GVC is seeking bilingual trainers for Merced and Stanislaus Counties

The Great Valley Center is seeking bilingual applicants for two California Connects community trainer positions which have just opened up. A trainer is needed for Merced County, as well as an additional trainer for Stanislaus County.

These are full time positions that pay $15 per hour and applicants must be able to speak and write fluently in both Spanish and English. Trainers provide free Internet classes targeted at area residents who are not currently connected online and Spanish is the primary language for many of these community members.

Trainers positions are still available in several other counties covered by the program grant. A California Connects community trainer job description is available on GVC's website.

California Connects' hands-on trainings cover basic use of Internet search engines, email, Facebook and broadband access. The training helps participants understand how they can use the Internet as a valuable tool to search for a job, get health information, learn English, apply for college, or connect to friends and family. The goal of the three-year, federally funded California Connects program is to provide Internet understanding and broadband access to over 61,000 California residents.

The Vida en el Valle newspaper featured the California Connects training being conducted in Riverbank on the front page of the November 16th Modesto edition, with the article appearing on their website in both Spanish and English as well. The Riverbank News also covered these training opportunities in October.

The success of the classes in Stanislaus County has been made possible though a partnership with CASA Del Rio Family Resource Center and Riverbank Unified School District. Stanislaus County community trainer Jose Urzua, pictured here with participants Maria Uristu (L) and Dora Fierro (R), has completed several classes with more scheduled in December and January.

Additional information on California Connects is available online or email Desiree Cervantes Holden, Program Manager.

California Connects offers community trainer job opportunities!

The Great Valley Center is seeking full time, bilingual trainers for the California Connects program. A community trainer is needed for each of the following counties:

• Amador
• Colusa
• El Dorado
• Mariposa
• Nevada
• Placer
• San Joaquin
• Tulare
• Yuba

Please help us spread the word on these job openings! 

The full time positions are paid $15 per hour. Applicants must be able to write and speak fluently in Spanish. Specifically targeting the Spanish-speaking community, trainers provide hands-on training on how to use the Internet. This can dramatically impact the lives of those they train, opening their eyes to the world of learning and services available through use of the Internet. This free training can help members of the community learn to search for a job, get health information, apply for college, or connect to friends and family.

To view a job announcement click here.

 For more information on the CA Connects program and community partnership opportunities visit www.greatvalley.org/caconnects or www.caconnects.org.

The Great Valley Center looks forward to bringing you additional news on California Connects in the near future!

California Connects is underway!

The implementation of California Connects is well underway. California Connects is a program to increase Internet use for California residents not yet connected. The goal of this three-year program is to provide internet understanding and broadband access to over 61,000 California residents!

The program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

The Great Valley Center is responsible for the implementation of community trainers on the ground in 18 counties: Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare, Tuolumne and Yuba.

We are accomplishing this through hiring, preparing and equipping each for success. These trainers work in their designated county, showing residents how to use the Internet and set up an email account. They explain broadband and where to find public access computers.

Additional community partnerships are still available!

The success of this program is dependent upon leveraging existing resources in the Valley and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships. We are seeking community agencies, educational institutions and governmental organizations to partner with in this initiative. Partnership may consist of providing a location with computers for holding trainings, helping us reach targeted audiences or publicizing the digital literacy training opportunities. For more information on community partnerships contact Desiree Holden, at (209) 522-5103, ext. 136 or desiree@greatvalley.org

For more information visit www.caconnects.org and www.greatvalley.org/caconnects  

The Great Valley Center looks forward to bringing you additional news on California Connects in the near future!

Video: CA Connects Launch, March 23, 2011

The official launch of California Connects was held March 23, 2011 at American River College. The launch also streamed live online and was viewed by community partners in the Central Valley and California community college Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program students throughout the state.

Watch the Video

California Connects is a three-year program that will increase digital literacy and broadband access in underserved communities throughout the state by deploying community college Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program students and representatives from the Great Valley Center to teach members of the community how to access and navigate the Internet for educational, health, and economic purposes. Funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), California Connects is administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

For more information visit www.caconnects.org

Job Opportunity: Community Trainers for Digital Literacy Outreach and Training

We are looking for candidates to hire as community trainers for California Connects program.  Trainers will conduct digital literacy outreach and training for Central Valley residents who currently do not have access to broadband technology.  There are several full positions available, paying $11.50 per hour including full benefits, in Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Kern, Nevada, Placer, Sutter, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties. 

Download the Job Description (PDF)

Application Deadline
Open until filled 

Application ProcessPlease submit a letter of interest and resume as Word or PDF documents by email to desiree@greatvalley.org. Please include in the subject line: Community Trainer, California Connects Program.

About California Connects

California Connects is a new program that will increase digital literacy and expand broadband Internet access to underserved populations throughout the state. Funded by a $10.9 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, California Connects
provides intensive outreach and hands-on training to students, who will, in turn, educate 61,120 new broadband users and influence 9,168 new broadband adopters over three years.

For more information visit:
http://www.foundationccc.org/CAconnects

Join us for the CA Connects Program Launch on March 23 in Sacramento

The Great Valley Center and the Foundation for California Community Colleges cordially invites you to the official launch of California Connects on March 23 at the American River College in Sacramento.

