AJCC News January • February • March 2021 Download the New Arecibo Job Corps App This application is a very useful tool for sharing news, announcements, surveys, and contests with students and Center staff. The app can be downloaded to Apple or Android cell phones. Inside This Issue Student Activities/ Safety Department Success Story/ LEGACY of Leadership Award Different Departments Inform You Social Development Activities Pet Park Inauguration/ Outstanding Academic Performance Job Corps “Better Together” Advanced Training Information March — Nutrition Month LEGACY Awards/ OCT/ACT Tournament Winners/ Conversational English CTT Manager’s Message Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 5 Pg. 6 Pg. 7 Pg. 8 Pg. 9 Pg. 10 Pg. 11 Pg. 12 “Wolfpack, your family away from home! The Wolf force is in the herd!” Tracing Paths That Change Lives! 2 AJCC Staff Participate in Activities for Students Safety Department On February 23, Arecibo Job Corps participated in the National Tsunami Drill. The Tsunami Drill took place at the male and female dorms, which is the highest point on Center. The drill was done in an orderly fashion, and every employee and student responded quickly to the sound of the alarm. The Safety and Security Department continues implementing various protocols to comply with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines and government regulations to keep our staff and students safe at all times. Temperature checks are conducted at the main gate at all times. Lines and posters have been posted around the Center indicating the protocols to follow. Classrooms, trades, offices, cafeteria and all Center areas have been organized to comply with social distancing. By Safety Officer Luis Martínez Crazy Selfie Day Staff kept students motivated by hosting "Crazy Selfie Day." Students who submitted the most original photo were awarded a prize. Student Recognition During January, staff visited and made a gigantic effort to keep our students motivated using different strategies to recognize their work. CPP & Counseling Department The CPP and Counseling Department supported students participating in distance learning and residential living with different activities during the month. Welcome gifts were delivered to students who began their isolation period. A scavenger hunt hidden gifts adventurist game was also included. SUCCESS STORY — Ezequiel Mojica 3 Before Job Corps Ezequiel Mojica was unemployed and had recently dropped out of college. He was feeling disappointed and frustrated with himself and wanted to start again. His stepmother spoke to him about Job Corps Program, the benefits he would have, and told him that she was a former LPN student from AJCC. So he decided to enroll. While in AJCC, he was involved in the basketball court light remodulation and also in the Library light and electrical restoration. Ezequiel Mojica graduated in 2017 from Arecibo Job Corps Center from the Electrical trade with certifications from: OSHA 10 in Construction Industry, Introduction to Photovoltaics. While in AJCC, the new skills learned helped him to become more confident and secure of himself; and because of that, he has now economic stability, being able to purchase a vehicle and a home. Once he finished AJC, he moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida and worked at Florida Bath and Surfaces for 3 1/2 years; employer AJCC CTS staff placed him in. He worked doing Building Maintenance, Electricity, and Installation of granite countertops in kitchens, bathrooms, and terraces. In addition, he also worked part time at the Alvin's Island store as a sales associate and manager of the beach items section where he was from April 2017 to February 2020. Later he established his own home car wash company which he called Zek's Car Wash and Detailing During Thanksgiving week, Ezequiel visited his parents in PR and heard about the vacancy in the Building Maintenance Workshop instructor position at AJCC and decided to fill out an application. He was called for an Interview, and performed an excellent one. A second interview was coordinated where he had to present a class to a group of staff members where he also did a great job. He was the one selected since, in addition to his knowledge during his stay as a student at the Center, he demonstrated great qualities of responsibility, values, dedication, desire to improve, and above all, maturity. On Tuesday, February 16, 2021, he officially began as a Teacher of the Building Maintenance Workshop at AJCC. Congratulations Ezequiel and welcome to our team Congratulations to Miguelina Torres for Being Named as a Finalist for the BrightSpring Health Services LEGACY of Leadership Award! The LEGACY of Leadership award recognizes purposeful, mission - driven and results - oriented leaders who exceptionally demonstrate each LEGACY value and truly leave a legacy on the organization and the people they lead. Equus Workforce Solutions: Miguelina Torres, Center Director Arecibo Job Corps Center (Puerto Rico) Off Center Training/Advanced Center Training Activity CTT Department Informs ... 