Ubaldo Torres came to Ukiah from Watsonville, where he had worked in the fields to support his wife and three children. In Ukiah, he struggled hard to make ends meet, and the physical demands of farm labor were becoming increasingly difficult. Ubaldo visited the California Human Development Corporation, a Mendocino Works partner that provides support, guidance, and vocational training to farmworkers and their families to prepare them for stable, year-round careers out of the field.

Born in Mexico, he had long dreamed of becoming a U.S. Citizen, and was afraid being on welfare might affect his chances. Roberto Muniz of Job Alliance, a Mendocino Works partner who works closely with welfare clients, assured Ubaldo that if he worked hard to become gainfully employed, everything should be fine. Ubaldo began receiving welfare benefits in July of 2000 for the first time in his life. Job Alliance encouraged Ubaldo to maximize his benefits by working to build a better future for himself and his family. With Job Alliance’s help, Ubaldo went through job skills training, and hands on assistance with job searching, resume preparation, and interviewing skills.

When Ubaldo informed Roberto that he liked working on cars, Muniz suggested he enroll at Mendocino College, yet another Mendocino Works partner. Soon he was attending classes in automotive technology at Mendocino College, with the goal of obtaining a Certificate as an Automotive Chassis Specialist.

The classes were a little difficult for Ubaldo due to his language barrier (at the time, he was Spanish-speaking only). Ubaldo decided he needed to do something about that too and enrolled in English classes. Ubaldo completed his certificate in five semesters. During those two and half years, he often worked in the fields at night, and in automotive repair during the day while receiving welfare benefits. Job Alliance facilitated the coordination between all the Mendocino Works partners, and were able to provide Ubaldo assistance with support services—which included school supplies, books, transportation expenses, car repairs, child-care, and work clothing. All of the assistance Ubaldo received from Mendocino Works helped out his family enormously during a very difficult financial period.

Even after completing his certificate, Ubaldo didn’t want to stop attending school. He decided to continue on, in order to earn his Associate of Arts Degree. He now has only 16 more units to go. “Who knows,” he says, “Maybe one day I can learn enough to open my own Automotive Repair shop.”

Ubaldo currently works for Greeotts Brake & Wheel Service in Ukiah. Mark Winkler of the Mendocino Private Industry Council, One-Stop Operator for Mendocino Works, made the initial contacts with Greeotts for Ubaldo, discovering that they had a position open which called for a little more experience that Ubaldo had. Winkler suggested an On-the-Job contract, which enabled Ubaldo to train on the job in the areas he lacked experience, and benefited Greeotts with reimbursement of half his training wages for three months.
When asked if his life has now changed, Ubaldo says “Yes!” He has discovered once you set a goal for yourself and achieve it, you gain the confidence to set and achieve even loftier goals.

Ubaldo’s upward spiral has spread throughout his family. His wife is attending classes at Mendocino College now too, and both parents are happy to be able to have more expertise in helping their children with homework.

What did Ubaldo like the most about Mendocino Works? “The way I was treated made all the difference. Roberto was very helpful—he was like a counselor and made me feel very comfortable. I felt that both Roberto and Mark tried to understand me—my situation to feel what is was like to walk in my shoes. They were always helpful, patient and kind.”

Ubalde Torres