Monthly Archives: October 2010

Benjamin Torres, President & CEO

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Benjamin Torres is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Development Technologies Center (CDTech).  CDTech is 501 (C3) non-profit focused on addressing issues of community and economic development in low-income areas of Los Angeles through a social justice lens that empowers residents and communities to rebuild them.  Mr. Torres worked side-by-side with Dr. Denise Fairchild (previous President/CEO) over the past eight years to (1) build the Community Planning program at LA Trade-Tech College; (2) lead CDTech’s comprehensive community initiative in Vernon-Central; and (3) provide leadership to our Working Democracy Division as Vice President.  He is recognized as a major social justice leader both locally and nationally through his extensive background and work in developing grassroots and youth leadership, school and community partnerships as well as shaping community benefits agreements.  He was instrumental in bringing the Public Allies program to CDTech, to build out the leadership and nonprofit workforce development pipeline in our underserved communities.

He is a faculty member and Director of the Community Planning Program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. In this capacity he has been responsible for the strategic planning and day-to-day management of the certificate and associate degree programs in community planning. He has ten years of experience teaching, curriculum design, student and faculty development and support at LATTC and is responsible for overseeing community outreach and student community service activities.  He has utilized creative solutions to bring non-traditional students into the college and developed bilingual programs to provide courses for groups like the promotoras de salud and other immigrant communities of South Los Angeles.

His relevant prior experience includes two years at the Multi-Cultural Education Consortium in Santa Barbara where he developed and coordinated a project to diversify public school faculty and curriculum in the secondary school district and implemented Chicano/Latino and African American studies courses.  He was the Youth Leadership Director for La Casa de la Raza in Santa Barbara.  A program designed to teach youth community organizing and leadership training to address issues impacting at-risk youth.  Most recently, from 1997 to 2002, he served as project director for the MultiCultural Collaborative Community School Initiative program in the Watts community of Los Angeles. He developed programs in the area of community capacity building and leadership development and served as technical assistant and trainer to their community outreach efforts with an emphasis on building grass-root African American and Latino leadership cadres. Mr. Torres holds a bachelors degree from the University of California Santa Barbara and is completing his Masters degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University.

He is committed to building leadership capacity in South Los Angeles and serves on the Board of Directors of key organizations; Strategic Action for a Just Economy (SAJE), Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE), Figueroa Community Land Trust and the For Chicana/o Studies Foundation. Benjamin lives in Echo Park, where he proudly grew up and lives with his long-time partner Juana Mora and his daughters Aurelia and Camila Valentina.

L.A. Times “Now” Features Vernon Central Community Job & Resource Fair!

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South L.A. job fair targets youth unemployment

October 28, 2010 |  9:22 am

Young people in South Los Angeles will have an opportunity to learn critical job-hunting and employment development skills Saturday at a community job and resource fair.

The interactive fair organized by the Vernon Central Workforce Development Network, a nonprofit that tackles youth unemployment, will offer attendees the chance to participate in various workshops that could help them land a job.

They include resume writing, interviewing skills, an introduction to labor unions and launching a small business.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who with Assembly Speaker John A. Perez is backing the event, said the fair would greatly benefit young people by helping them polish their communication skills, learn to network and find a job.

More than half of all young adults in South Los Angeles are unemployed and need the boost the fair hopes to provide, said Benjamin Torres, president and chief executive of Community Development Technologies Center, an L.A.-based group that promotes economic opportunities for low-income residents.“This is one concrete step we are taking to bring together the resources of political, business, education and industry leaders to create solutions,” Torres said in a statement.

The fair will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the South Los Angeles Constituent Services Center, 4301 South Central Ave., Los Angeles.

– Ann M. Simmons

Join us at the Vernon Central Community Job and Resource Fair! October 30th!

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Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez, Councilwoman Jan Perry and the Vernon Central Workforce Development Network Invite you to:

The Vernon Central Community Job and Resource Fair!

Saturday October 30th, 2010, 9am to 12pm  Job & Resource Fair Flyer

Empleos Y Recursos Spanish Flyer

South LA Constituent Service Center, 4301 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles 90011

Employer/Organization Registration Form- Deadline extended to October 26!

The booth registration deadline for EMPLOYERS or RESOURCE NON-PROFITS, PUBLIC AGENCIES or LABOR UNIONS is Tuesday, October 26. Registration is FREE.

Click Here for Employer/Organization Registration Form

Click Here For Letter of Invitation to Employers/Organization from Assemblyman

The Job Fair is FREE and OPEN to the community.

Candidates of all ages, experience levels and industries are encouraged to attend!

Employers will be looking to fill full-time, part-time and apprentice positions!

Come and learn about legislation that may affect you and your community.  Participating employers looking to hire or train include large private companies, government agencies, small businesses, local labor unions, and non-profits. Sectors include:  health, public service, education, and various trades.

