralfromtheCareerCenter(resumeforwardedtothehiringmanager),indicatethatthecandidatehasbeenvettedandmeettheminimumqualificationsfortheposition.

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o Helpwithaccessingjobsbyremovingbarriersandincreasinginformationaboutjobopportunities:TheCareerCenterisprovidingcounselingandreferralsonjobsearchtools,strategiesandsupportservicesandsomeemployersfollowapolicyofallowingclientstogothroughtheinterviewprocessbeforedoingabackgroundcheck.TheCareerCentercoachestheirclientsonhowtorespondtoquestionsaboutcriminalhistoryandgapsinemploymenthistory.

o Supportprograms:TheCareerCenterisprovidingmentorshipopportunitiesbyconnectingclientswithindustryprofessionsinvariousfields.TheyalsoprovidesupportwithresumesandapplicationsandprovidereferralstoCBO’sforthoseinterestedinentrepreneurshipsandbusinessfinancingoptions.

o Skills-buildingtraining:TheCareerCenterhelpsclientswithjobsearchskillsincludinginterviewpreparation,salarynegotiationandmarketingoneself.Forspecificjobskillsliketechnicalandcomputertrainings,theyreferclientstopartneragencieswhoalreadyprovidethistraining(e.g.,StreetCodeandJobTrain).

o Strengthenpartnershipsandrelationshipbuilding:TheCareerCenterhasrelationshipswithmanybusinessesandconnectsemployerswiththecommunity.TheCareerCenterhostshiringeventswhereemployersareinvitedtotheCareerCentertobetterunderstandtheprogramsandservicesoffered,andtorecruitpotentialcandidatesforcurrentopenpositions.TheCareerCenteralsoworkswithlocalCBO’sandprovidescrosstrainingandworkshopsfortheirrespectiveclients.

o Promotionandaccessibilityofthefacility:TheCareerCenterhasflexiblehoursandisopenduringtheevening.Newhourswererecentlyestablishedbasedonasurveyofthecommunityandclients.TheCareerCenterhashiredanEPAresidentwhoworkshalf-timeintheCenter.TheCareerCenterprovideshighqualitytechnologyandequipmentforjobseekers.

• HighlightsfromtheCareerCenter’sAnnualReport:o 303jobseekersservedo 111clientsplacedinjobso 1200totalservicesprovidedo 10employerhiringeventso 5jobfairso 7communityworkshops

• NextStepsfortheCareerCenter:o TheCareerCenterwillcontinuetomonitorthedemandforservicesandwill

arrangetomeetthedemandin-houseorthroughcommunitypartners.o TheCareerCenterwillcontinuetoevaluateitsservicesandoperatinghours

andwillreportbacktothecommunity.o TheCareerCenterwillincreaseoutreachandengagementeffortstargeting

thefaithcommunityandcommunitygroups.o TheCareerCenterwillexpanditsengagementwithemployers.

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Followingthepresentation,MichelleVilchezfacilitatedabriefQ&Asessionfocusingonclarifyingquestionsonthepresentation.MichellealsoidentifiedthemajorthemesfromparticipantcommentsintheGalleryWalk(seekeyfindings,below).Spanishsimultaneousinterpretationwasprovidedduringthelargegroupsession.Participantswerethendividedupintothreesmallgroupstoprovideinputonthefollowingquestions:

1. Basedonwhatyouheardduringthispresentation,whatstandsouttoyouasinformationthatwasmostinterestingorsurprisedyou?

2. WhatconcernsorsuggestionsdoyouhaveabouttheCareerCenter?3. Inyouropinion,weretheaspirationsoftheCareerCentermet?4. Isthereanythingelseyou’dliketoletJobTrainknowabouttheCareerCenter?

