Every year, the San Diego Job Corps Center joins millions of Americans for Make A Difference Day, which has become the nation’s largest day of service.  Community service is an important part of Job Corps’ training and culture, as students practice the skills they are learning, build self-esteem, teamwork, and leadership skills while “giving back” to their communities. 

This year nearly 300 students and staff participated in a number of activities throughout the month of October, beginning with a Tijuana River Clean Up organized by Job Corps’ Recreation Department and student volunteers.  Homeland Security Cadets assisted with security at the Chula Vista, Otay Ranch, and San Ysidro High School football games, and the “Dia de la Raza” celebration on Market Street in San Diego. Computer Technician students continued to assist at the Computer Lab at Barrio Station, a non-profit, recreational and community center in San Diego.  In addition, Culinary Arts students continued their monthly community service at Catholic Charities of San Diego.

At the end of the month, Job Corps students and staff organized a “Let’s Get Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Walkathon/Marathon on center.  “We wanted to increase awareness of risk factors for breast cancer and how to prevent it,” advised Recreation Specialist Arlette Camacho, who helped organize the event, along with students, and Job Corps Counselor Emilio Codorniz.

“Nearly 250 students and staff members took part in the event, which included informational flyers about breast cancer, and an activity promoting healthy activities,” Codorniz stated.  “Our center promotes healthy living,” he continued, “so everyone benefited by learning more about breast cancer and walking and running today.”

 “Community service has always been important at Job Corps,” advised Culinary Arts Instructor Chef Richard Siegiel, who has taught at the center for 17 years. “Our Culinary Arts students have helped in the past with the Mayor’s Breakfast, the Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the Kiwanis and Boys & Girls Club. We’ll be making deserts again for the Boys & Girls Club’s Thanksgiving Dinner next month. All of it is excellent training for our students, and they enjoy helping others.”

The Culinary Arts students were recently praised for helping at the first Boulevard Boo Halloween Carnival in Imperial Beach on October 27th, which attracted close to 1,000 people. “It was a wonderful and engaging event for all that attended,” advised one of the event’s organizers June Engel, Librarian at the Imperial Beach Branch of the San Diego County Library.  “One of the most popular events was the “Cake Walk” game that was sponsored in part by Job Corps.  Their Culinary Arts students baked 6 huge cakes to give away during this event.   You should have seen the look on the families’ faces when the cakes were brought out.  Everybody wanted to win one of them. Even more fun was watching them try to carry their huge cake prizes away.  A big thank you to our Job Corps for making all those smiles appear! “