In December 2011 EmpowerNet California in partnership with the Hollywood WorkSource graduated its first A+ training class in Los Angeles. The training hosted and delivered at the West Los Angeles College, presented 21 students with certificates of completion. Among those 21 students were a large number of veterans who enrolled in Career Services at the Hollywood WorkSource Center. The rest are from the community in West Hollywood and the West Los Angeles College. This class was the first of two cohorts that completed the training program in 2011 and is financed by Veterans Funding and a grant from EmpowerNet. The partnership is the first of its kind between a non-profit organization, for-profit organization and Community College. The other co-hort following in hot pursuit with a graduating class of 10 students was the All Peoples Christian Center. As of today, 18 of the 31 students have passed the A+ certification exam. Students who have completed the training curriculum have received high quality technical skills, but also professional skills, interpersonal skills, team building skills and more. The program is a model of the Stride Center program in Oakland, CA. Employers hiring students who complete our program can expect highly qualified and uniquely prepared employees.

EmpowerNet hosted its 5th Training Academy in LA with Manchester Technology Center & Community Center Inc. Manchester Technology Center’s vision is to help close the digital divide between technology haves and have-nots in the community. Provide educational learning tools to collaborate with other nonprofit entities and create a new model of community organizing and advocacy via the Internet. As well as help local youth develop new digital media and content as a form of self expression. The Community Center Inc’s vision is a workforce development system that offers every client access to high quality academic and occupational skills while fostering opportunities for lifelong learning and effective help to find work, and personalized assistance to make progress in the labor market. EmpowerNet is excited about its developing relationship with these two dynamic organizations, and hopes to work out a collaborative partnership towards the goal of training as many as 100 low-income residents in their perspective communities for employment in the Information Computer Technology field.

In January 2012, EmpowerNet completed its 6th Training Academy with the Good will of Silicon Valley (GWSV). GWSV helps the community’s unemployed become employed. Founded in Santa Clara County in 1926, GWSV is part of Goodwill Industries International, a federation of over 200 autonomous, community-based Goodwill organizations worldwide. Together they are one of the largest social service organizations in the world. Goodwill of Silicon Valley is dedicated to improving employment opportunities, increasing standards of living, providing economic independence and restoring their clients sense of self value. The GWSV does this through workforce creation, vocational training and environmental stewardship.

EmpowerNet is excited about its developing relationship with the Bay Area organization Eden Housing, and The Good Will of Silicon Valley. Eden Housing operates over a dozen low-income housing complexes in the greater Bay Area but you wouldn’t know it by the appearance. Kelly Edmunds, Community Services Manager for Eden Housing says that ‘curb appeal’ is very important and he regularly asks himself “would I want my mother to live here?” Eden Housing currently operates the “Digital Connectors” program designed to improve digital literacy among the youth. A partnership between EmpowerNet and Eden Housing would hope to train as many as 100 low-income residents of the Bay Area as computer technicians. The Good will of Silicon Valley (GWSV) helps the community’s unemployed become employed. Founded in Santa Clara County in 1926, GWSV is part of Goodwill Industries International, a federation of over 200 autonomous, community-based Goodwill organizations worldwide. Together they are one of the largest social service organizations in the world. Goodwill of Silicon Valley is dedicated to improving employment opportunities, increasing standards of living, providing economic independence and restoring their clients sense of self value. The GWSV does this through workforce creation, vocational training and environmental stewardship. EmpowerNet hopes to partners with The Good Will of Silicon Valley in training as many as 100 low-income residents in Silicon Valley as computer technicians.