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More than a dozen Mountain View community members voiced strong support at a council meeting last week for plans to commit nearly $600,000 to support workforce development. Most of the cash will come from federal grant funds.
The bulk of the money will comes in the form of grants to organizations with a range of goals, whether it be empowering Spanish-speaking immigrant women to prepare and sell food items during events or a program that prepares people for construction apprenticeships.
At the May 9 meeting, council members voted unanimously to approve the funding plan for both city-run programs and local organizations that offer workforce development and job training to people who need it in Mountain View. Money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) covered $500,000 of the costs, while the remaining nearly $100,000 came from the city’s general non-operating fund.
“Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, we are investing in our residents who the pandemic hit the hardest financially,” said Mayor Alison Hicks in a May 15 city statement. “We are providing workforce development opportunities in which they can increase their skillset in careers ranging from construction to childcare and, in turn, get higher paying jobs without having to leave the area.”
One of the many initiatives that received funding include the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation and Reach SV’s Mompreneur program, which empowers primarily Spanish-speaking immigrant women to prepare and sell food during sporting and cultural events, according to the statement.
“The population we historically and currently serve is low-income, Spanish speaking households,” said Malia Pires, executive director of Reach SV, formerly known as Reach Potential Movement, during the May 9 meeting. “Resoundingly, during the pandemic to current (times), women are asking, ‘How can we sell our food? We need jobs, we want to work.’ They’re here to tell you about what they’d like to do.”
More than a dozen women spoke in Spanish during public comment about how the funding for Mompreneur and other workforce development programs will impact their lives.
“It’s been a pleasure to be here joining these beautiful mamas, these wonderful moms, who come to us for service and now they express their life stories with us,” said Amadeni Guzman of Reach SV, who helped with translation.
The funding will help Reach SV to provide their clients with “hope, a time to recover, confidence and also to be unafraid,” Guzman said.
Here’s how the roughly $600,000 in funding will be distributed, according to the city statement:
• About $170,000 of the approved funding will go to workforce development programs run through the library, including: Career Online High School, in which “participants can earn an accredited high school diploma and credentialed career certificate at the same time”; Universal Class, which allows library users to access more than 500 online courses; and Brainfuse’s Jobnow, which gives people live online career coaching services.
• Working Partnerships USA will receive $100,000 for its apprenticeship preparation program, which “can lead to opportunities for skilled construction careers.”
• The Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District and Mountain View Whisman School District will receive a combined $77,900 “for the establishment of a cross-generational literacy program in the schools.
• Foothill College will receive a total of $64,000 to fund its Career Exploration Day, a career fair for Mountain View residents interested in the building trades, as well as its Child-Care Provider Career Development Program, which includes courses “specifically designed for nannies in child development and early care.”
• NOVAworks will get $50,000 for its Whole Person Initiative, which “provides career counseling, training and placement opportunities, and wraparound support for extremely low-income families.”
• Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation and Reach Silicon Valley will receive $75,000 to help fund the Mompreneur program
• The Day Worker Center of Mountain View will get a total of $60,000 to fund its gardening skills, basic technology and bicycle repair training programs
Taxpayer money should not be used to support illegal immigration. Even those “lowest income” or “hardest hit by the pandemic.” I don’t want my taxes used to support human trafficking.
I understand your concern about taxpayer money being used appropriately, but it is misleading to say that supporting people in need equates to supporting human trafficking. Human trafficking is a heinous crime that involves exploiting and coercing individuals against their will for various purposes, including forced labor and sexual exploitation. It is a serious issue that requires attention and dedicated efforts to combat it.
However, providing support to individuals in need, such as those facing financial hardships due to low income or the impact of the pandemic, is a separate matter. Many people find themselves in vulnerable situations through no fault of their own, and it is essential for societies to offer assistance and support to those who require it. Providing aid to the most vulnerable members of society helps alleviate suffering and fosters a more inclusive and compassionate community.
When taxpayer money is used to support people in need, it typically involves initiatives like social welfare programs, healthcare assistance, education, and other forms of aid. These programs aim to address the immediate needs and create opportunities for individuals to improve their circumstances and contribute positively to society. They do not directly support human trafficking.
It is crucial to separate the issue of illegal immigration from the problem of human trafficking. While some cases of human trafficking may involve illegal immigration, it is essential not to conflate the two. Combating human trafficking requires specific strategies aimed at identifying and assisting victims, dismantling criminal networks, and raising awareness about the issue.
By supporting people in need through appropriate channels, we can foster a more equitable and just society while simultaneously addressing the distinct challenges posed by human trafficking. It is important to promote nuanced discussions and develop comprehensive solutions to tackle these complex issues.
@Tal Shaya. Immigrant doesn’t always imply undocumented. I know many of the people involved with these efforts and have celebrated immigration milestones with them.
This is a wonderful vibrant community that has been contributing to our city for decades (the time many of them have been here). They are involved in local businesses/services, education, civic initiatives, raising money, COVID response, etc.
In many ways, when you see the city pass these initiatives, it’s the end result of a lot of work behind the scenes (by members of this same community) and should even be seen as a recognition from the city to many previous contributions already made.
Let’s celebrate them, not make generalized incorrect assumptions about them.
One final note, it’s not just “your taxes”. It’s their taxes too.
And what will come of the $600,000? I would love to city council to look back and say that X number of jobs or X number of people were helped. But of course the $600,000 will just go down the drain and become a talking point during an election. Maybe they can spend $5000 doing a simple measurement exercise
Just an Observation,
Where is the Workforce Housing Opportunity Zones?
Wouldn’t getting any grants mean the City has to create them?
I’d somewhat agree with Salsa:
which “can lead to opportunities for skilled construction careers.” Can should be measured to see if it “does” / “did”.
There was a recent MV Voice reporting series on how, in spite of numerical metric goals on anti-homeless programs – Some are really not ‘making it’. Those local improvement programs that work (metrics please) need to rise-up-above those that turn out to just be “aspirational” and Feel Good. That will allow more (Public Tax) money to be better spent.
(just a) grandchild of several immigrants