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BUSINESS
EL OBSERVADOR | www.el-observador.com
JULY 27 - AUGUST 2, 2012
Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor, Visits CET
Hilbert Morales El Observador
Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis highlighted federal investments in job training initiatives and expanded services for Veterans during her July 23 visit to San Jose’s Center for Employment Training (Hermelinda Sapien, Executive Director) and Goodwill, Silicon Valley (Mike Fox, CEO). This past Monday, July 23rd, Solis toured four training programs: Medical Assistant, Electrical, Construction, and Culinary Arts at CET in San Jose. She saw how Labor Department investments in job training are helping community members – including many farmworkers and their families – learn the skills, and earn the necessary credentials to compete for jobs in high-growth industries. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis personally had a
about how the information collected at CET would be used, Labor Secretary Solis responded that she would share it with other members of the Cabinet and President Obama. “However, at the end of the day, it is the U.S. Congress that must assemble and pass the legislation which deals with these labor training programs and the funds authorized to support their expansion.”
conversation with several Job training participants. One student, Javier, related how he learned about, and enrolled, in the Medical Assistant training program. Javier had been laid off and was unable to find work in his prior career. Today he was excited and told Secretary Solis that he was looking forward to employment in a job that will allow him to remain in his community. Another student stated, “I love this job.” Some 90 individuals are undergoing Medical Assistants training. Similar conversations occurred with trainees at the electrical and construction training programs. Secretary Solis stated, “There are about three million job vacancies today that require skilled trained employees. These programs are about preparing individuals with the skills needed by employers in this very fragile economy.”
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, tours the Culinary class room at Center for Employment Training in San Jose. Photo Credit: Department of Labor During her visit to the Culinary Training Program, Secretary Solis spoke to Raphael Alvarez, a trainee who commutes each day from Salinas, CA. He had graduated from high school, attended Hartnell College,
and after not being able to find employment, decided to become a chef. “I am enjoying all this. I learn well by doing. How food is presented is an important skill. I know that I shall make a good living as a chef…the
Master Chef here is one of the best teachers.” This class of culinary arts has 35 trainees. A brief question and answer period with the press followed. In response to a question which asked
Secretary of Labor Solis next went to a similar Tour and Conversation with Veterans at Goodwill of Silicon Valley, 1080 North 7th Street, San Jose. Here essential services needed by returning veterans were expanded. Here, an effort funded by a series of grants from the Labor Department, are being made to reach homeless veterans in order to help them succeed in civilian careers.