[caption id="attachment_99214" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Teachers, staff and students at Elsie Allen High School Foundation fundraiser breakfast[/caption]
SANTA ROSA -- Learning about various career paths, knowing how to write a resume, practicing interview skills, are all crucial practical concerns in a student's life. But, sometimes, what people really need is hope and a helping hand, said Willie Tamayo, co-founder of La Tortilla Factory and president of the Elsie Allen High School Foundation.
Mr. Tamayo is covering all the bases as the foundation hosts its first annual College, Career and Health Fair and barbeque this Thursday, 3--6:30 pm at the high school's quad.
Along with the more traditional career and college fair in which students learn about schools and career paths and meet prospective employers, the foundation has added several extra pieces to address the specific needs of the high school's population.
"A lot of the kids here come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds," Mr. Tamayo said. "But a good education is the great equalizer. If you're educated, you can do anything. We definitely want the parents to be supportive of their kids' education. So we are focusing on them in this event as well as the students."
Mr. Tamayo said many immigrant parents are not as worried about things such as education and immigration law as much as they are about the day-to-day realities of finding a good job and access to healthcare for themselves and their families. So, instead of simply holding a typical college and career fair for the students, the foundation decided to hold a job fair and health fair for the parents as well.
Amy's Kitchen will be opening a new facility a few blocks away from the school, and representatives will be at the fair to meet with area parents who are looking for work. La Tortilla Factory will be there as well.
As part of the health fair portion of the event, representatives from the Santa Rosa Community Health Center as well as Memorial and Sutter hospitals will set up booths, pass out information and, perhaps, do some health screenings.
As for the college and career aspects of the event, representatives from Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State University and other educational institutions will be on hand. And Nelson Staffing will be offering mock interviews and resume writing workshops.
Mr. Tamayo said one of the key pieces of the fair is that community leaders will talk about their own career path stories. "We want the students to see successful individuals from their own community. Sometimes just hearing about that makes you realize it's a possibility that's open to you as well. Other times, having someone offer you a helping hand can make a huge difference in your life."
Mr. Tamayo added he know what it's like to have someone make that kind of difference.
"I was the first one in my family to graduate from high school," Mr. Tamayo said. "I worked my way through the J.C., and then I went to UC Berkeley. But even back then it was very competitive and I didn't get admitted to the business school on my first try. So, I went and spoke with the dean. I explained that I was working in the Mission District in San Francisco and that I didn't have as much time to study. 'But,' I told him, 'of all those students who are going to graduate from the business school, none of them are going to give back to the community more than I would.'
"He looked at me and said, 'Ok, we'll give you that chance.'"
Mr. Tamayo went on to become the co-founder of the very successful La Tortilla Factory, and now, the president of the foundation. His own children never attended Elsie Allen. But he had a good friend who decided to become a teacher there. "One day we were talking and he told me how bright these kids were, and how they were so full of potential. But many of them just didn't have the guidance or hope or inspiration. They didn't have a helping hand. Those words struck something in me and that's why I became involved.
"I'm just paying it forward."