California Connects is a three-year program that will increase digital literacy and broadband access in underserved communities throughout the state by deploying community college Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program students and representatives from the Great Valley Center to teach members of the community how to access and navigate the Internet for educational, health, and economic purposes.

Please join us and our participating local colleges, partners, and students on March 23 for this historic event. The launch will also be broadcast live via the Internet to California Community College MESA program students throughout the state and community partners in the Central Valley.

Our keynote speaker is Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonillas, representing California's 11th Assembly District.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Time: 10–11 a.m.

Location: American River College Theatre
(Fine & Applied Arts building)
4700 College Oak Drive, Sacramento, CA 95841

Watch the live broadcast

RSVP by Friday, March 18, 2011

Please con firm your attendance by emailing CAconnects@foundationccc.org or

contacting Sally Vue at 916.498.6705.

The program is funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Offi ce and the Great Valley Center. Additional details about California Connects are available at www.CAconnects.org.

Be a part of the CA Connects community on Facebook

GVC leads Central Valley component of California Connects, new statewide digital literacy initiative

GVC is leading the Central Valley component of California Connects, a statewide initiative that offers a multi-pronged approach to increasing digital literacy and broadband access for underserved communities. We will recruit individuals into libraries and public computing centers in 18 Central Valley counties to provide in-person training on basic digital literacy skills.

California Connects is a three-year program that will increase digital literacy and broadband access in underserved communities throughout the state by deploying community college Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program students and representatives from the Great Valley Center to teach members of the community how to access and navigate the Internet for educational, health, and economic purposes.

The program is funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Offi ce and the Great Valley Center. Additional details about California Connects are available at www.CAconnects.org.

Be a part of the CA Connects community on Facebook

Great Valley Center Highlights, February 2011

Now in its second decade, the Great Valley Center continues to address the challenges of our special place on this earth. We continue to operate programs that seek out potential leaders and lift them to higher levels. We also work to overcome the digital divide as our Pixley Connect program now expands to two other communities. Sustainability continues to be a key theme as we work to implement energy retrofit strategies. All of this and much more would not be possible without the generous support of our funders, some of whom have been with us for many years. We extend our appreciation to all our donors for their confidence in us and for their support.

A few highlights for the coming year:

• We are excited to announce our involvement with California Connects, a new statewide digital literacy initiative headed by the California Community College Foundation and the California Community College Technology Center.
  
  GVC is leading the Central Valley component of California Connects, and will recruit individuals into libraries and public computing centers in 18 Central Valley counties to provide in-person training on basic digital literacy skills. We will focus on reaching populations for whom computer and internet use is still a challenge yet necessary to enhance their lifelong learning ability, improve their economic status and advance their quality of life.
  
  California Connects is funded by a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The three-year program will ultimately provide access to more than 61,000 broadband users in California.
  
  Read the CA Connects Fact Sheet →
  
  
• The Great Valley Center Energy Program has developed Green Communities, a new program that will train local government staff in the Central Valley to plan for climate change over the next three years. The program, funded by PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission, will help cities and counties develop a detailed list of greenhouse gas emission sources and levels, and identify ways those emissions can be reduced.
  
  Working with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), paid university interns will provide hands-on assistance to develop the inventory. Green Communities will allow many local governments to at least begin the process of analyzing local emissions data. Eventually, the baseline data will be used to set emissions reduction goals and develop strategies to achieve these goals.
  
  This effort could help cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as mandated by Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which is set to take effect in 2020. Cities must start this year to show how they will meet reduction measures by the 2020 target.
  
  Visit www.gvc-energy.org/green-communities.html →
  
  
• Class II of the American Leadership Forum Great Valley Chapter is expected to graduate in May 2011 where they will join the Senior Fellows from Class I. Recruitment for Class III is underway.
  
  The American Leadership Forum is dedicated to joining and strengthening established leaders in order to serve the public good. The Great Valley Chapter of the American Leadership Forum serves the 3-county region of the Northern San Joaquin Valley of Central California.
  
  ALF Fellows participate in a yearlong intensive leadership development program, which includes monthly seminars and a five day wilderness experience. Upon graduation, these Senior Fellows join an active network of over 1,000 graduates nationwide, and continue to work together on regional problems.
  
  Visit www.greatvalley.org/alf →

Highlights from Fiscal Year 09-10

• The National Parks Institute: Leading Strategic Change Seminar graduated its inaugural class, which included 15 U.S. National Park Service leaders and 11 international participants.
• We launched Great Valley TV, a new public affairs television series that aired 30 half-hour episodes weekly in Sacramento, Fresno, and Redding.
• 18 leaders graduated from the inaugural class of the American Leadership Forum Great Valley Chapter.
• 20 leaders graduated from the 2010 Class of the Institute for the Development of Emerging Area Leaders (IDEAL).
• 11 leaders graduated from the Great Valley Leadership Institute (GVLI).
  
  Download our Year-at-a-glance timeline of activities (PDF) to see all our accomplishments during Fiscal Year 09-10.
  

While our challenges may be great, we continue to feel that the future of our Valley is alive with possibilities. All of us working together, cultivating leadership and a more collaborative spirit, are needed to transform these possibilities into reality.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you at one of our events in 2011!

Sincerely,

Dejeune M. Shelton, Interim Executive Director
Kathy McKim, Board Chair