The Fresno Bridge Academy, our workforce development program, is designed to help eligible unemployed and under-employed adults become employed and/or job-ready. Our goal is to help at least 180 families annually achieve and maintain self-reliance through completing our program. We us the ABC motto – we are helping people to find “A” job, get a “B”etter job or begin a “C”areer.
The program has two offices to better serve the community. The first office is at Reading and Beyond’s main office in Southeast Fresno at the Mosqueda Community Center, and the second office is in the Lowell neighborhood at the Dickey Youth Development Center.
Each office has three Case Managers who actively recruit program participants from their respective neighborhoods, and connect families to various local service organizations in an effort to eliminate any barriers that the participant and/or their family may be facing. There is also a Job Developer that builds employer relationships and assists job-ready participants in getting hired.
The purpose of the Fresno Bridge Academy is to identify eligible participants and accomplish one or more of the following:
-
• The participant becomes employed.
-
• The participant finds better employment.
-
• The participant achieves wage progression.
-
• The participant is deemed promotable by their employer.
-
• The participant successfully completes job/vocational training.
-
• The participant’s family is connected with resources that will help eliminate potential barriers to success.
To help participants meet these goals, the Fresno Bridge Academy offers a Job Club Workshop series, focused wrap-around case management, direct job development services, and referrals to local service organizations and career training centers. Job Club Workshops are offered weekly at each location with topics such as Resume Writing, Cover Letter Techniques, Job Search Tips, Interviewing Skills, How to Create an Email Account, etc.
Eligible participants are adults that reside with a minor child, are unemployed or under-employed, and meet the following criteria:
-
• At least 18 years old.
-
• Legally eligible for employment.
-
• Receiving CalFresh (food stamp) benefits only and no CalWorks/WTW assistance (cash aid).
-
• Registered with the U.S. Selective Service (Armed Forces, men only).
-
• Living within the Southeast Fresno and Lowell neighborhoods.
Eliminating barriers is the primary way to achieve successful completion of the program. Case Managers are responsible for linking participants’ families with appropriate resources needed to remove those barriers. This may include referrals to supportive services such as child care, transportation, food assistance, mental health services, housing assistance, etc. Case Managers work closely with various organizations such as the Department of Social Services and others to quickly remove these barriers. In 2012, Reading and Beyond was able to bring back to Fresno County the FSET (Food Stamp Employment & Training) Program.
For more information, please contact the Fresno Bridge Academy Program Manager, Nikki Newsome.
Fresno Bridge Academy
Dickey Youth Center
1515 E. Divisadero
Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 492-2201
Maria Ruvalcaba
Case Manager
Carmelita Demus
Case Manager
May Ly
Case Manager
Mosqueda Center
4670 E. Butler Ave.
Fresno, CA 93702
(559) 600-6192
Ka Vang
Job Developer
Arasely Linares
Case Manager
Patricia Valdez
Case Manager
Adela Cervantes
Case Manager
Testimonial
"What impressed me about the approach [Fresno Bridge Academy] is taking is that it is holistic in nature. It is looking at the many circumstances or conditions that contribute to the dire situation many families find themselves in. No one wants to be impoverished, but I would imagine that it is easy to become overwhelmed by the situation. How do you pull yourself out? Where do you begin? I don’t know one parent who doesn’t want their children to have a better life than they did. It’s a working example of the proverbial “give a man a fish” vs. “teach a man to fish.”
Mary Ann Cusator
Coordinator
Fresno County Office of Education
Stephen Forest joined the Fresno Bridge Academy and worked closely with his case manager, Patricia Valdez, to plan his pathway to success. One major goal identified in Stephen’s pathway was to complete his GED. He began tutoring on February 6, 2013, with a lot of determination and motivation. He began with one goal in mind – complete his GED by the end of March.
For the next few weeks, Stephen came to tutoring every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 1 hour with RAB’s GED tutor, Gona Yang. He placed a major focus on Math. He always came on time, motivated and eager to learn all the materials.
Although math was his main focus, he also requested additional GED materials on the other four subjects. He did very well.
On March 4th, he decided to take all five of the subtests. He found out on March 15th that he passed every test. After completing his GED, he was able to enroll into Truck Driving training on March 18, 2013. Stephen’s training is being funded by the Veterans. If Stephen would not have received his GED by March 18, 2013, he would not have been able to start the Truck Driving Training.
Patricia will continue to work with Stephen to ensure that he completes his training and move him towards gainful employment.
Photo (L-R): Patricia Valdez, Bridge Academy Case Manager;
Stephen Forest, Bridge Academy Client; Gona Yang, GED Tutor
