DAILY NEWS PEOPLE AMY LONDON.Byline: - Kimberly Armendariz It started out as a class project and turned into something much bigger. Amy London volunteered when a college professor recommended that students get involved in the community. Amy chose Dress for Success, a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that provides professional clothing and basic business education to low-income job-seeking men and women. That was two semesters ago. Amy is now a teaching associate and graduate student in communications, but she continues to devote what's left of her free time to volunteer work. She assists in collecting clothes for clients who come into Dress for Success, but uses her knowledge of public speaking to help job applicants. ``A lot of clients just want to come in, get clothes and leave. Part of the program consists of building interviewing skills.'' That's where Amy comes in. She conducts mock interviews A mock interview is videotaped interview, and one of the very best ways to prepare for a real life employment interview. It allows you to gain experience and practice in answering questions which you are likely to be asked by the recruiter. . ``They see that I'm young and wonder how I can help them. I teach them how to answer basic interview questions. I want them to feel empowered. They're very grateful afterward af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. Adv. 1. afterward - happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here .'' AGE: 24. RESIDENCE: Encino. BORN AND RAISED IN: Calabasas. OCCUPATION: Teaching assistant at California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an ; graduate student in communications; director and choreographer cho·re·o·graph v. cho·re·o·graphed, cho·re·o·graph·ing, cho·re·o·graphs v.tr. 1. To create the choreography of: choreograph a ballet. 2. for a children's theater. MARITAL STATUS marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. : ``Single and looking Single and Looking (formerly Out of the Gene Pool) is a comic strip drawn by Matt Janz that appears nationwide seven days a week. The strip is syndicated by the Washington Post Writers Group. .'' VOLUNTEERISM: ``I write to companies (for contributions) like Payless Shoes. We run low on size-7 shoes for women. Sometimes we have to send men out in three-piece suits Noun 1. three-piece suit - a business suit consisting of a jacket and vest and trousers business suit - a suit of clothes traditionally worn by businessmen vest, waistcoat - a man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat and tennis shoes tennis shoes npl → zapatillas fpl de tenis tennis shoes npl → (chaussures fpl de) tennis mpl tennis shoes tennis because there are no other means.'' She conducts mock interviews with clients and helps them learn basic interviewing skills. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?: ``I was taking a Rhetoric of Women class at CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge and the professor wanted us to get involved in the field. I chose Dress for Success because it's a grass-roots organization that helps women fight the battle of unemployment.'' WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?: ``It teaches me about myself, it helps me see what others are going through, and the social changes going on. It brings awareness, and brings others into volunteering. Friends and family ask me questions, and they want to get involved. It's not just about getting clothes for someone, but about helping others. The mock interviews I conduct also help me in teaching my public speaking class.'' FAVORITE ACTIVITIES/HOBBIES: ``Singing. I started in kids' theater when I was 11 years old. I got too old and started teaching it. It brought me out of my shell and gave me self-esteem.'' FAVORITE DAILY TASK: ``Taking care of my cat, Elmo.'' MOST DIFFICULT DAILY TASK: ``Getting people to get involved and helping them realize that they have enough time to volunteer. Everyone has that one free hour in their day to devote some of their time.'' HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?: ``Accomplishing what you want in society; doing something for yourself while helping others; having what makes you feel good, not necessarily a big house, with cars in the driveway.'' WHO DO YOU RELY ON AND WHO RELIES ON YOU?: ``My family. I'd be lost without my mom, dad and brother. We work as a unit, they rely on me too. My students, and kids at the theater also rely on me.'' GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: ``Possibly getting my doctorate and continuing to teach at the college level. I want to get people away from television and radio and teach them that communication is how humans function. I want to get people to talk about things. And to find myself a nice husband and have some kids.'' A PERFECT DAY: ``I'm a teacher through and through. The perfect day would be to wake up, head out to work, and help someone fulfill something. Knowing that I'm in the right place is pretty rewarding.'' Amy London was recommended by Janet Lavender lavender, common name for any plant of the genus Lavandula, herbs or shrubby plants of the family Labiatae (mint family), most of which are native to the Mediterranean region but naturalized elsewhere. The true lavender (L. , founder of Dress for Success, 7817 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. To find out how to donate some of your free time or for more information, call (818) 982-4091. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Amy London Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
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