Before moving to the Fort Bragg area with her sister, Alyce Power had been a homemaker who did a lot of volunteer work for most of her life. Both sisters were unemployed and quickly discovered there wasn’t much more than minimum wage jobs in the local paper. Alyce tried an in-home support position, but found it was too physically demanding for her age and physical condition.

Alyce decided to go back to school at College of the Redwoods for computer and art classes, while performing volunteer work with the local Food Bank. Still needing a job, Alyce visited the Mendocino Works Employment Resource Center. She signed up with CalJOBS and began utilizing the other excellent job search tools available. Through her almost daily visits, Alyce met Jackie Matson, Office Manager of the Fort Bragg Resource Center. Jackie invited her to a job search workshop and Alyce accepted. She was very happy with the workshop, receiving advice about sprucing up her resume, and discovering qualities employers look for in prospective employees and what they screen for.

To make ends meet, Alyce began working at McDonalds while she looked for employment and went to school. She really wanted to find a place to apply her new skills.

Jackie Matson approached Alyce once again—this time with an “On-the-Job” training opportunity with Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. “Jackie did all the legwork for me,” says Alyce. “She set up the interview, and all I had to do was show up.” Alyce was hired on the spot under a “Work Experience” contract for six months. MPIC, Inc, Operator for Mendocino Works, paid her entire training wage during this time. After that, Alyce then went into an “OJT” (On-the-Job) contract for another six months, during which MPIC paid half the training wage.

Alyce’s boss, Rachel Miller says, “I would still be struggling with a tremendous workload if it had not been for the MPIC program. We were able to secure a position with Alyce through the On-the-Job Training Program, where she learned the basics of the work responsibilities in the Garden Shop. Her positive attitude, willingness to learn, and enthusiasm has made her one of our prized employees.”

Alyce is now permanently employed at Mendocino Botanical Gardens, doing great, and enjoying a lot of responsibility. “They’ve given me a key to the office, I work on memberships, reception, perform credit card transactions, and act as a public liaison. I’ve even been appointed to help coordinate the volunteer committee!” When asked if she thinks her life has improved, she says “Yes, definitely. I’m proud to be working here – it feels good to tell people about my job.”

And what about Alyce’s sister? Her story turned out great too. She got her job with AAA Insurance when Productive People were conducting interviews through the Mendocino Works employment resource center three years ago. Today, she runs the office!

When Alyce meets others looking for work, she points them straight in the direction of Mendocino Works. “I tell everyone I meet if I can do it, you can do the same thing. Fort Bragg is a small town that doesn’t have much in the way of employment opportunities—so go to Mendocino Works first. The OJT program made it more desirable to hire me over others—it was an offer they couldn’t refuse!”

Alyce Powers & Rachel Miller