Second Group of Interviewees with the Cesar Chavez Foundation

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT • The SEFCEDA organization became an IRS 501(c )3 nonprofit tax-exempt organization on February 28, 2011. Since this date SEFCEDA has been addressing the poverty problem confronted by the Southeast Fresno community by bringing

information, resources, support, and opportunities pertaining to education and training directly to its residents. One of SEFCEDA’s primary objectives is to increase per capita income of residents. SEFCEDA is accomplishing this objective by collaborating with strategic partners such as the Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board, Fresno City College, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno Adult School, Southeast Fresno churches, and other agencies serving this target area.  As SEFCEDA provides career path options, training opportunities, tutoring, and job placement assistance to willing residents with demonstrated potential, it will significantly increase their chances of securing good paying jobs; which will contribute to their overall economic success. This positive momentum will spread within households as our first-round champions will become better role models for their children and family members.

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Steps to Prosperity - The steps that are being taken by SEFCEDA for the successful implementation of this project.

1. Outreach to Southeast Fresno Community to identify residents who will commit to SEFCEDA Steps-to-Prosperity program. Work with churches, schools, non-profits, and other partners to market SEFCEDA to groups of participants. SEFCEDA’s target audience is the heads-of-households as they command an important role in the future development of the family.

2. Interview prospective participants using SEFECEDA’s intake protocol to ensure candidates meet program requirements.

3. For those individuals accepted into the program SEFCEDA conducts assessments and career exploration to educate them about the local, high-demand career options and training opportunities.

4. Working with Fresno City College and other training providers, SEFCEDA assists participants with training course and financial aid registration.

5. For those participants enrolled in training courses, connect them with tutoring resources to ensure satisfactory completion of coursework.  SEFCEDA will also be providing tutoring services to participants.

6. Upon completion of training (certification, etc.), provide participants with job placement assistance working with community partners.

7. In addition to technical skills training, SEFCEDA provides participants with career-ready competency training (soft skills) to maximize probability of success once participant becomes employed

8. Track participants in Steps-to-Prosperity program from start to finish, documenting quantifiable measures (before and after), testimonials, etc. to be used for future program cycles and continuous improvement of model. 

9. SEFCEDA with the help of other programs and resources from other agencies makes available financial literacy resources and information.