By Elisa Nguyen
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Placer County recently celebrated the professional triumphs of several locals whose lives took a turn for the better through employment support programs. The Employment Services recognition ceremony was a testament to perseverance, featuring tales of residents who transformed their circumstances by utilizing services like CalWORKs and Work Experience (WEX). The gathering underscored the collaborative efforts of county staff, local businesses, and participants who shared their narratives of overcoming hurdles to lay claim to new career paths, as reported by the Placer County’s official news.
Among those highlighted was Noelita, a mother who leveraged the help of CalWORKs and WEX to transition from a temporary stint at the Roseville Housing Authority to a full-time job that she now relishes, “This opened the door for me,” she told the Placer County; the confidence she gained sparked a series of further opportunities that reshaped her trajectory. Aleksei, facing what seemed the insurmountable task of rebuilding his life in the U.S. without English proficiency and a work history rooted far away in Russia, made remarkable headway with help from the county’s Mental Health team and has since procured a permanent role in Substance Use Services, his passion lies in aiding others to script their own chapters of success, he revealed his commitment to this newfound career path by stating, “They can change their lives, and I can hear their story of success. They’re amazing”.
The event also shone a light on two women who faced significant employment gaps and personal battles—one with addiction—before turning to CalWORKs for aid. Their journeys led them to Granite Wellness, not just to stitch their lives back together, but to extend that same helping hand to others grappling with similar struggles. “They helped guide me in to where I wanted to go and they turned on so many different lights.” Sandra, one of the women honored at the ceremony, recalled to the Placer County, detailing how the program not only illuminated paths she hadn’t known existed but also pulled her out of homelessness and provided stability for her family.
