Boys & Girls Club YES program helps youths find jobs
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PROGRAM'S SUCCESS- Joshua Juarez found work with the Camrosa Water District through the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo's YES job placement program.

After working odd jobs for a couple of years, Joshua Juarez landed a well-paying permanent job with the Camrosa Water District recently.

The 20yearold Camarillo resident is happy to have found the job with a company that supports his Moorpark College school schedule.

Juarez heard the water district was hiring from an unlikely source- the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo.

The youth organization is wellknown for providing activities for young people, but few in the community may know the Youth Employment Service, or YES, has operated for young people age 14 to 21 for two years.

"It's a great way to make extra money," said Juarez, who plans to continue working while going to college. "Nice cash for a student."

Like Juarez, youths do not have to be a club member to use the free service.

Sarah Agbelusi also found a job through the service. Fresh out of high school, Agbelusi moved to Camarillo earlier this year to be closer to her family. Unemployed, the 18-year-old needed a job to help support her while taking online classes to become a personal trainer.

Agbelusi found a job working nights as a package handler for a shipping company through the YES program.

"The Boys & Girls Club made it really, really easy for me to get a job," said Agbelusi, whose mother learned of the program through her friend, Estella Velasquez, the YES program coordinator.

Velasquez places about 50 young people a month in temporary and permanent jobs after teaching them the skills necessary to stay employed.

She teaches youth in the Job Ready and Career Launch Program how to write a resume, complete an application and dress for an interview. Since many of the younger ones will be working for the first time, Velasquez also teaches them job etiquette- what not to do and say on the job. For instance, text messaging or talking on the cellphone is a no-no.

The youths earn at least minimum wage, but most jobs pay around $10 an hour. Employment can range from dog walking and babysitting to computer repair and park maintenance work. Jobs can be permanent or last a few hours, days or weeks.

Velasquez said she has more eager youths looking for work than she has positions and wants more employers to bring their job vacancies to her.

For more information on the Youth Employment Service, call Estella Velasquez at the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo at (805) 482-0775.