SHIELDS Executive Director Kathy Icenhower attends GLAAACC 19th Annual Economic Awards Dinner

Thursday, March 22, 2012, the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Economic Awards Dinner at LA Live’s JW Marriot Los Angeles located in Downtown Los Angeles. In its 19th year of existence the acclaimed event strives to shed light on deserving individuals and corporations within the business realm of the African American community whose infrastructure has set precedence in its economic growth and development. Award categories include banking and financial institution of the year, the public service award, African American business of the year, and corporation of the year, amongst others.

Invited guests to the event included singer/songwriter Rhona Bennet, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and SHIELDS for Families Executive Director, Kathryn Icenhower. The keynote speaker was Secretary of Labor for the US Department of Labor, Hilda L. Solis. Nominated by US President Barack Obama himself, Solis has held her position since January of 2009. She is recognized across the nation as a leader in protecting the environment and escalating access to affordable healthcare. An advocate for improving the lives of working families Secretary Solis met with Dr. Kathryn Icenhower to discuss SHIELDS’ Jericho Program, which provides comprehensive vocational, educational and support services to ex-offenders returning to the community.

The ceremony held by this premiere business association was a success, and another notch in the associations esteemed and prestigious legacy. SHIELDS salutes GLAAACC, its board of directors and the night’s honorees for doing their part in the development and progression of minority-owned businesses in the Greater Los Angeles community.

Patricia McKenna featured on KCET

Watch this video from KCET to learn how budget cuts to LA County Courts impact the futures of our children and families. See SHIELDS Court Liason/DCFS Case Worker Patricia McKenna give her input at 10 minutes into the video. Keep up the hard work you do advocating for families involved in the dependency courts!

Coming Home: A Town Hall on Realignment

Congrats! Our CalWORKs Program was awarded 2011 Most Innovative Agency by DMH

Congrats to SHIELDS CalWORKs Program and staff for being awarded the “2011 Most Innovative Agency” by the Department of Mental Health (DMH) for how they utilized an employment specialist to integrate a vocational component into their mental health programming.

Keep up the great work!

 

U.S. Department of Labor Representatives visit SHIELDS’ Jericho Training Program

On March 13, 2012, the Jericho Training Center had the honor of hosting Dr. William Spriggs, Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Labor.  He attended a Collaborative Meeting at Jericho with Alicia Villarreal, Regional Representative for Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.  Dr. Spriggs and Ms. Villarreal were greeted by a full house at Jericho with representatives from several of our key partners, including the Los Angeles County Probation and Sheriff’s Departments, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Los Angeles Police Department, and Department of Rehabilitation. 

The agenda focused upon providing Dr. Spriggs with an overview of the Jericho Training Center and program offerings.  The full complement of SHIELDS for Families and Jericho staff, as well as supportive referral, curriculum, and employment providers (including Marvin Gardens, B.T.T.S., and ThreeCohens Construction) were given the opportunity to convey to Dr. Spriggs their roles in facilitating and ensuring the delivery of comprehensive, quality services to Jericho clients.  Further, Jericho was able to receive Dr. Spriggs’ feedback on ways to facilitate and advance linkages, as available through federal resources.  The meeting was closed with compelling testimonies from Jericho clients, both past and present. 

SHIELDS for Families and the Jericho Training Center would like to sincerely thank all who attended this meeting and contributed to its success.  A special thank you to Dr. Spriggs for taking the time to see in-person how Jericho is utilizing the Generation 4 – Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Grant to effectively meet clients’ needs.