"I am hopeful about what the future holds."

Jackie learned early that life doesn't always go as planned. She stepped into the parent role for her six siblings when no one else could and spent years raising them. When she married her husband, Eric, starting a family of her own was never a priority. "My husband and I were both very happy working hard and spoiling our nieces and nephews whenever possible," she shares.

After 17 years working for the same grocery company, however, Jackie was called upon again to serve in the parent role for a family member who was entering foster care. "When the opportunity arose to care for our son, Lawrence, it was a no-brainer. I happily left my job of 17 years to commit to being a new mom.

Read more: July 2019 Featured Alum: Jackie Gerstenberger

Dear Opportunity Junction Community,

Happy New Fiscal Year! For financial reporting, organizational planning, and program outcomes, we run on a July 1 through June 30 fiscal year, and this has been a very full year. Thanks to your support, we were able to serve (and place into employment) more local residents than ever before while launching an important new healthcare career program.

Read more: President's Year in Review

Opportunity Junction's Imagine Gala will be held on Saturday April 25th 2020 at the Diablo Country Club! This gala will be very special because Opportunity Junction will be celebrating 20 years of transforming lives of low-income families in Contra Costa County

Read more: Save The Date: 2020 Imagine Gala - April 25th

Opportunity Junction's first CNA Cohort has graduated, and 13 participants have already been placed in jobs.

The second CNA Training Cohort will begin on August 26th at Mt. Diablo Adult Education in Concord.

Read more: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program

Are you or someone you know looking for next steps toward a better career?

We are now recruiting for our Administrative Career Training Program (ACT). Our ACT Class 62 will start training on June 1st.

Read more: Administrative Career Training Program Class #62 Starts on June 1!

MDRC recently released a new report titled, Beyond the Basics: Integrating Workforce and College-Readiness Training Into California's Adult Basic Skills Programs. Funded by The James Irvine Foundation, the report is about programs for low-skilled individuals in training or career pathway programs. Opportunity Junction was mentioned 14 times throughout the article highlighting the various facets that make our full-service programs so successful.

Read more: Opportunity Junction Featured in MDRC Report

We are proud and grateful to announce the following new grants and funding partnerships:

The Anonymous Fund of the East Bay Community Foundation: The Anonymous Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation issued two anonymous grants of valuable core operating support. The East Bay Community Foundation partners with donors, social movements, and the community to eliminate structural barriers, advance racial equity, and transform political, social, and economic outcomes for all who call the East Bay home.

BBVA Compass: BBVA Compass Bank issued a grant to provide general operating support. BBVA team members volunteer at Opportunity Junction, illustrating the bank's commitment to providing opportunities for people to create brighter futures.

Firedoll Foundation: The Firedoll Foundation issued a generous renewal grant to support the Job Training and Placement Program. The Firedoll Foundation is a private family foundation founded by two unrepentant liberals from the 60s who still believe in the motto, "If you are not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

Tipping Point Community: Tipping Point Community awarded a special, one-time grant to upgrade computer workstations at Opportunity Junction. Tipping Point fights poverty in the Bay Area for the 1.7 million people who don't have the resources to meet their basic needs.

U.S. Bank: Under their workforce education and economic prosperity priority, U.S. Bank awarded a new grant for core operating support. U.S. Bank knows that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of communities.

Twelve happy graduates of the Job Training and Placement Program celebrated the season with their own graduation ceremony on May 23 at El Campanil Theater in Antioch. Each graduate shared their personal story about how the program changed their hopes for the future.

Read more: Graduation Season Includes Opportunity Junction's Class 58

More than 160 supporters gathered at Diablo County Club on April 6 for an upbeat night of festivities hosted by platinum sponsor Seeno Homes. With support of sponsors, volunteers, board members, and guests, our 2019 Imagine Gala - Reach for the Stars was a major success, raising $120,000 for programs, supplies, and student work experience.

The theme of the night - Reach for the Stars - embodied our event's focus on celebrating the successes of our participants who dare to Reach for the Stars. And that's not all. We also celebrated the Opportunity Junction community. Whether sponsor, guest, employer, donor, volunteer, staff, or alum, your involvement with Opportunity Junction inspires us to keep reaching for the stars, to keep launching careers that can break the cycle of poverty.

Read more: Daring to Reach for the Stars at the 2019 Imagine Gala

Opportunity Junction is hiring for the position of Computer Skills Instructor!

Read more: We're Hiring a Computer Skills Instructor