4 Electrical Workshop students began face - to - face classes on January 18. The students performed light fixture installations and mounted poles with LED lamps. They also practiced installing pipes and fittings. Great job and keep up the good work! Electrical Workshop students began face - to - face classes on January 18. The students performed light fixture installations and mounted poles with LED lamps. They also practiced installing pipes and fittings. Gr eat job and keep up the good work! Masks, book bags, welding masks, and watches were distributed to welding class students at Christmas time. There was also an Ugly Sweater Day event. College students were fitted with their new Arecibo Job Corps Center welding jackets. Academic Department On January 21, the Academic Department organized an activity titled, “It’s Rocket Science,” where each student created rockets using their knowledge of chemistry. Students prepared rockets to launch at the softball park. They were very enthusiastic, motivated during the activity and enjoyed the competition. The main purpose of this activity was for each student to go through an experience of applying what was learned in class. By Science & Health Instructor Alvin López By OCT/ACT Coordinator Diana Pérez Social Development Department Activities 5 Art Under the Stars January 14, 2021 This activity helped students relax and share in a healthy environment. Socially Distanced BBQ Day January 6, 2021 Three Kings Day was celebrated with a BBQ while maintaining social distance. “Monta y Cuadra” January 5, 2021 Students participated in a puzzle activity to keep their minds busy while also working on coordination. “Cardio Time” January 13, 2021 An outdoor activity where students were socially distanced. Forest Hike January 23, 2021 A motivational hike where students could enjoy being outside and nature while maintaining social distance. 6 Congratulations to the Following Students for Their Outstanding Academic Performance! Ayende, Coralis Cosme, Jorge Figueroa, Nahomy Malpica, Ismael Martínez, Genesis Millet, Yaireliz Matos, Daisy Martínez, Joshua Pérez, Karitza Rivera, Cristian Santana, Krystal Congratulations to the following students that have successfully passed the subject exams. January Jorge L. Cosme Joshua C. Cruz Karitza D. Pérez February Omaris Asencio Nahomy Figueroa Yoshua Martínez Yaireliz Millet Zorivette Rivera March Adyam Justiniano Anthony Ortiz Calep Rivera Coralis M. Ayende Arecibo Job Corps was present at the opening of the “ Barceloneta Pets Park ” on Saturday, February 6, 2021. During this recreational and family activity organized by the Municipality of Barceloneta, dozens of families from said municipality and neighboring towns gathered, and had the opportunity to witness the inauguration of the new space for pets as well as enjoy the different service and promotion stations. Arecibo Job Corps was one of the busiest stations, where in addition to having photo sessions with "Wufie," families, and young people were oriented about the services of the institution and received promotional materials, cups, masks, pens, and bottles of water. This effort was successfully accom- plished thanks to the OA / CTS, Cafeteria, and Social Development Team. Pet Park Inauguration in Barceloneta By M.S.W. Career Transition Specialist Ruben A. Rosa Pérez 7 Advanced Training — An Alternative For Your Future 8 By Case Evaluator Crisena Pérez HEALS and Recreation Departments celebrated Nutritional Month throughout March with other departments. On March 11, an afternoon base- ball game was organized. The teams were AJCC Students vs. AJCC Staff. TEAP took the opportunity to demonstrate that it's possible to have fun without drinking alcohol. Cafeteria staff provided a recipe for strawberry lemonade that everyone loved, and CPP provided decorations. Maintenance staff set up the event site. While the game took place, CPP, Recreation and Wellness Staff served everyone wonderful alcohol - free drinks. NUTRITION FIRST! March — Nutrition Month in AJCC 9 AJCC had various activities throughout March. Some of the activities celebrated at the Center included the following: March 9, 2021 — Staff participated in a conference on “Learning Eating