Formerly homeless youth on path to success

June 30, 2015

Malcolm Charles understands his customers like few other servers can. “I’ve been homeless before,” shares Malcolm, who is currently working on a food truck that specializes in serving the homeless population. Malcolm was attending Diego Valley Charter School to study

YMCA Urban Teacher Fellows helps woman find passion

December 8, 2014

Arlyne Rodriguez joined the YMCA San Diego’s Urban Teacher Fellows (UTF) program in 2013. UTF assists students who want to become future educators in underserved urban neighborhoods in San Diego. The program supports students while they are enrolled as a

From Refugee to Resident Physician

August 21, 2014

Dr. Najwan Al Ani practiced medicine in Jordan and war-torn areas of Iraq for seven years before coming to the United States in 2010. She knew it would be a long process to achieve her dream of practicing medicine here

COMPACT helps youth find her passion for automotive work

August 5, 2014

Arianna first came to Escondido Education COMPACT in 2013, after years of personal struggles that involved substance abuse and incarceration at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility in San Diego. COMPACT’s North County Youth Career Network Recovery and Re-Engagement program provides at-risk

After months of unemployment, Beronilla secures job

June 9, 2014

Not long ago, Eugene Beronilla could sum up his employment situation as “overqualified and underemployed.” Fortunately for Beronilla, who had been looking for work for over a year, this happens to be the name of one of the workshops available

IRC helps youth exhibit model behavior, excel in school

April 9, 2014

Christian Felipe Oldade, a junior at Crawford High School, had years of behavioral and truancy issues that resulted in multiple suspensions and other disciplinary action.

On-the-Job-Training program gets job seekers back to work

December 4, 2013

After nearly two years of being out of work, having been laid off from his job at a steel shop, getting his foot in the door was all Joel Vazquez needed to land a full-time job. In December 2011, with

From cashier to Certified Nursing Assistant: Oceania Robinson pursues her passion

June 19, 2013

When Oceania Robinson arrived for orientation at Comprehensive Training Systems (CTS) she was a young, unemployed, single mother, struggling to provide for her son with the help of public assistance. She had recently relocated to San Diego from Texas, after