As part of a statewide initiative to promote local efforts to
build a skilled workforce, the San Benito County One Stop Career
Center opened its doors to the general public last week to
highlight its programs and workshops.
As part of a statewide initiative to promote local efforts to build a skilled workforce, the San Benito County One Stop Career Center opened its doors to the general public last week to highlight its programs and workshops.
The two-hour open house Wednesday showcased some of the workshops the center promotes on a routine basis. The center also hosted some of the community’s elected officials to talk about the program’s importance.
County Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz and City Councilman Doug Emerson spoke to a crowd of 30.
The event called for a number of elected officials within the community to come see what the benefits were for the career center. They listened to a number of testimonials of once-unemployed citizens who found a career thanks to the One Stop Center.
Testimonials included presentations from Ted Davis of TekNova and Ray Espinosa from the San Benito County Information Technology Department.
But the biggest message from the open house was the benefit of partnerships within the community.
“It’s all about the partnerships,” Deputy Director Enrique Arreola said.
Arreola highlighted the high schools in the county and local governments for helping the most.
They help provide jobs and an opportunity, he said.
Arreola stood by the door greeting those who were looking for employment. In front of the office was a small computer room where county residents were filling out applications.
In an adjacent room, the One Stop Center had a video of what they bring to the community. Other workers were giving tours of the building and offices – including workshops on how to interview.
Arreola also brought in presenters to help lead the discussions but all workshops are scheduled every week. The workshops included techniques in interviewing, electronic applications, how to dress in an interview and searching for jobs on the Internet.
The workshops ran all morning.
“The purpose of this open house is to bring awareness of what we provide,” he said, “to bring awareness to all the local officials and employers of what we have at One Stop.”
Arreola made sure he wanted to give an accurate portrayal of what the One Stop Center provides to residents, he said.
Handing a bag full of brochures and pencils to each resident who walked in, Arreola was hoping they would take advantage of the One Stop help.
