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 GRAND OPENING AND DEDICATION OF THE MICHAEL CHAVEZ CENTER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Thank you to the following sponsors for their very generous support for the Grand Opening and Dedication of the Michael Chavez Center:

Safeway, Fiesta Party and Tent Rental, El Agave Grill, El Yahualica Tacos, Mercado del Sol, La Cabana Restaurant, Taqueria Los Gayos, La Finca Restaurant, Antojitos de Jalisco

“The MichaelChavezCenter provides an invaluable service to residents of the Monument Community, the City of Concord and Contra Costa County. The programs and services offered through the ChavezCenter are essential to our community and are excellent examples of the power of public and private partnerships,” Bonilla said.

Executive Director of the MichaelChavezCenter for Economic Opportunity since February 2009, Mike Van Hofwegen said, “Coming alongside men and women of our community and supporting them in recognizing, developing and utilizing their abilities is incredibly gratifying.   The Michael Chavez Center does this in a way that helps people to both take specific steps out of poverty and at the same time give back to their community.”

The Michael Chavez Center’s mission is to transform the community through economic opportunities and to train and develop skills in technology and literacy as well as business development. These programs develop the human, social and economic capital that enables individuals to become self-sufficient and contribute to their families and the community in meaningful ways.

Esperanza Flores is a member of the recently launched Green and Clean Professional House-cleaning Services which is a women-owned cooperative, dedicated to making homes safe, clean, and healthy.  “The MichaelChavezCenter gave me the tools and support to rise to another level and become independent. It is a center that is open to those who have a desire to learn and to improve their lives,” said Flores.

Michael Chavez, a 27-year Concord resident and business owner, was elected to the City Council in November 2006.  His wife, Vikki, continues to operate Charisma Salon on Clayton Road

in Concord, the business they co-founded in 1979. Councilmember Chavez chaired the Concord City Council Housing & Economic Development Committee and served on the Neighborhood & Community Services Committee. Chavez was a pioneer in making inroads for the underprivileged people of Concord.  The MichaelChavezCenter, formerly known as Monument Futures, desires to continue the work he began and carry out his vision.

Fernando Lopez is a skilled laborer who interacts with the center for assistance finding jobs and utilizes the technology and language programs. “The ChavezCenter lets me provide economic support to my family. It also lets me learn different occupations through our skills training. I like the English as a Second Language classes and the civic integration presentations because they help me know more about this culture and society,” said Lopez.

For more information about the Michael Chavez Center for Economic Opportunity and to donate, please visit their website by clicking here.

Contra Costa Future Fund

In 2007/08, over 1200 families and children were provided social services, by various non-profits, through Contra Costa Future Fund grants which is administered by Supervisor Susan A. Bonilla. The non-profits were successful in leveraging $760,000 for their programs; the grantees were able to substantiate a Social Return on Investment (SROI) of between $5 - 7 million in taxpayer savings. Please click on the link below to read the executive summary.    

Project YES

Project YES (Foster Youth Employment Services), is designed to enable former and emancipating foster youth to work within Contra Costa County Departments.  The vision of this program is to employ Contra Costa county emancipated foster youth within County Departments.

This win-win approach provides employment opportunities to some of the County’s most vulnerable youth and also enhances the morale of the department while alleviating a portion of the workload. 

Project YES began in the spring of 2008, with a pilot program which employed two recently emancipated foster youth in the General Services Department’s Fleet Division.  Since then, the Project has employed four additional young people in the Print & Mail Division of GSD and the Department of Conservation and Development. 

During the summer of 2009, with the ARRA Summer Youth Employment funding, 140 foster youth were employed.  35 youth were placed in ContraCostaCounty jobs in various departments.

Project YES is strongly supported in County Departments such as Human Resources, Animal Services, Library Services, DOIT, Sheriff's Office, Fire Department, CountyOffice of Education, Health Services, Tax Collectors, and Public Works, Children and Family Services, OneStopCareersCenters, and Workforce Development Board Departments.