Jobs Program Serves Riot-Torn Community

Nearly two years after the Los Angeles riots, a federally funded program administered by the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment is breathing life into a community still suffering from the effects of joblessness and neglect.

The Community Projects for Restoration program in Los Angeles, with $19 million in federal funds, is targeting social welfare and law enforcement needs in Pico-Union, Koreatown, Westlake and South-Central through a variety of local projects.

Last summer, PACE received $250,000 to administer a CPR job-training program for low-income and chronically unemployed residents in areas hard hit by the rioting. PACE recruited 34 participants for the program, which includes classroom sessions, public service work and on-the-job training, primarily in clerical jobs.

“We are committed to putting people back to work,” said Alberto Costa, a PACE employment specialist. “What we have on our side is training that helps people to find jobs and retain them.”

Using an outline based on a college-level course, Costa begins by teaching participants how to assess their skills and conduct a job search, how to deal with co-workers or employers with different cultural backgrounds and what their workplace rights and responsibilities are.

Costa also encourages the program participants, many of whom have lived in this country for only a short time, to begin thinking about continuing their education.

“A lot of people haven’t been told that there’s such a thing as college,” he said. “I try to simulate a college environment here. And I tell them that if they can make it here, there’s no reason why they can’t make it in college. There’s all kinds of financial aid if you know where to look for it. We want to show them that there’s more out there for them than minimum-wage jobs if they get an education.”

The program also involves 400 hours of employment with a nonprofit organization. Javier Villa, 21, of Westlake just completed his work with the Central American Resource Center.

“I really liked it,” Villa said. “I learned how to work with computers, especially WordPerfect, and I can make phone calls now without being nervous or scared.”

Now, armed with a beefed-up resume, Villa is ready for interviews with other employers who will provide additional training, subsidized through the CPR program. About 60% of the participants have commitments from employers for at least 240 hours of on-the-job training, Costa said.

Information: (213) 389-2373.