EachgrouphadaPCRCfacilitatorwhohelpedguidetheconversationandrecordedinputfromtheparticipants.PCRCprovidedfacilitatorswhospokeSpanishandTonganincasetheselanguageswereneeded.Atthecompletionofthesmallgroupsession,arepresentativefromeachgroupreportedouttothelargergrouponthemainhighlightsoftheirdiscussion.Attheendofthemeeting,participantswereaskedtofilloutmeetingevaluationsandBarrieHathawaythankedthemfortheirinput.ParticipantOverview:Approximately22participantsattendedthemeeting.AttendeesincludedtwoCityCouncilmembers,oneCitystaffperson,fourmembersoftheTAC,andseveralJobTrainstaff.KeyFindingsCommunityinputwascollectedaspartoftheGalleryWalkandduringthesmallgroupdiscussions.ThecompletenotesareincludedasAppendixE.Basedonparticipantinput,PCRCidentifiedthefollowingkeythemes.√ManyhavesuccessfullyusedtheCenterandsomehavenot:MostmeetingattendeeseitherhavereceivedservicesfromtheCareerCenterthemselvesorknowsomeonewhohas.PeoplewhohaveusedtheEastPaloAltoCareerCenterhadverygoodexperiencesandreceivedhelpwithjobsearchandpreparation.PeopleespeciallyappreciatedtheCareerCenterstaff.SomepeoplehadnotvisitedtheCenterandwerelearningaboutitforthefirsttime.√Mostneededservicesareemploymentopportunitiesandsupportwithapplyingforjobs:PeoplefeltthatthemostneededservicescurrentlyprovidedbytheCareerCenterwereemploymentoptionsforEPAresidentsandsupportwithresumesandjobapplications.√Mostinteresting/surprisinginformationrelatedtonumbersservedandrangeofservices:Peopleweremostinterestedand/orsurprisedtolearnaboutthelargenumberof

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jobssecured,thenumberofpeopleservedandtheinformationabouttherangeofservicesprovidedbytheCareerCenter√PeoplewouldliketheCentertoprovidemoreservicesandmoreoutreachasfollows:

• Increasenumberofstaff,particularlydiverseandSpanish-speakingstaff• DomoreoutreachtothecommunitytoincreaseawarenessabouttheCenterandits

services(e.g.,holdamonthlyopenhouse)• IncreasethehoursoftheCenter• Developpartnershipswithorganizationslikelocalnonprofitsandrehabilitation

centerstohelpbuildskillsandprovidejobs• Providemorehelpforthe“hardtoemploy”populationincludingolderadults• Increaseassistancewithskillsbuildingandjobplacementforinternships,low,

intermediateandhighwagejobs√PeoplegenerallyfeltthattheCareerCentermetitsfirstyearobjectivesandthatmorecanbedoneinthefuture.Asamplingofquotesfromparticipantsisprovidedbelow:“CareerCenterisofftoagoodstart”“TheCenterishelpingthecommunitywithjobs”“PeoplefeltrespectedintheCenter”“Greathearingcommunityfeedback”“Thereneedstobemoreoutreach.ManyintheEPAcommunitystillhaven’theardabouttheCareerCenter”“Morehours,particularlyintheevening”“Morecanbedonetohelpthehardtoemploy”MeetingEvaluationResultsSummaryElevenparticipantscompletedthemeetingevaluationformandtheresultsaresummarizedbelow.

Disagree Agree Avg. Rating

¨ During today’s dialogue, I felt respected and included. 1 2 3 4 5 5 ¨ I learned about concerns and ideas that differ 1 2 3 4 5 4.5

from my own.

¨ I learned that some of my concerns and ideas are 1 2 3 4 5 4.7 shared by others.

¨ The way that information was facilitated was useful 1 2 3 4 5 4.3 to me.

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¨ I have a better understanding of the need for my 1 2 3 4 5 4 involvement in my community

¨ I have a better understanding of how my participation 1 2 3 4 5 4.1 contributes to community change.

