THE COMMUNITY VOICE
A Quarterly Newsletter by Community Services Employment Training
June 2023
Dear Community Partners,
In May, CSET joined in the celebration of Community Action Month along with more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies nationwide. We were excited to recognize our Employees of the Year, celebrate the return of Senior Day in the Park, and highlight our work to the community throughout Community Action Month.
We continue to expand our Back2Work program to additional communities, beautifying more highways throughout the County. We have also safely reopened our eight Senior Centers, bringing back important activities and opportunities to socialize and enjoy a hot lunch.
We are pleased to share our accomplishments and successes with you, and are humbled by the continuous support we receive from the community. Thank you to the partners, volunteers, board and sta who work tirelessly to help Tulare County residents gain self-su ciency. Working together we can truly make a di erence.
Sincerely,
Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner, CSET Executive Director
EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
As part of our Community Action Month celebration, we proudly recognized CSET’s 2023 Employees of the Year.
The winners were recognized for their commitment to Community Action, innovation and dedication to the communities we serve.
Congratulations to our 2023 Employees of the
On May 5, we celebrated our local seniors through the return of Senior Day in the Park. More than 700 seniors from throughout Tulare County took part in the many activities at Mooney Grove Park. Everyone enjoyed the cake walk, bingo and ra e prizes, food, and the main attraction, Jeremy “Elvis” Pearce. Elvis put on a performance for the ages and was excited to help us mark the return of Senior Day in the Park.
There were also 50 community organizations who shared valuable information with our seniors and partners. Thank you to the Senior Day in the Park sponsors, vendors, agencies, volunteers and local seniors for spending the day with us. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we’re already looking forward to another great event next year!
Day in the Park.
On April 10, TC Hope and CSET hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Visalia Navigation Center, a 100-bed, low-barrier facility with wraparound support services for people experiencing homelessness. Held on the future site near Glendale Avenue and Court Street in Visalia, the event was attended by more than 120 community leaders including Visalia City Councilmembers, Tulare County Supervisors, philanthropic partners,
The Visalia Navigation Center will be a low-barrier, service enriched facility focused on guiding residents into permanent housing. While at the Visalia Navigation Center, unhoused individuals will have access to organizations providing employment training, health services, substance abuse and mental health programs, and connections to permanent housing resources.
SEQUOIA COMMUNITY CORPSMEMBERS OF THE YEAR
Last month, the Sequoia Community Corps held its Annual Corpsmember Recognition Breakfast, where outstanding Corpsmembers were honored for their achievements and success throughout the year. It was a time to celebrate their hard work, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact in their communities. Congratulations to all the honorees!
During the event, Corps Supervisor Robert Navarro spoke about the importance of perseverance and determination in achieving one's dreams. He praised Corpsmember of the Year, Jonathan Montiel, for embodying these qualities and more. Navarro stated, "Dreams can come true, but there is a secret. They're realized through the magic of persistence, determination, commitment, passion, practice, focus, and hard work. Jonathan Montiel has shown all of the above and more. I believe Jonathan will be a successful part of this community and a positive role model to others."
These words resonated deeply with Jonathan, who had joined the Corps with the goal of making a di erence in his community. The recognition from his supervisor and peers was a reminder that his hard work had not gone unnoticed. With renewed motivation, Jonathan is determined to make a lasting impact in his community and beyond.
WATER BILL ASSISTANCE
The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides nancial assistance to eligible Tulare County residents with a one-time water bill payment. LIHWAP, funded by the State of California's Community Services and Development department, can help pay your past-due water or wastewater bill. Tulare County residents with identi cation and an overdue bill and who live in one of the communities listed below are eligible. Call 1-844-224-1316 or visit www.cset.org/lihwap for more information or to apply.
The participating water districts are: California Water Service Company, City of Dinuba, City of Farmersville, City of Lindsay, City of Porterville, City of Tulare, Del Oro Water Company, Pixley Public Utility District, Strathmore Public Utility District, Terra Bella Irrigation District, City of Exeter, Utility Management Services, and East Orosi Community Services District.
Savannah celebrates her career in the medical eld as one of her greatest achievements. She came to the Employment Connection seeking opportunities for a better future. Savannah’s In-Home Supportive Services career began by gaining hands-on experience caring for patients and her grandmother. This is when Savannah found the courage to chase after her dream of advancing in the medical profession. With great pleasure, Employment Connection assisted Savannah with a WIOA scholarship for the CNA program at Porterville Adult School.
Through hard work and dedication, Savannah successfully completed the program and has accepted employment with Sequoia Transitional Care Rehabilitation Center just a few weeks after graduating.
Savannah expressed her thanks and appreciation to Porterville Employment Connection sta and shared that she wouldn’t have attempted this challenge without the support of the team.
This journey has opened up so many opportunities for her to grow and become self-su cient, providing a better future for herself and her two young children. This is just the beginning of her success, and Employment Connection will keep rooting for her to reach her long-term goal.
Visalia CSET
312 NW 3rd Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 Tel. 559.732.4194
Visalia Employment Connection
4025 W. Noble Ave. # B Visalia, CA 93277-1631 Tel. 559.713.5000
Tulare Family Resource Center & Employment Connection A liate 304 E. Tulare Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 Tel. 559.684.1987
Porterville Employment Connection 1063 W. Henderson Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.788.1400
Earlimart CSET 176 N. Front St. Earlimart, CA 93219 Tel. 661.849.2960
Orosi CSET 12737 Ave. 417 Orosi, CA 93647 Tel. 559.216.0438
Pixley CSET 927 Center St. Pixley, CA 93256 Tel. 559.575.0098
Porterville CSET 108 E. Morton Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.216.0525
CSET Senior Services 1.800.321.2462
Cutler-Orosi, Earlimart, Exeter, Farmersville, Goshen, Lindsay, Porterville, & Woodlake
