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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2013)
2013 C AREERS E DITION SE Works Helps Jobseekers Break Through By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News “Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now” B ERNIE F OSTER Founder/Publisher B OBBIE D ORE F OSTER Executive Editor J ERRY F OSTER Account Executive L ISA L OVING News Editor H ELEN S ILVIS Multimedia Editor B RUCE P OINSETTE Reporter D AVID K IDD Graphic Designer The Skanner Newspaper, established in October 1975, is a weekly publication, published each Wednesday by IMM Publications Inc., 415 N. Killingsworth St., P.O. Box 5455, Portland, OR 97228. Telephone (503) 285-5555. E-mail: info@theskanner.com World Wide Web site:http://www.theskanner.com Fax: (503) 285-2900 The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association and West Coast Black Pub - lishers Association. All photos submitted become the prop- erty of The Skanner. We are not re spon - sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. © 2013 The Skanner. ALL RIGHTS RE SERVED. G etting a job is the first step toward financial independence. Yet despite Oregon’s improving unemployment figures, thousands of people can’t find work. Black jobseekers, immigrants and young people trying to get a foot on the career ladder are having an especially hard time. And if you have a felony in your past, or have been out of work for more than six months, it could feel like you need a miracle as well as a resume. “How are you going to explain, ‘I’ve been in jail for 10 years?’” says Holly Whittleton, executive director of SE Works in Southeast Portland. “There is a lot of need out there.” Anyone looking for work is welcome at the SE Works center. Part of the Oregon WorkSource network, the nonprofit is dedi- cated to helping people find jobs. “We are trying to break the cycle of pover- ty through getting people into decent, good jobs which pay decent wages,” Whittleton says. “That’s how you break the cycle of poverty.” Last year SE Works served about 16,000 people, who together made 32,000 visits. Customers, as center staff call them, are offered access to computers, job listings and resume help, as well as classes and work- shops in everything from interviewing skills and resumes to English in the workplace. All the services are free. Many employers, Kraft Foods, for example, are looking for workers who have a National Career Readiness Certificate. You can get several levels of that certificate at the center. And SE Works has partnered with the addic- tion nonprofit CODA, to offer classes in how to keep your job through recovery. The City of Portland helps fund a re-entry program open to anyone with a felony back- ground. A class called “Discover Your Road to Success” runs 16 times a month. People attend and get support in their job search until they land work. Last year in one three month period, 954 people attended the class. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITH- OUT PERMISSION PROHIBITED. See JOBSEEKERS on page 11 At just 19 years old, Byron Weiss (L) and Gabriel Martinez are working hard to put their juvenile justice records behind them. They both credit the SE Works Civic Justice program, not just for helping them find work, but for giving them hope for the future. “It’s a good program,” Martinez says. “For kids who have been incarcerated this program gives us a second chance to make a change. I would recommend it to any youth who are struggling.” In the program, youth spend time in class and time volunteering at work sites, such as a warehouse and store run by Habitat for Humanity. They can also gain credentials, such a forklift certificate. “I’d never had a job or anything like that,” Weiss says. “So when I came here I really had no experience. Since I got here I’ve had three jobs. I learned how to send thank you letters after interviews, how to do cover letters. Now I’m working I try to come in at least once a week to get help to better myself.” Both young men entered the program owing big restitution fines. Martinez, who works 41 hours a week at Grocery Outlet, says he’s grateful he had the chance to pay off his fine. It’s taken a big weight off his shoulders, he says. Now he’s saving up to get an independent place to live. “By doing what I need to do I can make my mother proud of me,” he says. “It feels good to see that smile on my mom’s face when I go to her on my time off.” Weiss, who works between 32 -40 hours at a 76 gas station, says he wants to be the first in his family to go to college. “My family live paycheck to paycheck.,” he says. “So that’s all I thought was possible for me. When I came here I realized more was possible.” Asked about long-term career goals, both men say they think about joining the military or working in parole and probation. “I could really help kids out there because I’ve been there and done that,” Weiss says. “I have used drugs and got out of it. I never thought I could, but I can. So I think I could inspire them.” Perhaps the biggest gift they’ve received from the program is hope. “You’ve got to believe,” Martinez says. “Never give up. That’s what this program taught me.” Leonard Fearn: VA Hospital Emergency Department Medical Administrator and AFGE Local President BPA Clackamas Community College PGE Port of Portland Lincoln City OHSU University of Oregon Washington State University, Vancouver Morgan Distributing Mt. Hood Community College Pacific NW Carpenters Plumbers Apprenticeship & Training Committee Steamfitters Apprenticeship & Training Committee Wells Fargo Bank L agencies like the department of veterans affairs, social security administration, department of justice, department of defense, transportation and safety admin- istration, food and drug adminis- tration, bureau of prisons, the integration offices – there’s a couple more to the list.. eonard Fearn is a hospital administrator and the pres- ident of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2157. He spoke with The Skanner News about why a career in govern- ment service is a good idea, and what his union does to give each member the best opportunities possible. The Skanner News: Your job seems complicated. Can you describe it? Leonard Fearn : I’m a med- ical administrative specialist out of the emergency room, what we call it is an administrative officer. I’m on duty between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. – during those hours we become the senior administrator of the hospital. So we attempt to coordinate our efforts administra- tively across the hospital, insur- ing that our veteran clients receive the appropriate allotment of travel arrangements as well as care and treatment, scheduling and things like that. TSN: Talk about the AFGE. I think a lot of people don’t know you exist. LF: That’s probably more true Page 2 The Skanner News Careers Edition May 29, 2013 PHOTO BY PETE SHAW thanks our sponsors for this 2013 Special Edition TSN: I think a lot of people today don’t really know what occupations are unionized. Talk about what your union brings to a fed- eral job – what’s good about it? LF: We certainly advo- cate for pride and profes- sionalism in the workplace, giving security to the bar- gaining unit, gives them the opportunity to further advance themselves through continuing education or and what may very well be self-study; we maintain an effective relationship with management as a way of ensuring that a bridge or a what may very well be needed communications about a sensitive subject – or a variety of subjects – are covered. Also what is a plus is that being a federal employee they could actually consider transferring to other parts of the country because, if there’s similar work and responsibilities and jobs there, that’s something they can do. We have a way of resolving our issues through a grievance proce- dure or third-party intervention. It gives you flexibility as a worker, but there are also safe- guards in case you encounter Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom. Leonard Fearn than not. The American Federation of Government Employees has been around since 1932, and is actually a consolida- tion of 42 federal agencies. The AFGE is a national organization with 12 distinct districts through- out the country — we have facil- ities in Guam, in Puerto Rico. So we’re out there and we essential- ly provide our services to repre- sent government employees, the fulltime and part time workforce that is professional and nonpro- fessional employees in various —George Washington Carver problems in the job. It gives you a few more rights, a little more power to make sure you can resolve conflicts. TSN: If you could speak direct- ly to young people and other peo- ple who are looking for a career, what would you say to them about your union? LF: I’d tell them — look to See FEARN on page 9