¨ What did I learn from this experience?

o More information about the Career Center. o The Center is helping the community with jobs. o People believe more people should be served yet it’s the lowest unemployment rate in

the last 50 years o Emphasis that sharing concerns bring about better solutions. o That there are adults (older) who want jobs. o People felt respected in the Center. o City Council is invested. Non-profits are also invested. o Great hearing community feedback.

¨ Additional comments:

o The Center needs to help people to be self-employed. o Staff at JobTrain are trying to serve our residents. o I learned about the updates happening at JobTrain. I’ll look into the new tech

training. FacilitatorObservationsandFutureProcessSuggestionsPCRCfacilitatorsareinauniquepositiontoobservedynamicsofaconveningandidentifyclimateanddiverseneedsofallparticipants.OutlinedbelowarekeyobservationsandsuggestionsforfutureprocessesregardingtheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter.FacilitatorObservations:• JobTraincreatedawelcomingatmosphereforthemeetingbyprovidingafulldinner

andawelcomingsettingataneutrallocation.• TheGalleryWalkworkedwelltoengagepeopleandgettheirinputupfrontabouttheir

experiencesandideasregardingtheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter.• HavingSpanishlanguagematerials,aninterpreter,andSpanishspeakingfacilitators

showedrespectfortheSpanish-speakingcommunityandenabledSpanish-speakingresidentstoparticipateeffectively,eventhoughfewSpanish-onlyparticipantsattended.

• Attendeeswereveryengaged,participatedenthusiasticallyandrespectfully,andappreciatedtheopportunitytoprovidetheirinputandhearfromoneanother.

• ThepresentationprovidedvaluableinformationabouttheworkoftheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter.

• ThenumberofstaffmembersfromJobTrainandthelisteningattitudethattheydisplayeddemonstratedanauthenticdesireforcommunityinput.

• SomeTACandCityCouncilmemberstendedtodominatetheconversation.Whileinsomecasestheyprovidedvaluableinformationandinput,theymayhavepreventedothersfromfullysharingtheirperspectives.

• Themeetingspaceworkedwellforthedesignofthemeeting.

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• ParticipantshadvariedknowledgeoftheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter.SomeseemedveryknowledgeableoftheCenterandtheinformationpresentedwhileotherswerenotveryfamiliarwiththeCenter.

• Thechangeinmeetinglocationjustafewdaysbeforethemeetingresultedinlowerattendancethananticipated.PCRCneededtore-contactpeopleinordertonotifythemofthechangeinlocation.

FutureProcessSuggestions:• Forfuturemeetings,itmaybehelpfultobeclearabouttherolethattheTACandCity

Councilmembersshouldplay.Forexample,itmaybehelpfulforthemtoobserveandlistenratherthanactivelyparticipatebecausetheTACandCityCouncilmembershaveotheropportunitiestoprovidetheirinputtoJobTrain.

• ItwillbeimportantforJobTraintokeepthecommunityupdatedonhowtheyhaveincorporatedtheinputreceivedatthemeetingintotheoperationoftheCareerCenter.JobTrainmaywanttoconsidertheideaofanopenhouseattheCareerCenterasawayofpromotingandbringingawarenesstoanyCareerCenterchanges/improvementsthataremadeinthefuture.

• IfJobTrainwishestogatheradditionalcommunityinputregardingtheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter,acoupleofideastoconsiderinclude:

o DevelopingashortsurveyforpastandfutureusersoftheCareerCentertocompleteregardingtheservicestheyhaveused

o PuttingoutasurveyonlinetothebroaderEastPaloAltocommunitywithsomeofthequestionsaskedinthemeeting

• Forfuturemeetingsrequiringtranslationofmaterials,itwillbeimportanttoallowadequatetimetocompletethedocumentsinEnglishandthentranslateitintoSpanish.

