Each summer, the Soboba Tribal TANF program offers up to 20 youths the opportunity to explore career paths. With the support of departments and businesses that fall under the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians’ umbrella, as well as a workplace at the Santa Rosa Reservation, interested youths from ages 14-21 can apply for participation.
The program offers its LEAD (Leadership through Education, Acquirement, Desire) program all year long and each summer adds work experience, resulting in the WE LEAD youth internship program. It’s an opportunity for the young men and women to explore career options and get their feet wet.
“This year we had 22 qualified candidates and 15 departments offering worksites,” Regional TANF Manager Harold Arres said. “We were budgeted for 20 but Tribal Council was generous enough to sponsor two more for us. I just love this program.”
Applications are received in April and after careful review, each person who is accepted goes through the same process as any other Soboba employee: a background check, drug test, and personal interview. The youths are held to the same standards so they can grow and learn.
Candidates were asked to choose their top three worksites and Arres said they were able to accommodate all of the youths’ first choices this year. They were reminded that they are not just receiving work experience for a future career in a particular field but to learn what functions different departments provide to the Tribe and its members.
After a week of in-house training by Irma Balderrama, interns were able to meet their summer supervisors at a Managers Meet & Greet Luncheon on June 20. They discussed scheduling and expectations while enjoying a Mexican-style feast provided by Orozco’s catering.
A career counselor since 1987, Balderrama said she is very grateful to Harold Arres for the opportunity he provided for her to work with “22 amazing, intelligent, responsible youth.”
Each eight-hour day was devoted to a different topic, all designed to build their confidence, self-esteem and ability for public speaking. These are skills they can use in all facets of their lives, not just at the six-week summer jobs they are entering.
She also stressed the importance of bringing their “A” game to work, which includes having a good attitude, attendance, appearance and accountability.
Not all the training included book learning – Balderrama introduced many lessons through interactive and fun activities to help them develop teamwork and other skills.
“Every topic could have been a one-day seminar,” Balderrama said. “I’m really proud of them; they gave me the energy to keep going and this was the best class ever. You have a great mature responsible group.”
Soboba TANF Program Specialist Mayra Campos is serving as the lead for this year’s WE LEAD program. She said the program requires a lot from the youths who are giving up their summer to work, earning $17 per hour.
On-the-job training began June 24. Several of the interns have been involved with the program in the past and a few of them were interested in returning to a worksite they have previously explored.
Myah Saenz, 15, is joining the Sponsorship and Higher Education Department and will be working with Coordinator Andrew Vallejos and Administrative Assistant Jasmine Robinson. She has volunteered to help out at events in the past and is looking forward to getting more involved. She will be a great help to the department as they prepare for the annual Student Achievement Awards event at the end of July. Robinson said they have high expectations for Myah and believe she will meet them.
Jerimyah Saenz, 14, is excited to learn more about the food and beverage industry by working in the community kitchen with Jacob Rivera, Arturo Horta, Perry DeRonde and Chef Anita Morillo. He wants to get more experience in the field and sometimes cooks on his own at home. He hopes to attend culinary school in the future as well.
“It’s cool to show someone else the ins and outs of the kitchen,” Rivera said. “We have two summer programs to provide food for – the WE LEAD TANF and the Summer Youth Academy. We also have a few weeks where we have two summer schools in session. Jerimyah will help with all the plated food production and the clean-up. He will learn a lot about what we do.”
Moyla Arviso, 15, and Lorraine Salgado, 17, are working at the dental offices at the Soboba Indian Health Clinic. Lorraine likes getting great work experience in the environment of an actual job as she wants to become a dentist. “I like helping people and this experience helps me make decisions on what direction I can go,” she said.
Returning for her second year, Moyla said she is learning new things from the dentists and assistant she is shadowing. “I’m excited that TANF gave me the opportunity to learn what to expect in the workforce,” she said. “It’s great to see the inner workings of the dental office like cleaning and sanitizing all the tools. More goes on than you actually see when you are a patient.”
They both met with department staff at the luncheon which included Dr. Jessica Avergonzado who has been a dentist for 23 years; Registered Dental Assistant Liz Martinez who has been with Soboba Dental for 10 years and Dr. Peter Escutin who has been a dentist for 33 years, the last seven at Soboba.
“I used to teach dental skills, so they will get exposed to what to expect,” Escutin said. “I enjoy the questions they ask about procedures.”
Reese Elliott, 16, is working at the clinic’s Behavioral Health department. “I have family in the medical field so I’m willing to work anywhere inside the clinic and learn the differences between all the departments,” he said.
Program Coordinator Vernon Motschman said the department is constantly expanding. “Reese will get opportunities to work from all different aspects of wraparound services,” he said. “There will be lots of networking and collaboration with other departments. The biggest part is to learn about the importance of confidentiality. Lila Vicente works in Prevention Education and looks forward to exposing Reese to different career paths at the clinic and answering any questions he may have.
Domingo Resvaloso, 14, and Ginger Velazquez, 15, were welcomed to Roadrunner Express. Ginger worked there last summer and said it was a lot of fun and she learned a lot of good things plus she got to see family and friends when they came in. “I’m looking forward to learning more about business this year,” she said.
Domingo has stayed busy at the convenience store/service station changing out receipt tape at the gas pumps and learning how to stock shelves. One of his supervisors, Linda Whitener, said he has been a big help.
“I’ve learned how to organize things – there’s a method to it,” he said.
Mkilawish Arres is spending her second year working with the Information Technology department within Tribal Administration. She has been kept busy with preventative maintenance and cleaning up the Chrome books that preschool and Noli Indian School students use.
“I like that there is always something going on,” the fifteen-year-old said. “My favorite part is when we get to go out and do troubleshooting at other departments.”
Photos courtesy of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
