Nadja Burgess has trained for construction work through Opportunities Industrialization Center West in East Menlo Park.

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THE WISH: A TOOL KIT AND WORK BOOTS FOR A NEW JOB

Financial independence through job training

construction work is not what she pictured herself doing, says Nadja Burgess, but it pays the bills and feeds the kids. Project Build, one of the many job training programs at Opportunities Industrialization Center West in East Menlo Park, appears to be Burgess' ticket to getting off welfare, and to reaching her long-term goal of going to nursing school.

``I've always been good with my hands, and good at fixing things,'' says the 25-year-old mother of two, cradling her head in her arms and resting on the table after a long day out in the field.

In August, Nadja lost her customer service job at a telecommunications company, leaving her with two kids to care for -- Dimonique, 6, and DaRon, 10 -- and no paycheck. ``I was thinking about what I could do that I'd like,'' she says, ``and I decided to jump into this.''

At the center, those recovering from lives of addiction, crime or failed attempts at employment can find support, job and life-skills training, and a pathway to good-paying union jobs. Nadja, who lives in Foster City, has completed nine weeks of training in construction and three weeks of hazardous-materials management. Now she works full time for $30 an hour. Project Build also pays for its graduates' union dues, basic tools and work boots.

``We start with life skills, attitude and responsibility, and we train for work in the real world,'' says Alonzo Emery, who runs Project Build. People drive from Modesto and Pittsburg to enroll at the center, where about 3,000 individuals walk through the door every year, he says. ``We don't turn anyone away.''

But running a multi-service program that turns out highly employable graduates isn't cheap. Each student's tool kit costs about $300 (14A), and sturdy work boots are $50 (14B). Both are prerequisites to employment in the construction industry.

For more information on Opportunities Industrialization Center West, go to www.oicw.org.

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