CONFIRMED WORKSHOPS:

► Record Expungement          ► College Readiness             ►Intro to Labor Unions

►Resume Writing                      ►Interview Skills 101           ►Jump Start Your Idea: Get your Small Business Started

►Interviewing and Presentation Skills (a Youth-led Workshop)

The Vernon Central Community Job and Resource Fair is a project of the Vernon Central Workforce Development Network which includes All Peoples¹ Christian Center, Community Development Technologies Center (CDTech),
Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), LA Conservation Corps, and LA Trade Technical College. Co-sponsors also include Speaker of the CA State Assembly John Perez and Councilmember Jan Perry.

For more info contact www.asmdc.org/speaker or call 213-620-4646.

CDTech Donates 20 Computers to Families & Small Businesses

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CDTechLink, ParentLink & CABA Members Receive Computers!

The Community Development Technologies Center (CDTech) donated 20 computers systems to families and small businesses to help close the digital divide in the Vernon-Central community of South Los Angeles.  Thanks to a computer donation from the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and an anonymous donor, it was possible to put together full working computer systems that went to the homes of many families in Vernon-Central.  These recipients were members of CDTechLink, ParentLink and the Central Avenue Business Association (CABA).  Donations such as these help CDTech to increase the educational and economic opportunities of children, youth, families and businesses in this low-income neighborhood.

If you are a business or individual interested in supporting the work of CDTechLink or are a Vernon-Central resident or businesses interested in our computer center, trainings and services, please contact Patricia Celidon, Technology and Training Director at 323.235.8320 x301 or by email at portiz@cdtech.org for more information.

Public Allies Los Angeles Celebrates 10 Years of Leadership!

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Public Allies 10 Year Anniversary Celebration!

The Public Allies Los Angeles (Public Allies L.A.), a CDTech program, held its 10th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon with enormous success!

2010 marks the 10-year anniversary and commemorates the accomplishments of Public Allies L.A.’s young leaders and supports the next generation. Public Allies L.A. has successfully graduated more than (250) young adults, aged 18-30, of whom 75% continue to work in the nonprofit sector.  Allies are talented young adults from diverse backgrounds who become leaders,  engage volunteers, unite people, lead effective projects and commit long-term social change.

The Honorable former U.S. Senator and Peace Corps co-founder Harris Wofford was the keynote speaker, thanks to the support from the S. Mark Taper  Foundation and Mr. Ray Reisler.  Wofford has been central to every major effort to advance civic service in the United States during the past five decades. In his keynote address, he spoke about his early work in the civil rights movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and of the founding of the Peace Corps. More recently, he has played a key role in crafting and passing the trailblazing legislation that created AmeriCorps, the Learn and Serve America program, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Following Wofford’s Senate tenure, President Clinton appointed him CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (1995 to 2001). Paul Schmitz, Public Allies National, CEO, presented Wofford with a plaque to recognize his accomplishments.

The day’s Honorees included Mr. Wofford, Mr. Rafael Gonzalez (the first PALA Site Director), Mr. Ray Reisler of the S. Mark Taper Foundation, and 2009-10 S. Mark Taper Fellows.

Over 100 guests joined the celebration and represented Public Allies alum, former PA staff, a record attendance of partner organizations and community supporters.

Central Avenue Business Association (CABA) in Action!

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Milestone for CABA! Pictured are Vivian Bowers, CABA Chair and Gregory Gallop of Citibank.

The Central Avenue Business Association (CABA) is made up of small businesses located on the historic Central Avenue corridor in Los Angeles.  CABA’s  mission is to improve the quality of life on Central Avenue by promoting business among its members through mutual support, promotion, networking,  advertising, and customer referrals.  CABA creates an awareness of economic and political issues that may affect its members and the Vernon-Central community at large.

Recently, CABA hosted it’s 3rd Annual Small Business Seminar and Resource Fair at the L.A. Mart with featured keynote speaker Javier Madera Camacho who has over 20 years of experience in small business development.  At the Fair, small businesses had access to banks & lenders, resources, and City programs that are beneficial for their business.

CABA is also hosting Sales and Marketing Workshops throughout November at the Constituent Service Center on Central Avenue.  All businesses are welcome to take advantage of these workshops.  Click Here for Details.

Through a collaborative effort between CDTech and Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), CABA has been working to formalize its structure and develop grassroots leadership since 2007.  Opening a bank account was a great milestone for CABA.

Green Urban Manufacturing Initiative (GUMI) Roundtable Brings Partners Together to Explore Opportunities & Challenges

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Information Sharing, Stimulating Conversation & Networking at the GUMI Roundtable

The Green Urban Manufacturing Initiative (GUMI) Roundtable hosted at the USC Davidson Conference Center and Sponsored by Emerald Cities Collaborative and Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency was a great success!

