TALLER SAN JOSE (4) - 2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

provides adequate room for everything from classroom work to large scale building projects. Founder and President Emerita, Sister Eileen McNerney, has put a great deal of effort into making both facilities warm and inviting learning environments. Art work adorns both buildings and the classrooms more appropriately resemble workstations as opposed to cold institutions. Taller San Jose worked closely with the City of Santa Ana during the development of this program to establish this as a suitable site for a trade school. The Santa Ana City Council approved this usage and provided a variance for all training activities. About the Organization A. Description of Proposer Taller San Jose walks undereducated, unskilled and unemployed young people (ages 18-28) out of poverty through job training that offers the hope of a productive and self-reliant future. Taller San Jose is a highly -focused, goal -oriented program that helps students develop into self-reliant adults through three training academies in Office Careers, Construction and Medical Careers, as well as support services that include mentoring and counseling, legal assistance, 12 -step support groups and job placement. Established by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange in 1995, Taller San Jose has helped more than 4,000 high-risk youth in Santa Ana and the surrounding communities restructure their lives, develop marketable skills and find employment. Taller San Jose employs twenty-one full-time staff, with an additional part-time ROP/Centennial staff member available to youth enrolled in the program. The Organization's FY 2009-2010 operating budget is $2,570,130. The breakdown of revenue sources for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 is as follows: Individuals- 11.5%; Corporate/Foundation Grants- 31%; Special Events -15%; Program Service Fees — 37%; and, Government grants- 12%. Taller San Jose works to promote systemic change within the local community. It serves as a structured and supportive environment in the center of Santa Ana for young people who are caught in the cycle of poverty and need further training to become financially independent. Taller San Jose carefully tracks its program outcomes and has learned over the years that 92% of its program graduates are not re -incarcerated. By comparison, the State of California has one of the highest recidivism rates in the country, with 70% of past offenders returning to jail within twenty-four months of release. In the last fiscal year, 132 students graduated from Taller San Jose and: • 74% of graduates were placed in employment or went on to an apprenticeship or community college • $10.98 is the average wage of graduates • 36% of graduates receive full health benefits • 61 % of graduates remain employed 12 months after graduation • 92% of graduates with a criminal record did not reoffend. B. Experience Taller San Jose serves the educational and job -training needs of Santa Ana and Central Orange County youth who are significantly disconnected from the workplace and educational institutions. Over the past two years Taller has operated the following youth programs: • Office Careers Academy: This program trains and certifies students in Microsoft Word and Excel and prepares graduates for employment as administrative assistants, receptionists and data entry specialists in local companies. Business Skills training is woven throughout the curriculum and incorporates customer service, presenting Power Point presentations, working EXHIBIT AQ rpwuured Gy rhe Sitrert of St, Jo.repb j"Or � �Te