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AboutPCRCPCRCpartnerswithindividuals,groupsandinstitutionstoempowerpeople,buildrelationshipsandreduceviolencethroughcollaborativeandinnovativeprocesses.Weenvisionafuturewhereallmembersofsocietyengageandcollaboratetocreateastrong,vibrantcommunity.Ourcorecompetenciesofdesigninggroupprocesses,communicationtrainingandneutralfacilitationallowustoassistcommunitiesinawidevarietyofsituations.Wearethelargestproviderofcommunity-basedconflictmanagementandpreventionservicesinSanMateoCounty.Ourprofessional,bilingualstaffprovideslow-costservicesinpartnershipwithtrainedvolunteers.FacilitationTeamPlanningTeam:

• MichelleVilchez,ExecutiveDirector• DebbieSchechter,ManagerofFacilitationServices• MalissaNetane-Jones,DirectorofProgramsandInitiatives

Facilitators:InPCRC’sefforttoensurediverseperspectivesaresharedateachcommunityengagementsession,wemaintainadiversestaffandvolunteerpool.Staffandvolunteerschosenforthismeetingwerematchedbasedonskillset,expertise,experienceandrepresentationoflanguagewithanattempttoreflectrichdiversityofthecommunity.PCRCprovidedateamofsixfacilitatorsandrecorderstoensuremaximumparticipationbyattendeesandthoroughcapturingofinput.PCRCprovidedbilingualSpanish/EnglishandTongan/EnglishfacilitatorstosupportparticipantswhoweremorecomfortablespeakingSpanishorTongan.

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AppendixA:ListofIndividualsandOrganizationsReachedduringOutreach

Able Works Alleluia Samoan Assembly of God Apostolic Assembly of the Faith Apostolic Original Holly Church of God Bahais of East Palo Alto Bayshore Christian Ministries Beechwood School Born Again Christian Center Boys and Girls Club of East Palo Alto Bread of Life Business Association Calvary Temple Church of God in Christ Canada College (Alex Kramer) Canopy Trees of Palo Alto Cesar Chavez Academy Chamber of Commerce Church of Christ Church of the Living God Collective Root Garden Project, Inc. College Track East Palo Alto Community Leaders Community Legal Services Court and Community School Creative Montessori Learning Center David Lewis Community Reentry Center East Palo Alto Academy East Palo Alto Center for Community Media East Palo Alto Charter School K-5 East Palo Alto Community Alliance and Neighborhood Development Organization East Palo Alto Head Start East Palo Alto Neighborhood Improvement Initiative East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy East Palo Alto Public Library East Palo Alto Senior Center East Palo Alto YMCA Eastside College Preparatory

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Eastside College Preparatory Ecumenical Hunger Program El Centro De Libertad El Concillo of San Mateo County EPA Rotary Family Connection - East Palo Alto Fellowship of Faith Free At Last Interfaith Network for Community Help Live in Peace Magnolia Head Start Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church Mouton Center Music, Mural and Arts Neighborhood Association New Creation Home Ministries New Sweet Home Church of God and Christ NextDoor Postings for EPA Nuestra Casa One EPA Open Bible Baptist Church Open Door Church of God Oxford Day Academy PACT - Faith in Action Project We Hope Ravenswood Child Development Center Renaissance Mid-Peninsula Ronald McNair Academy Saint Francis of Assisi Church Saint John Baptist Church Saint Mark Missionary Baptist Church Saint Samuel Church of God in Christ Sequoia Adult School (Lionel DeMaine) Seventh Day Adventist Shawneece Stevenson St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church St. Vincent de Paul Society Starlite Missionary Baptist Church

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Street Code Academy Team Esface Tongan Christian Assembly of God True Light Missionary Church Union Star Missionary Baptist Church Unity Missionary Baptist Church Voices of Recovery Willow Oak Elementary Youth Community Services Agency Youth United Community Action YUCA Zion Missionary Baptist Church

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AppendixB:CommunityMeetingAgenda

Job Train Community Input Meeting Wednesday, April 10th 2019 | Ravenswood Family Health Center Annex, 1846 Bay Rd.,

East Palo Alto| 6:30-8:30PM Facilitation By: PCRC

Meeting Purpose:

To generate input from community members on their experience and observations of the East Palo Alto Career Center

AGENDA

§ Dinner and Gallery Walk

o Have you been to the East Palo Alto Career Center? Why or why not? o Do you know anyone who has received services at the EPA Career Center? o What feedback do you have regarding the services of the Career Center? o Of the services offered at the Career Center, which would you say is most needed for residents

seeking employment?

