WDB Partnership Provides Career Exploration Opportunities
A partnership between The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) and Career Institute is providing Christine Cox something she has always yearned for – a chance to prove herself.
After an unsettled childhood, Cox entered adulthood with plenty of distractions and little direction.
Today, she is attending community college and building a diverse set of skills that she and her career mentor are confident will open the door to new opportunities for the rest of her life.
“I can see myself doing, maybe, five different things. I’m excited about that, and know that it ultimately falls on me,” said Cox, now 20 and in her second semester of studies at Riverside City College.
Her inspiring academic and career exploration began after she heard about Career Institute, which helps young people make the transition to adulthood through the framework of the federally funded Work Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and under the direction of WDB.
The program helped Cox, who lives in Fontana, get into community college, navigate financial aid and helped secure work experience with an animal rescue operation. The latter is a career path she is interested in pursuing – possibly as a veterinary technician. But through college, she has uncovered an interest in – and aptitude for – the arts.
“I started college to be a vet tech, but I took a ceramics class and fell in love with it. I’m in a drawing class right now, and I would like to take up welding too,” Cox said.
Caryn Payzant, Cox’s career mentor at Career Institute, said the program supports this kind of career exploration.
“Christine loves everything she is doing right now. We encourage that, while also keeping a main goal ahead of you,” Payzant said.
Curt Hagman, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, describes the WDB/Career Institute partnership as a vital career pathway initiative that helps job seekers and businesses.
“Through partnerships such as this, young adults are able to explore different career opportunities and, in many cases, transform their lives. At the same time, we’re building a talent pool that encourages business growth and shows the world how much San Bernardino County has to offer,” Hagman said.
Cox agrees that the program has been transformative. In and out of foster care most of her adolescence, she was living with friends in Fontana while finishing her studies at Sultana High School in Hesperia. Her teenage years were marked by a number of traumatic experiences, including the suicide of her foster dad.
She persevered, however, and graduated with her senior class.
“I was kind of lost from there. I wanted to get a job and that cash flow of money, but it was really hard,” Cox said. “Caryn (Payzant, from Career Institute) did so much for me.”
“That’s what our purpose is,” Payzant said. “We give at-risk young adults an opportunity, in a free zone, to explore. That could be a career track, or a post-secondary education track.”
Phil Cothran, WDB Chairman, praised Cox’s resiliency.
“Christine’s story is an inspiration to all of us, and we are committed as a Workforce Board to providing these kinds of opportunities,” Cothran said.
Local Payrolls Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels; 951,000 Jobs in January
San Bernardino County’s job market has surged past pre-pandemic levels, with payrolls over 950,000 for the third month in a row, according to an analysis of newly released state numbers.
The California Employment Development Department reported Friday (March 11) that despite a typical seasonal uptick in the county’s unemployment rate from December to January, payrolls are now 13,000 above where they were in January 2020 – before the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the global economy.
Led by continued growth in the region’s supply chain industry and a resurgence in hospitality-related businesses, employers in San Bernardino County have now recovered all of the 130,000 jobs lost during the first two months of the COVID shutdown – plus some. Beginning in November, county payrolls have hovered about 950,000, according to a revised formula adopted by the state beginning with the January report.
The report also shows that the county’s labor pool has exceeded 1 million for the third month in a row, reaching a record 1,008,800 in January.
“These numbers speak to the strength of San Bernardino County as one of the country’s fastest-growing economic and population centers. We’ve got a supportive business culture and a growing, qualified labor pool – all of which encourages the kind of consistent economic growth we’re seeing,” said Curt Hagman, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors.
According to the numbers, the unemployment rate in San Bernardino County rose to 5.7% during January – a fairly typical increase following the holiday surge. Even so, the county’s rate remains below the state average (5.8%).
The January jobs report follows recent studies have have shown a dramatic migration of residents from Los Angeles and Orange counties into the Inland Empire.
“The growth of our labor pool is great news for employers and the regional economy. Clearly, a big part of what we’re seeing are families and young professionals coming to San Bernardino County to pursue career opportunities and enjoy a quality of life they can’t get elsewhere,” said Phil Cothran, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board.
Cothran encouraged job seekers to check out the services and resources WDD offers. Information on those services – including the three America’s Job Centers of California across the county – is available at: https://wp.sbcounty.gov/workforce/
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High Desert Open Arts Exhibition Opens at the Victor Valley Museum
Victor Valley Museum in collaboration with Arts Connection, The Arts Council of San Bernardino County presents the High Desert Open Arts Exhibition, open now through Apr. 22, 2022. The exhibit features youth and adult artists from the high desert and surrounding communities including students from local schools. The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley, The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $5 (adult), $4 (military or senior), and $2.50 (student or child ages 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free.
 Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Employees Recognized with Ida M. Cannon Awards
Social Work Month is a time to celebrate the life-changing work done by social workers. At Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), social workers use this time to acknowledge their non-social worker peers who exemplify the six core values of social work: service, dignity and worth of all persons, competence, integrity, importance of human relationships, and social justice. This year, six medical professionals and hospital staff who have been observed to follow these values were honored during the Ida M. Cannon Awards. In addition, other ARMC staff were recognized as Preceptors of the Year and with the Golden Ida Cannon Award. These awards commemorate the work done by Ida M. Cannon who pioneered the first organized social work department in an acute care medical setting.
“We all get into the medical field with the goal of helping others, but social workers are unique as we look beyond the medical diagnosis to see all the parts that make an individual whole,” says Stefanie Heim, LCSW, ACM, Manager of Social Services at ARMC.
2022 Recipients
Service: Juanita Gonzales, Office Assistant
Dignity and Worth of All Persons: Sonia Gross, RD
Competence: Heidi Edmunds, Clinical Director of Case Management
Integrity: Lee Mae Apacible, CM Supervisor
Importance of Human Relationships: Rajwinder Thind, RN
Social Justice: Claudia Quiroz, Victim Advocate
Preceptors of the Year: Jennifer Tran & La Tanya Mathews, Social Services Practitioners
Golden Ida Cannon Award: Jessica Huver, Social Services Practitioner
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center celebrates National Nutrition Month
National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.
Tips:
Eat a variety of Nutritional Foods
- Include healthful foods from all food groups.
- Learn how to read Nutrition Facts labels.
- Incorporate your favorite cultural foods and traditions.
See a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
- Ask your doctor for a referral to an RDN.
- Find an RDN who specializes in your unique needs.
- Receive personalized nutrition information to meet your health goals.
Plan your meals and snacks
- Choose healthful recipes to make during the week.
- Use a grocery list to shop for nutrition foods.
- Make healthful food and drink choices when away from home.
Create tasty foods at home
- Learn cooking and meal preparation skills.
- Try new flavors and foods from around the world.
- Enjoy your meals with friends and family, when possible.
- Plan your meals and snacks.
San Bernardino County joins Topgolf to open Ontario location
There’s now one more reason why San Bernardino County is Southern California’s premiere recreation and business destination.
International entertainment phenomenon Topgolf opened its first Southern California location in Ontario Friday in a deal with San Bernardino County that will create approximately 400 private-sector jobs, $625,000 in annual revenue to County Regional Parks, and an additional recreational opportunity for families and businesses throughout the county and the region.
“Topgolf will be an outstanding entertainment asset that will attract people from all over Southern California to San Bernardino County,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman said as Topgolf Ontario opened its doors to the public.
Hagman, whose Fourth District includes the Topgolf site adjacent to Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park in Ontario, developed the idea to use 13.7 acres of County-owned land at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Archibald Avenue as a golf attraction more than five years ago. That led the County’s Real Estate Services Department to make contact with Topgolf.
“We are honored to be joining the San Bernardino County community as we open the doors to our newest venue to entertain the Inland Empire,” said Topgolf Chief Executive Officer Artie Starrs. “We are very excited to welcome the community to a fun, energetic experience one can only get at Topgolf.”
What started as a simple idea to enhance the game of golf has evolved into a best-in-class hospitality entertainment venue centered on a game that is accessible and appealing to all, regardless of skill or ability. The Topgolf technology-driven experience is centered on guests hitting patented, microchipped golf balls into targets on a field.
The open-air, three-level venue features 102 climate-controlled outdoor hitting bays, chef-inspired signature menu items, top-shelf drinks, music, and year-round programming for all ages. The venue is equipped with an outdoor patio, rooftop terrace and private event space.
Topgolf has 75 venues in 31 U.S. states and international locations in Dubai, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.
“The Topgolf concept appeals to all ages, and everyone will benefit from the revenue that will be directed toward the betterment of the county’s Regional Parks system,” Hagman said.
Over the course of the initial 20-year ground lease between the County and Topgolf, the County will receive more than $625,000 in annual revenue, benefiting the San Bernardino County Regional Parks system, https://parks.sbcounty.gov/, which includes nine regional parks throughout the county and several other recreational attractions.
Those interested in joining the team at Topgolf can visit Topgolf’s career website.
For more information, including hours of operation and pricing, visit the Topgolf Ontario location page.
Job Openings and Hiring Events in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County has jobs that will be opening on Saturday, March 19.
We encourage you to apply and share these job openings with those who may be interested in them. Recruitments listed are subject to final department approval. Check sbcounty.gov/jobs for the most up- to -date recruitments.
For all COVID-19 related information, including case statistics, FAQs, guidelines, and resources, visit the County’s COVID-19 webpage at http://sbcovid19.com/. Residents of San Bernardino County may also call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911 for general information and resources about the virus. The phone line is NOT for medical calls and is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions about social services, please call 211.
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