Ms. Cardenas presented on the uniqueness of BSP in providing vocational training in partnership with management and labor. Ms. Carenas said, “the BSP is uniquely positioned to foster collaboration from its diverse allies and partners to address the needs of immigrants, including access to education for low-wage working workers, and their integration as members of the community. The BSP is founded on the premise that through the acquisition of vocational English training at the workplace and in partnership with employers, immigrant workers are able to expand their opportunities for economic equality through career advancement opportunities. This training meets both the demands from employers for skillful immigrant workforce, and janitors’ ability for economic prosperity through the acquisition of vocational English.” Any strategy to improve immigrant integration must address the central challenge that low-wage immigrant workers face; English language acquisition. At any skill level, language acquisition is perhaps the single most important determination of immigrant integration.

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The BSP has received an 18-month grant from the California Service Employees Trust Fund (CSETF) totaling $96,234 to help sustain and expand its work providing preventive health education in addressing obesity, type 2 diabetes and other obesity related illnesses to 500 property service workers. The goal of the grant is to maintain a healthy workforce which will lead to the reduction of employer contributions to the rising costs associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes rates amongst this population.

The BSP will take a comprehensive approach to training and educating property service workers around health issues.  By March 2013, 250 property service workers will have participated in the BSP Preventive Health Education: Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle Program at the workplace. Additionally, 250 workers will have participated in the BSP’s Health Fairs and Diabetes workshops at the work place and the union office.

In February, the BSP led one of the break-out sessions at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s first Immigrant Integration Action Forum at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View.  At the session titled “Work Site Learning Partners Pairs: Skill Development and Community Integration,” BSP presented a worksite learning partner program at Google, aimed at circumventing the traditional barriers faced by low-wage immigrant service workers when pursuing skill development opportunities.

The Google program objectives are two-fold: 1) individualized English and skill development to increase the janitors’ ability to navigate life at work and in their larger community, and 2) cross-cultural sharing with the end of integrating property service staff into the Google and larger Silicon Valley community.  Upon enrollment, janitors identify skill development goals such as advancing their English communication skills (i.e. interacting with Googlers, or speaking with medical professionals and teachers), using a computer, learning to read and write in Spanish, studying for citizenship, and navigating the U.S. job application process.

Since March 2011, 51 janitors have participated in the program, 26 of whom also attend BSP’s onsite vocational ESL classes. Student participants express increased confidence in their workplace and community interactions, as well as progress in their skill development areas.  Likewise, Google volunteers report an increased understanding of immigrant cultures and the challenges faced by newcomers to the U.S.

Margarita brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in the education and training of lower-skilled workers that will be invaluable to the NOVA Workforce Board as it seeks to raise the skill levels and expand employment opportunities for individuals who have faced challenges in accessing higher-wage jobs within Silicon Valley.
NOVA WIB members from leading edge Silicon Valley companies bring diverse and expert opinions that foster new and better ways of serving the community. These Board members help NOVA to create strategic alliances with businesses, the workforce development community, and other critical stakeholders.The Board serves the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, with Sunnyvale serving as lead on behalf of the other cities in the NOVA consortium.

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Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s (D-Anaheim) honored BSP’s Board Member Marisol Rivera as his Sixty-Ninth Assembly District’s Woman of the Year. Ms. Rivera was recognized for her leadership as one of Orange County’s most dedicated labor leaders. Rivera was a natural choice for the Woman of the Year honor,” said Solorio. “She has been instrumental in creating a Building Skills Partnership where janitors are able to learn English, computer skills and take U.S. Citizenship preparation classes. She is a proud mother who helps to empower other women to find their American dream just as she did. She is an inspiration. I would like to personally thank Marisol Rivera for her passion to discover the potential in her fellow workers,” says Solorio. “Marisol’s life story and how she rose above her own circumstances to help others serves as an inspiration to all of us. She is special.”

Ms. Marisol Rivera was born in El Salvador. At the age of 12, she fled her homeland to be with her parents in the United States. They were restaurant workers struggling to support their growing family here, and continue to send money home. Their wages were minimal, and after 10 years, their paychecks remained unchanged. To help out, Rivera left school to take baby sitting and cleaning jobs until an opportunity to become a janitor surfaced at a movie studio. Even as a teenager, she could understand the plight of workers with no sick leave, no vacation and no benefits. “My only dream when I came to America was to study and be a better person. But I learned that the American dream doesn’t simply happen, you have to look for it,” Rivera explained. “My parents’ experience affected me. I started to get involved at work because I cared about the other workers. I cared about people’s rights.”

Rivera has been dedicated ever since to improving the lives of low-wage workers and their families in Orange County by fighting for livable wages, health care and educational opportunities.

Humbled by her success, Rivera adds, “I was the lucky one. I was offered the chance to be an organizer. If I die tomorrow, I can die knowing I helped others.”

In official ceremonies marking Women’s History Month, Assemblyman Solorio escorted Ms. Rivera to the Assembly floor. There, she was recognized for making “California a better place” as Assemblyman Solorio, Assembly Speaker Perez, Assemblymember Mitchell and Assemblymember Conway presented her with a framed certificate.

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On December 2, 2011 Building Skills Partnership held its First Annual Health Fair in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente. Over 60 members and their families received health information on diabetes, nutrition, and received free screenings provided by Kaiser Permanente such as glucose, cholesterol, BMI, blood pressure, and flu shots.  Other health community groups such as Centro Cultural which provides recreational courses for the whole family offered wellness resources. All participants enjoyed nutritious snacks and got to participate in a raffle where they won prices for being proactive with their health.  Overall, participants enjoyed themselves and received valuable tools that will help them maintain healthier life styles.

When: Saturday, December 17^th from 11:00am – 1:00pm

Location: 1010 Ruff Drive, San Jose, CA 95110

For more information contact Madeleine Case at madeleine@buildingskills.org or (408)280-5329.