Strategies and Healthy Life Styles” through WebEx presented by Sandra Ortiz, LND, CAWM, DE, CECD, Nutritionist and Dietitian. March 11, 2021 — ”Maintaining Healthy Lifestyles” In this activity, our mascot Wulfie danced to the sound of the music with the HEALS committee and the medical staff. In this activity, Recreation and HEALS staff welcomed employees in the morning when they arrived at the front gate with music and a healthy snack. Residential staff also participated while following the safety and security measures. An Alcohol - Free Happy Hour 10 Thank you for recognizing your coworkers and letting them know you value their hard work and positive examples. During January, February, and March, we received a lot of recognitions. Congratulations to the nominated staff for helping students and personnel! Winners of the LEGACY nominations $25 gift cards raffle were: LinkedIn Trainings January Mariela Hernández Roy Rodriguez Marisol Acevedo José Chimelis Lizette Cruz Soto Zahili Mercado Yolanda Cabán Diana Morales February Belen Vargas March Crisenia Pérez Jean C. Crespo Welding Trade — Off Center Training/Advanced Center Training By OCT / ACT Coordinator Diana Pérez — CTT Department Tom Soto is a student in the OCT Program. He's in the Welding course at FIT College. Tom is an outstanding, talented and responsible young man who is passionate about welding. He's currently completing his Internship, which is a requirement to complete his technical career. He's completing a paid internship at Ultra - Pure System, Inc. (UPSI) in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. His plans are to work in the United States once he finishes his Job Corps process. We wish him all the success in the world! As part of the evaluation process, we took into consideration the training hours in LinkedIn that each employee completed during the last 90 days. The following employees exceeded the established goal: 1st Place Luis Martínez 2nd Place Yolanda Velázquez 3rd Place Ivelisse Soto 4th Place Alvin López 5th Place Mildred Santiago Manager that exceeded the established goal: José Roldán 11 Winner of the Home Run Derby — Jeriel Moreno Jermain performed a clean sweep of all the prizes at the pool tournament and won the Job Corps Championship title. Jermain's debut impressed everyone, including Mr. Hector Rios, former staff champion. Hector predicted a promising future for the billiard player. Jermain said, “I'm happy with the work I did, and now I really need to do my best to strengthen my game." Excellent Performance, Jermain! Congratulations to the three students from FIT College — Welding School who scored the highest grades in their Conversational Class exam: 1st Place — Tom A. Soto — Gold Star 2nd Place — Obed Pérez – Silver Star 3rd Place — Briyan Rivera – Bronze Star KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Conversational English Class By Conversational English Teacher Geraldine Sarabia Jeriel Moreno put on quite a show at the Home Run Derby at the Job Corps Park. Most of the students had played the soft- ball before, and this activity brought together the entire community of residential living and the athletic department in the kilometer - long hits. Great job, Jeriel! Winner of the Pool Tournament — Jermain Olivo A Message from CTT Manager Joel Roldán Greetings Everyone, I want to congratulate all the students who have been successfully working in their distance learning classes. I know it has been a great challenge, and at times very difficult, but you have shown a lot of courage and perseverance by working hard to achieve your goals. During these difficult times, we have stood with great faith, and we have been working very hard to continue preparing our Center for in - person classes, so everything can be in optimal working condition. All of the staff members look forward to seeing you soon. I encourage you to keep fighting every day until you reach your goals. Always continue fighting to help others. Never give up until you succeed. The brave are the ones who succeed, and I hope that each of you can achieve success. Success and many blessings, Joel Roldan, CTT Manager Contact Us to Learn More! PO Box 544 (Road #682 KM 6.6 Arecibo) Garrochales, PR 00652 Telephone : 787 - 881 - 2300 Fax : 787 - 881 - 0971 www.facebook.com/doljobcorps www.arecibo.jobcorps.gov/ At Arecibo Job Corps Center, we support the Job Corps program’s mission to teach eligible young people the skills they need to become employable and independent and place them in meaningful jobs or further education. The AJCC Newsletter is prepared by Administrative Assistant Nancy Maisonet, Social Development and Counseling Departments.