§ Welcome and Introductions

§ Agenda Review, Group Agreements, Ice Breaker

§ Presentation on East Palo Alto Career Center and Year 1 Results

§ Community Input: Facilitated Small Group Discussion o Based on what you have heard during this presentation, what stands out to you as information

that was most interesting or surprised you? o What concerns or suggestions do you have about the Career Center? o In your opinion, were the aspirations of the Career Center met? o (If needed and if time): Is there anything else you’d like to let JobTrain know about the Career

Center

§ Wrap-Up and Next Steps

§ Close and Evaluation

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AppendixC:Presentation

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AppendixD:EastPaloAltoCareerCenterAnnualReport

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AppendixE:MeetingNotes

EastPaloAltoCareerCenterCommunityInputMeetingApril10,2019MeetingNotes

GalleryWalk:HaveyoubeentotheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter?Whyorwhynot?

• YesI’vespoken/workedwithArtandChorea.Theybothhelpedmefilloutapplicationsandupdatemyresume.

• Yes,theofficemanagerisverynice.Iwenttherelookingforcareeradvancementopportunities.

• Yes,foratour,AndI’vereferredpeopletoseekhelpthere.• Yes.Ineedhelptodoaresume.It’sreallyimportanttohavethistypeofagency.I

needhelpdoingthingsonacomputer.• Yes,lotsoftimes.I’vebeenapatronforoneyearnow.• No.• No.• Notyet,justfoundoutaboutit.

DoyouknowanyonewhohasreceivedservicesattheEastPaloAltoCareerCenter?

• Yes,myself• Yes.Imetsomeonetherewhohasbecomeagreatfriend• Yes.Iwasreferredto“42”--acodingcamp.Itwasnotapleasantexperience.• YesatleasttwopeoplethatIknowwhohavebeenplacedwithgreatcompanies• No• No• No

WhatfeedbackdoyouhaveregardingtheservicesoftheCareerCenter?

• Thisplaceisgreat!Ithelpsthecommunity.IattendedthemeetingsbeforeJobTrainstartedatthisplace.

• IreallyappreciatetheCareerCenter.Theyarepatientandtrulycareabouttheresidents.

• Wonderfuljob!Awarmplacewithwarmpeoplewhoaresuperhelpfulonthejourneyofjobseeking.

• Idon’tknowiftheCenterisresponsivetotheneedsoflowerwageworkersinEPA.Ithinkthereisunderstandablyacertainamountofprideinconnectingjobstotech.

• Moreintermediatejoboffers.Thereseemstobealotoflowskill(security/cook)andhighskill(tech)jobs

• MorePacificIslanderhelpneeded• None• N/A

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• N/A• InformcommunitythattheCareerCenteristhereandopentoresidents• Moreoutreachtothecommunityaboutjobs,etc.• Iwouldliketoseemoreinternshipandmentoringopportunities;collaborationwith

JobTrainfornightclasses(coding/tech)• Staffareattentivebutnotenoughstaff• Morestaff-1isn’tenough•

OftheservicesofferedattheCareerCenter,whichwouldyousayisthemostneededforresidentsseekingemployment?

• Options-knowingwhattheoptionsareintheareaforemployment.Helpwithjobseekingskills.

