Rebuilding Their Future : Opportunity Beckons as Quake Recovery Workers Graduate From CCC

The Jan. 17 Northridge earthquake left a path of destruction.

But for at least 45 young people, the temblor offered a chance to sweep away some of the rubble in their lives as well as clean up the debris in the community.

The group, ranging in age from 18 to 26, were honored as graduates of the federally funded California Conservation Corps’ Northridge Earthquake Recovery Program, a six-month project that provided on-the-job training, education and a paycheck to the previously unemployed.

For Veronica Reyes, 23, of Pacoima, who dropped out of high school in the 11th grade to help support her family, the program offered the chance to earn her high school diploma. It has also motivated her to seek a college degree to become a special-education teacher.

“I want to finish my education,” said Reyes, who is rearing a 3-year-old son on her own. “The program has provided me with the challenge and the motivation I needed to do something with my life.”

Jose Palos, 26, of Pacoima, who also dropped out of high school to help support his family of 12, said the program gave him an opportunity to learn new skills and make money for tools to earn a better living.

“Starting Monday, I’ll start working as a cable installer,” he said.

Alberto Ybarra, the project coordinator, said the program was designed to provide job training for out-of-work young people while helping clean up the mess left behind by the Northridge quake.

Corp members learned to do carpentry, plumbing and roofing work as well operate heavy machinery such as skip loaders. Others learned how to retrofit rooms to protect them from future quakes.

A second six-month program begins Dec. 5.

Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 26 and must have been unemployed due to the earthquake or plant closure or unemployed for 15 of the last 26 weeks and unlikely to return to their previous job. They are paid $7 an hour.

They also receive career-planning instruction. High school dropouts are required to take classes to prepare for passing the diploma-equivalency exam or to complete their high school graduation requirements.

Kathy Storey, 23, of Sylmar said she was apprehensive when the unemployment office called her about the program.

“At first I said no, and then I thought, ‘Well, at least I can get off of welfare,’ ” said Storey, who dropped out of high school in the 10th grade. “The program has been great.”

Storey said she wants to become a veterinarian. “It made me realize that I can’t just sit around and do nothing,” she said. “I have to get up and make a life for myself and my daughter.

“Sometimes I got to the point where I wanted to quit. I had to pay $400 a month in child care. But the people in the program got me motivated and made me work toward something. Now that I got my GED I want to get my high school diploma. It’s just another goal for me. Plus I think people would rather hire you with a high school diploma rather than just a GED.”

Reyes will soon start a job with the Los Angeles Unified School District as a substitute special-education teacher’s aide. She said she did not tell anyone she had been studying for the General Educational Development test.

“I wanted to surprise everyone, and I did, including myself,” she said. “I want to finish my education. In January, I will enroll at Valley College and take classes to become a special-education teacher.”

Although she will not immediately be using the job skills she learned during the program, she said it could come in handy in the future if she ever decides to join her father in the construction business.

But whether or not she joins him, Reyes’ father, one of the few parents at Friday’s graduation ceremony, said that seeing his daughter walk up and receive her certificate for completing the program made up for his missing her high school graduation.

“At first I didn’t think she was going to take it seriously,” Michael Reyes said. “But she did it and I’m very proud of her. When I saw Veronica walking up there, it was hard not shedding a tear.”