A Place to Hang Out, a Place to Work : They’re Being Paid to Go to the Mall

GLENDALE â€”  Nearly 200 Glendale high school students were honored in a graduation ceremony in the Glendale Galleria last week after completing a course designed to prepare them for jobs.

The program, “We Care for Youth,� gave three weeks of training to the students, who were selected by the Glendale Unified School District because they are at risk of dropping out of school.

About 60 participating Galleria merchants have committed to hiring at least as many new employees as there were students in the class.

Organizer Linda Maxwell said the students are not guaranteed jobs, but are guaranteed interviews with the participating merchants. It will be about two weeks before any figures on the number of students hired are available, Maxwell said.

However, she said, at least one student got a job moments after last Thursday’s ceremony.

“He was hired right off the floor and came up to me and told me,� she said. The course focused on job application skills, interviewing techniques and good communication with customers.

Maxwell, publicist for the Spanish-language television station KVEA-Channel 52, based in Glendale, said students also worked on self-esteem and learned how to schedule their time so they can hold a job and keep up their grades.

“We also worked with them on how racism and prejudice would show up on the job and how to handle it in positive ways,� she said.

The training was provided by the Glendale office of the Employment Education Development Department’s Youth Employment Opportunity Program and by a Venice-based retail training company.

Maxwell said she and co-organizer Jose R. Quitanar, amnesty representative at Glendale College, are soliciting more jobs from Glendale businesses in preparation for a second youth job training program sometime next year.

Those interested in offering jobs can call Maxwell at (818) 502-5836.