Athena Xiong enrolled into the EMPOWER

program on January 19, 2017. She was a 23

year old and a high school graduate with little

work experience. Athena’s main goal with

EMPOWER was to complete a training and

become employed. Athena likes working with her hands and

wanted to learn to drive a forklift. Therefore, on March 7,

2017, she was enrolled in the ROP Logistics-Warehouse train-

ing. Athena attend all classes and worked very hard to com-

plete the training. On May 10, 2017, Athena earned the Ware-

housing and Logistics Certificate of Completion. After the train-

ing, Athena was prepared to participate in work experience.

Athena’s highest vocational interests were Industrial and Me-

chanical, so she was placed at Quad/Graphics Inc.as a forklift

driver. Athena’s on the job performance showed high levels of

competency, proficiency, and responsibility. Prior to Athena

completing the work experience hours, the manager asked her

to apply for a position with Quad/Graphics and she was hired

full-time, starting July 1, 2017.

Athena has been successfully employed with Quad/Graphics

for over a year. In that time, she was promoted to dispatcher,

now earning $12.25 per hour. Athena also decided to return to

college. She enrolled at Merced College and started on

January 16, 2018 to earn her AA.

Website:

https://www.mcoe.org/deptprog/career/empower/Pages/empower.aspx

Jovanni Dimas enrolled into the Empower pro-

gram on January 19, 2017. He was an 18 year old,

high school graduate, with little work experience.

Jovanni’s goal was to gain skills and find employ-

ment to help his family financially. Jovanni successfully complet-

ed the Empower workshops; where he gained employability skills,

job preparation, and completed a professional portfolio. Jovanni

then indicated that he enjoyed working with computers, and ex-

pressed an interest in enrolling in Break the Code a Web Develop-

ment Training where Jovanni was introduced to Web Design, cus-

tomer service, and social media strategies for small business. He

had an opportunity to design his own website, and worked with a

local business owner of the “Beauty Spot Boutique” to design a

professional website for the business. Jovanni completed the

training and earned a Certificate of Completion.

After the training, Jovanni made it evident that he wanted to par-

ticipate in work experience. Jovanni s interest are business de-

tailed oriented, and placed with the local Raley’s grocery store in

Merced. Jovanni displayed high levels of competency, proficien-

cy, and responsibility. His performance on the job indicated that

he was customer services oriented, and hard working. Prior to Jo-

vanni completing this work experience hours, the manager asked

Jovanni to apply for a position as a courtesy clerk. Jovanni has

successfully been employed with Raley’s for over a year. Jovanni

expresses his gratitude for the Empower program continually,

and thankful that he now has a job to help his family.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Revised 8/2018