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From film production to patient care: Karl’s life- changing journey through MediWork$
For years, Karl Leone pursued a career in the entertainment industry, working behind the scenes on television and film productions for some of Hollywood’s biggest studios. After moving from New York to Los Angeles in 2016, he built an impressive résumé, working on productions for Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and Paramount while following his passion…
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Mayra’s journey to financial stability through BankWork$
Mayra Garcia had already built years of experience in customer service. After leaving high school as a teenager and becoming a young mother, Mayra returned to school years later determined to earn her GED and create a different future for herself and her children. She worked in phone sales for 13 years before staying home…
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ApartmentWorks opens the door to a new career for José Gonzalez
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the economy, José Gonzalez suddenly found himself facing an uncertain future. After working as a maintenance technician for Clear Development, where he handled repairs ranging from plumbing fixtures to electrical work, José was laid off as businesses downsized. Although he found temporary employment at a local Vons supermarket, he knew he…
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A Veteran’s next mission: How ImagingWorks helped Roberto relaunch his career
After serving his country for 10 years and spending more than a decade helping others through customer service and vocational rehabilitation, Roberto Figueroa was ready for a new challenge. What he didn’t know was that JVS SoCal’s ImagingWorks program would provide the opportunity to transform his experience into a rewarding healthcare career. A U.S. military Veteran, Roberto served on active-duty delivering ammunition before…
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BankWork$ helped Catherine restart her banking career
When Catherine Cañar left Ecuador to begin a new life in the United States, she wasn’t leaving behind an uncertain future… she was leaving behind a successful career. For seven years, Catherine worked for Banco Pichincha, Ecuador’s largest financial institution, where she steadily advanced through multiple leadership and technical roles. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and…
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Writing a medical career success story: “People need kindness and empathy”
Like many of our nation’s restaurant industry workers, Citlali Cruz was feeling vulnerable and frustrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had dedicated years of his life to restaurants and suddenly his was closed, open, then closed again. “In Los Angeles, people weren’t taking the virus seriously,” explains Citlali. “I wanted to do something where I was helping people who…
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How Angelina Avina’s Return to the Workforce Was Aided by MediWork$
Angelina Avina was a stay-at-home mother to her three children for several years but found herself looking for opportunities that would allow her to support her family and open the possibility of one day buying her kids a house. However, after several years out of the workforce, she was not getting hired. Having worked at…
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ApartmentWorks helped Kitti Torok build her future
When Kitti Torok came to the United States from Hungary in 2020 on a soccer scholarship, she thought she was living the dream. What she did not know was that she also needed a practical way to pay the bills and sustain herself, especially after her job connected to soccer came to an end. Thankfully, JVS SoCal’s ApartmentWorks program would help her discover a new professional path and build a…
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ApartmentWorks was the launching pad for JoJo Acuna
After more than 20 years in the restaurant industry, JoJo Acuna thought he had reached the limit of what his career could offer. He had spent decades balancing maintenance work, management responsibilities, and customer service, but despite his loyalty and experience, he no longer felt fulfilled. What once felt like stability had become exhaustion, stress,…
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From last hope to clean slate: How JVS SoCal opened the door for Brianna Wilburn
Brianna Wilburn did everything she was told to do. She earned a master’s degree in economics. She worked hard, and yet, back home in Lancaster, she found herself rotating through nearly every retail job in the city. “Any place I’d go by on the freeway, I can say I work there, I work there, I work there,” she remembers. “Anywhere…
Category: Success Stories
Graduate stories from the Institute for Career Opportunity.