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Good Morning I'm delighted to have been asked to speak to you about my participation with the GAIN program. GAIN is Greater Avenues of Independance, which was developed to teach, train and counsel welfare recipients. This program was a God-send for me because it enabled me to become self-sufficient not only for myself, but for my three daughters as well. I'd like to explain how GAIN has helped me and many other women to get back into the job force. Prior to leaving the South Bronx in New York City, November of 1987, I held a job as a receptionist for a television syndication company. I was well-liked there and I enjoyed the job very much. One day the President of the company said he was impressed with how I handled the clients that called and that he would like to have me in TV sales and marketing. Unfortunately I was having severe marital problems which took their toll on me metally and physically. After a while, it became noticable to everyone at the job that I was very depressed, and my work performance level dropped. Finally I decided to tell the president about my problems and explain to him why I wanted to leave New York. He was so kind and understanding that he offered me an apartment he owned in New Jersey, which I declined because I wanted to get away as far as possible. So he had me call the company travel agent and order four one-way tickets to Los Angeles for myself and my children. Once we got to L.A., we moved into an apartment which a friend sub-leased to me. I had to apply for welfare because I had no income of any kind and I needed to be able ot feed and clothe my family and pay rent and bills. After telling my story to the case worker, I was immediately approved. Now at the time, my children were very young, and my baby wasn't even walking yet, so I had to stay home and raise them. To some people, raising three children alone is a hard thing to do, but to me, I didn't think of it as hard-just necessary. Where I'm from, you do what you "gotta" do in order to maintain. After two years I interviewed for a job as a receptionist for and employment agency. I worked there for about a year, but unfortunately business was slow and I was laid-off. I tried to find another job but found my skill weren't up to par. One day I recieved a letter from GAIN inviting me to participate in this program where they provide supportive services such as childcare, transportation services, as well as work of training related expenses. GAIN also helps you obtain the skills you need to get back in the job market. I decided to go back to school registering at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College. I took three to four classes a week for two years, and I earned a 3.0 grade point average. GAIN gave me the incentive to keep going and know that I could make it. I then registered with a temporary work agency, and worked in jobs all over downtown Los Angeles. One day I was asked if I wanted to take a temporary-to-permanent position at Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). Of course I said yes. Well, I absolutely loved the job and after the probationary period I was hired on as permanent employee! I got quite comfortable with my new job and felt I was on my way to becoming self-sufficient. The welfare system is designed to help you get on your feet after you suffer hard times - not to get on and stay on. My benefits weren't cut off right away, eighter. It was a gradual process. With each pay increase, a little of the benefits would decrease. At that time, one of the programs sponsored at the LAEDC, the Los Angeles Regional Technology Alliance (LARTA) needed an assitant for then-executive director, Mr. Rohit Shukla. I was approached about applying for that position. So I applied and was chosen over other applicants. This was there and a half months after I was hired permanently as the receptionist! I guess it was my eagerness to learn, my reliability, and my dependability that was responsible for me obtaining both positions but I know it was GAIN that gave me the change to get myself the skill needed to put myself back into the job market. Today, LARTA is a stand-alone program, and I am now the admistrative program assitant to the now-president, Mr. Rohit Shukla! I'm learning about technology, research & development, information technologies, multimedia, biomedicine and biotechnologies. I've also learned about finacial and capital development and advocacy. I actually help technology-based companies receive matching grant funding form the State of California! I want to thank GAIN and LAEDC and especially LARTA, for giving me the opportunity to become part of the team - technically speaking, a team I hope to be on for years to come.
Thank you.
A speech given by Chanda Peters, program associate for LARTA, at the annual Social Workers Conference on May 15, 1997.
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