Angelica   Jara found success at Gardena One-Stop Employment & Business Center

Gardena youth, 18 year old Angelica Jara found success with the Gardena One-Stop Employment & Business Center, which is funded by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, previously the South Bay Private Industry Council Angelica applied and was accepted as a youth worker and received work experience at the City of Gardena Treasurer’s Office. Angelica applied with the One-Stop’s Youth Program on July 3rd 2000. Angelica came from a large family of five and attends Gardena High School. Angelica was very shy and lacked confidence, job experience and was uncomfortable working others. She had been at the One-Stop several times before she was enrolled in the program as a participant. Case Manager Lupe Gasca provided her with twenty hours of pre-employment skills, which included resume writing, labor market information and other job readiness skills. Additionally, she provided counseling and direction during the seven months of her work experience/internship. On January 29, 2001, Angelica was hired as a part-time clerical assistant at the Treasurer’s Office. Her job responsibilities include verification of cash receipts for the department from various business fees, assisting customers with parking ticket information, payments and receipts, filing records, handling telephone inquiries and closing the department register on a daily basis. Additionally, she assists in the process of administrative review and administrative hearing for parking tickets. Her supervisor Deputy Treasurer Judith Ramirez-Bolle states: “Angelica makes very few errors in her work and has received good evaluation in her work performance.” 

Angelica has volunteered at City parks in the past and enjoys working with people. Her career goal is to get an education/degree in Sign Language to assist the hearing impaired. She took a year of sign language at Gardena High School and eventually would like to work for the court system and/or teach sign language at school. She has applied and has been accepted by Loyola Marymount in Palos Verdes.

Patrick Martinez, Manager of the Gardena One-Stop Employment & Business Center stated: “ We are very proud of Angelica and many of the youth that complete their internships.”