Participants included industry and key experts and organizations, including Green for All, USC, Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles, UCLA , SCOPE L.A. , Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Vernon, the California Manufacturing Technology Consulting and others.

The Roundtable explored both the Challenges and Opportunities of helping urban manufacturers make the green transformation.  This collaborative effort created a great environment of information sharing and stimulating discussions.  In that spirit, here we are sharing those presentations with you.  Just click on underlined titles to review.  The GUMI Roundtable represents the first convening of the newly formed GUMI Network.

Attendees were sent in advance a topical brief, Pathways to Green Manufacturing , which set the tone for the Roundtable.  The day-long event began with welcoming remarks from our host, Dr. Manuel Pastor, Director, USC’s Program for Environmental and Regional Equity      (PERE) & Co-Director, USC’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII).

The Morning Keynote Address was by Barry R. Sedlik, Chair of the California Green Collars Jobs Council. His talk was California Green Jobs: Challenges and Opportunities . Mr. Sedlik’s keynote was followed by “Manufacturing in the Regional Economy”.  A Historical Manufacturing Perspective was presented by Thomas Tseng, Principal and Co-Founder, New American Dimensions, who was then followed by Gregory Freeman, Vice President, Economic & Policy Consulting, L.A. County Economic Development Corporation who talked about the Economic Importance of Manufacturing.

Having set that frame-work, the next presentation was Green Innovation: Business Friendly Regulations by Ms. Martha Dina Arguello, Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles, whose presentation provided a case study on Dry Cleaning vs. “Wet” Cleaning, which is the latest green alternative which was developed by the UCLA Sustainable Technology & Policy Program.   Included in our packet of information at the Roundtable was a white paper produced by the UCLA Policy Program: Integrating Safer Alternative into Chemical Policy.

Global and National Greening: Imperative, Opportunity and Staying Competitive was a panel moderated by Ms. Linda Griego of Griego Enterprises, Inc.  Her panelist included Ms. Cecilia Estolano, Chief Strategist of State and Local Initiatives at Green for All and Mr. Adam Friedman from the Pratt Center for Community Development      in New York.    Mr. Friedman’s Presentation focused on the Sustainability Neighborhoods Initiative work being done by his organization.

The focus then switched to “Target Sectors: Market Opportunities & Challenges” with a panel moderated by  Gregory Freeman, who worked with CDTech to conduct Focus Interviews with industry representatives from GUMI’s four target sectors, food processing, apparel, furniture and metals.   The industry representatives were Mr. Tim Strelitz, President of  CMX Metals Corporation who is doing great work in the development of eco-friendly alloys and Mr. William J. Perry, Board member and former owner of GFF, Inc./Girard’s Salad Dressings.  GFF has made many green changes that have not only reduced their carbon footprint but created great cost savings.

 

Next, Ms. Alexandra Paxton, Special Assistant to Deputy Chief of Operations at the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles & Mr. Adam Friedman presented Land Use Challenges and Opportunities which examined issues both in Los Angeles and New York City.

The Lunch Keynote Address was by Dr. Denise G. Fairchild, Executive Director, Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) whose provided a perspective on the importance of manufacturers to the green economy and the work that ECC was doing in this area.

A WorkForce Issues Panel was then moderated by Ms. Elsa Barboza, Campaign Director, SCOPE L.A whose panelist included Dr. Manuel Pastor, USC who talked about Worker Recruitment & Hiring Networks, Ms. Linda Delp from UCLA LOSH who focused onWorker Safety & Training.  Representing the industry perspective was Ms. Laura Lee, Soy Foods of America who is also a Food Industry Business Roundtable (FIBR) Board member.

The last part of the day was spent on short presentation of successful program for greening urban manufacturers.  Ms. James Watson, Vice President of the California Manufacturing Technology Consulting presented case studies on Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Plants He was followed by Ms. Linda Johnson, Environmental Health Specialist & Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Vernon who focued on the City of Vernon’s Sustainability Program. She was followed by Mr. Mas Hori, FIBR Board Member & Former California State Health Inspector whose talk was The Role of Trade Associations: Food Industry Business Roundtable

Wrapping up the Roundtable was Yvette Nunez, Sr. Program Director for Business and Economic Development at CDTech who is heading the GUMI program and closing remarks by Benjamin Torres, CDTech President.

The Green Urban Manufacturing Initiative is a Community Development Technologies Center (CDTech) project funded by a grant of the David and Lucille Packard Foundation.   If you are interested in joining the GUMI Network or are a manufacturing interested in learning about becoming a GUMI participant, please contact Yvette Nunez at 213/763-2520 x227 or by email at ynunez@cdtech.org.