• MostimportantlyreferringindividualstojobsthatareawillingtohireEPAresidents• Supportondoingapplicationsforwork,onlineresumewriting,moreoutreach

aboutthisplace• Directfacilitationofpeoplegettingjobs,particularlyinthelow-wageindustriesthat

mostEPAresidentsareworkinginSmallGroupDiscussionQuestionsQuestion1:Basedonwhatyouheardduringthispresentation,whatstandsouttoyouasinformationthatwasmostinterestingorsurpriseyou?

• NumberoffulltimejobsprovidedbytheCareerCenter• AmountofworkdonebyCareer• Informationaboutservices• Alotofpeopleparticipating• Attentivenessofstafftowardscommunityneeds• 300residentsutilizeCareerCenter• 100-120localresidentssecuredjobwithassistanceofCareerCenter• Numberofpeopleinvolvedwithconstruction• AbleWorks—singlemothersandfamiliesbeingsupportedandemployed• TheyexplainedaboutallthattheCareerCenterdoes.• It’sgoodbecausethereneverwasaplacelikethisbefore.• Supporttocommunityonhowtodothings.

Question2:WhatconcernsorsuggestionsdoyouhaveabouttheCareerCenter?

• Morestafftohelp• Morediversestaff(gender,race,etc.)• MorestaffthatspeakSpanish

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• Moreoutreachtothecommunity-somepeopledon’tknowaboutit• Morehelpfordifferentjoblevels• HelpbuildskillsfordifferentjoblevelseitherinCareerCenterorbypartneringwith

otherorganizations• Morehours,particularlyintheevening• Workwith“hardtoemploy”population• Moreaccessandinformationabouttechjobs• BetterunderstandingofEastPaloAltocommunityneedsinordertopromote

upwardmobilityinjobindustry• Needmoreinfo.abouttechjobs• Workincollaborationwithrehabilitationcenterstoprovidejobs• Connectpeoplewithhighpayingjobs• Wouldliketoseepeopleself-employedthroughconsultingormarketing• FindwaystogetmorepeopletoutilizeCareerCenter• HaveaOpenHouseforpublicandcommunityonceamonth• DoesCareerCenterconnectindividualsinlowpayingjobtobetteropportunities?• HowistheCareerCentergaugingtractionofcenterusebyresidents?• Industrydictatedjobindustry

o Phonecallandonlineprocessforapplying• Partnerwithlocalnon-profits• Needmoreassistancewithonlinejobapplications• CareerCenterneedstooffermoreintermediate-leveljobs

o Administrative,management,health,etc.o Codingjobsintechindustry

• HelpelderlypopulationapplyforjobQuestion3:Inyouropinion,weretheaspirationsoftheCareerCentermet?

• TACispusher,holdingCareerCenteraccountable• Satisfactory,atsametimemorecanbedonetohelphardtoemploy

o Hardtoemployhavemorebarriers• CareerCenterneedstobemoreoutreach,manyinEPAcommunitystillhaven’t

heardabouttheCareerCenter• CareerCenterstaffarewelcoming• Year1wasademonstration/trialyear• Yes,2sonsweabletosecurejobsthroughworkingwithacasemanager• Stilltobedetermined,notsureyet• Needmorecommunitycollaboration• Ibelievetheymettheobjectivesfortheyear.Gettingreadyfornextyear.

Question4:Isthereanythingelseyou’dliketoletJobTrainknowabouttheCareerCenter?

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• InitiallycommunitywasupsetwithAmazon,stillneedtodealwiththatbutCareer

Centerisofftoagoodstart• Needtoworkhardertoprovidebetterquality• Somethinkonlylowerleveljobassistanceisavailablebutalllevelsofassistance

shouldbeavailable• NeedparkingclosertoCareerCenter• Needmoremalestaff,critical• Needmoresignage,abanner?• NeedJobTraintomeetcommunitywheretheyare—inchurches,schools,

communityactivities• Shouldtableatcommunityevents/gatheringplaces