Program Focuses on Summer Jobs, Self-Esteem : Employment: Learning the ins and outs of application forms, appearance and interviewing techniques helps teen-agers get work--and respect.
In an empty office on the first floor of the Glendale Galleria on Friday, about 60 teen-agers held up the walls with their backs, wary of the adults urging them to move to the center of the room.
They were there for orientation to the We Care . . . For Youth summer job training program for “at-risk” young people organized by We Care founders Linda Maxwell and Jose Quintanar.
“We really, really care,” Maxwell told the teen-agers. “It gets a little uncomfortable sometimes, because you find we really do care.”
But trust was not about to come easily. And Maxwell acknowledged later, in private, that it would take some time for the youths to overcome their distrust.
Because the all-volunteer program’s purpose is to train the youngsters for retail jobs at the mall, Galleria marketing director Nicolette Abernathy and several representatives from the state Employment Development Department were on hand.
But Maxwell and Quintanar have a deeper mission than just getting youths employed.
“The goal is self-esteem,” Quintanar said. “(The teen-agers) don’t know that they need to get self-esteem training to get jobs.”
This is the second time the pair has led the class. The first group, from which more than 20 youths were hired for Christmas holiday jobs at the mall, graduated in October.
For the next three weeks, Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., the teen-agers will learn how to fill out applications, interview for a job, help customers and dress for work.
“From this moment forward, you come dressed like you’re going on an interview,” Maxwell told the group.
The teen-agers are not allowed to let their grades slip or ditch school during the program and are required to do volunteer work and keep a journal of their activities.
Many of those present Friday attend continuation school, but not all of them have been in trouble.
Still, Quintanar said, “To us, any child in these times is at risk.”
He and Maxwell also hope that youths with positive attitudes and backgrounds will be peer role models for others in the class.
Juan Hernandez, 18, who has been attending Allan F. Daily Continuation High School since October, said he is in the We Care program “to get a job and for the experience.”
Juan heard about the We Care program last year, but already had a job at Kepple Elementary School as a janitorial assistant. Juan, who figures a job “keeps you out of trouble,” plans to buy clothes with the money he earns.
In the future, he said, “I want to be a mechanic for airplanes.” Eddie Rodriguez, 16, is a student at Hoover High School. He showed up Friday “because of the job. I heard about the program, and thought I could get help and help others.”
Although a job is the most important part, Eddie thinks the experience “might change my attitude about life.”
Eddie heard about the program from his girlfriend, Griselda Lorenzano, who participated last fall and is attending again. At school, he likes the auto mechanics program, but is thinking about a career in law. For the shorter term, he needs money for school and clothes and to go out.
Joanne Lee, 15, said, “I need the credits and all that.” A student at Daily, she said she would like to work in a clothing store.
Joanne transferred to Daily from Crescenta Valley High School about two months ago “to raise up my credits.” She said the move seems to be helping.
“I want a future, you know,” Joanne said. “I don’t want to be a bum on the streets.”
After the meeting, the teen-agers dispersed quickly.
Not discouraged by their apparent lack of enthusiasm, Quintanar observed that many of the youths do not have the adult supervision or support they need to feel good about themselves.
Maxwell agreed that tough times, with so many people unemployed, have made it more difficult for parents and adults to care about teen-agers.
“It used to be you’d have to be a bad kid to be written off. Now, you just have to be a kid,” she said.