SOUTH BAY ONE-STOP BUSINESS & CAREER CENTERS
Meet Larchelle Gray - South LA
Workforce Challenge:
Larchelle Gray, mother of a nineteen and four-year-old, found herself putting her education on pause due to financial difficulties. She was sending out an average of ten resumes per day and received no callbacks. Not having her professional license made finding a job challenging.
Workforce Solution:
As a financial resource, Ms. Gray requested CalWORKS services and was enrolled in the Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN), Job Club and Transitional Subsidized Employment (TSE) program in Carson. Instructors at Job Club assisted Ms. Gray to structure her resume in a way that employers would look at her resume differently.
After completing the TSE program, her counselor recommended her for a clerical position at the YWCA Greater Los Angeles, where she was able to work with at risk families as well as intimate partner violence victims. This intern position opened the doors for Ms. Gray to connect with
employers in the field. She considered the internship to be one of her best experiences as it allowed her to do intakes and case management; which were activities in her background and field of interest. She also met with the VP of Communications and Business at the YWCA Greater Los Angeles (GLA).
Outcome and Benefits:
With the help of the Carson One-Stop Center, Ms. Gray was able to obtain employment and is currently working as a clinical specialist with Project STRIVE at the Nathanson Family Resilience Center in UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, a family based intervention for homeless and runaway youth. She reports to be grateful to Mr. Michael Seale at the Carson One-Stop Center and the TSE program.
“You’re never too old to learn, try to learn as much as you can and don’t give up, the services are there for you so make sure you commit to them 100%.”