Michael Chavez Center (formerly Monument Futures)

Last updated on January 20, 2012

The Michael Chavez Center's mission is to transform community through economic opportunity.

The Michael Chavez Center for Economic Opportunity offers the Monument Corridor and wider community of Concord, California opportunities in job training, career coaching and employment connections. We empower individuals to become financially self-sufficient, realize their personal potential and actively participate in the community.

Description:
In tough economic times such as these, developing workers’ skills and providing them with job opportunities is vital to Concord residents. While unemployment rises, the Chavez Center is actually creating jobs in the community and empowering people to contribute in their work, homes, and neighborhoods. In fulfilling a vision of a better future for its community, the Chavez Center offers many job development opportunities in 4 main program areas.

• Day Labor and Civic Engagement
• Technology Empowerment
• Career Development
  
  

Not only to these services increase the employability of members, but they also increase the members’ ability to contribute to the larger community. With more self-confidence and the appropriate career skills gained from our programs, members can pursue long-term employment.

Day Labor and Civic Engagement
The Day Labor and Civic Engagement program fosters professional growth by offering vocational ESL classes, trade skills workshops and a trusted place for members and employers to form job connections at fair wages. Commitment to personal growth through volunteer opportunities and leadership development encourages members to become active leaders and role models in their community.

Technology Empowerment
The Technology Empowerment Program helps community residents overcome barriers to accessing and utilizing technology through a broad range of classes from basic computer literacy to advanced technology use. Participants gain skills that enhance employability, self-confidence and independence while better connecting them to their community.

Career Development
The Career Development Program empowers Monument community residents to realize their potential by identifying life experiences and transferable skills that will aid in their job search. Through one-on-one resume building, interview coaching and career guidance, the program encourages self-discovery, self-confidence and commitment to a better quality of life.

History:
The Michael Chavez Center was founded in 1999 as a day labor hiring hall established to serve the individuals and families of Concord’s Monument Community. In 2001, the program attained independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) status as the Concord Community Economic Development Organization, Inc. (CCEDO). It also then began to do business as Monument Futures.

The organization is a vital part of the Monument Community, a vibrant, diverse but severely under-resourced community in the heart of Concord. The people of this community long for what everyone wants - the opportunity to be rewarded for their hard work. Yet, despite their ambitions and talents, the 2000 U.S. census indicated that 63% of residents are low income and more than 40% are very low income.

In 2009, in a move that reflects new program development and emphases, the organization began doing business under a new name, the “Michael Chavez Center for Economic Opportunity.” This change not only honors the memory of former Concord City Council member and small business advocate Michael Chavez, but it especially emphasizes the organization's commitment to empowering residents to build a stable economic future for themselves, their families and their community.

Contact people:

Jacqueline Elliott, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Mike Van Hofwegen, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (925) 682-8248
TDD number: 94-3370919

Address:

2699 Monument Blvd Suite G Concord, CA 94520 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.chavezcenter.org

Directions:

From Pittsburg, Bay Point, Stockton: Take CA-4W and merge onto CA-242 S toward Oakland/Concord. Take the Concord Ave exit and turn Left onto Concord Ave. Concord Ave becomes Galindo St. Galindo will turn into Monument Blvd. The Chavez. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Concord BART station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 15   Nearest Bus Stop: 110 bus line, 5 minute walk

Last updated on January 20, 2012