2018

Sam Friedman is a Salesforce Project Manager at the San Diego Workforce Partnership and a veteran. Here he tells a little bit about his military and professional experience.

Over 250 attendees heard about new ways of thinking about workforce development at the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Workforce Frontiers Symposium on November 8. The overall theme of the day is that working in silos is ineffective and ends up wasting limited resources. Spending money wisely means considering the holistic needs of our workforce while integrating systems to be more efficient.

Jessie Island is a decorated veteran and a father to a 4-year-old son. Until recently, Jessie was looking for a better paying job and was in dire need of a special driver’s license that would give him the salary and benefits he needs to support his family.

As San Diego’s tech scene continues to gain klout, building the infrastructure to sustain a diverse, local talent pipeline becomes increasingly important and urgent. On November 2, two dozen tech industry leaders representing 22 businesses and organizations gathered to plan how to do just that.

For a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, reintegrating into civilian life can be a challenge that includes significant barriers to securing and maintaining civilian employment. U.S. military personnel spend four months in training to enter the service and sometimes receive just four days to prepare for civilian life. Thus, many San Diego veterans lack the support needed to adjust to civilian life. Workshops for Warriors (WFW) was founded in 2008 by Hernán Luis y Prado, a 15-year United States Navy Officer, because he saw so many veterans and service members struggling to find a clear path back into civilian life.

Valkyrie Enterprises—a Virginia-based Department of Defense contractor who works on all aspects of shipbuilding—is expanding into San Diego County with an office in National City. They’ve partnered with the San Diego Workforce Partnership to support their growth and hire local talent.

This summer, the Life Sciences Summer Institute (LSSI) made it possible for more than 30 young adults to complete internships at nine of San Diego’s top research institutes, including the Salk Institute, the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and UCSD Academic Connections.

Homelessness does not discriminate. Individuals who make up our region’s population come from a diverse background of age, race, circumstances and experiences. Some are veterans, others are under 18. Some have no family in the area, others navigate housing insecurity as a household. For some, there is addiction and disability, but one thing remains certain for all: they are fighting for survival on the streets of San Diego.

Florita Realin is a Facilities Coordinator at the San Diego Workforce Partnership. Here she tells a little bit about herself, both personally and professionally.

Over 200 job seekers connected with more than 30 employers, including Geico, San Diego Youth Services, Arc of San Diego, Accent Care, Hilton and more. Employers shared job opportunities, collected applications and interviewed job seekers, with some offering jobs on the spot.