Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc.

A Quarterly Newsletter from Catholic Charities - August 2004

AYE Provides Job Placement for L.A. Youth

AYE Client Service Coordinator, Lucy Solorio, left, helps young applicants fill out their paperwork.

Catholic Charities’ Archdiocesan Youth Employment Services (AYE) began to fill approximately 1,000 summer jobs for disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles County at its June 19th and 26th orientations. About 650 anxious young people, aged 14 to 21 years, attended the briefings at USC’s University Park Campus. They completed the first step in being placed in employment positions that will provide them with work experience and income during July and August. A youth can earn as much as $1,350 during the two-month period. Many brought their concerned parents, who view this opportunity for work as extremely helpful during these stressful economic times. The City and County of Los Angeles funded the summer job programs.

Several youth job programs are covered by AYE’s placement activity. The Weed and Seed program targets youth in Housing Projects in the Watts community and is part of a U.S. Department of Justice community-based initiative. The Clean and Green program for South Los Angeles and the Sepulveda Basin was designed to improve community appearance while giving young people an opportunity to gain work experience and build self-confidence. The Earn and Learn program will focus on youth in the Boyle Heights area while providing work and educational experiences.

Employers representing a wide range of non-profit and government agencies provide these young people with summer work experience, work-based learning and mentoring. The Automobile Association of Southern California, the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, the L.A. Parks and Recreation Department, L.A. Superior Court, Kaiser Permanente, St. Francis Medical Center, King-Drew Medical Center and Daniel Freeman Hospital are just a few of the many employers participating in this beneficial program.

For more information, contact Robert Gutierrez, AYE Program Director, at (213) 734-5456.

Former Shelter Resident Pursues Graduate Degree
at Smithsonian Institute

When a young single mother turned to Lancaster Community Shelter for help, few would have predicted what direction her life would take, shared Patricia Welch, the shelter administrator.

The shelter gave her and her four children a roof over their heads, meals and, eventually, a job. She got back on her feet and worked at the shelter sharing her story with new residents, easing their transition into a more self-sufficient, productive life. She also dutifully studied and graduated from Cal State Northridge.

This former resident, turned shelter employee, has now been accepted at the Smithsonian Institute with a scholarship through the Parsons School of Design, where she will pursue a Master of Arts degree. She will be moving her family to Washington, D.C. with the aid of a Housing Choice Voucher.

“Lancaster Community Shelter proudly congratulates this former resident and employee in her successes and pursuit of higher education. She has achieved much since the time when she first walked through the shelter’s door, and remains a beacon of hope for all who are presently facing the same hardships,” stated Moeed Khan, Director of the San Fernando Region of Catholic Charities.

For more information, call (818) 883-6015.

Mission Statement of Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities is committed to manifesting Christ’s spirit
through collaboration with diverse communities,
by providing services to the poor and vulnerable,
by promoting human dignity, and
by advocating for social justice.