NEW DIRECTIONS TO HONOR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTORS.

Byline: DIANA PEYTON Community Columnist

Actor Robert Guillaume will be honored at New Directions for Youth's Spirit of Hope Awards Dinner to be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City.

Also being honored for his dedication and commitment is Irwin Rosenberg of Laidlaw Transit Services. He will receive the Partners with Youth Award from New Directions.

Two organizations also will be honored for their ``extraordinary and ongoing humanitarian endeavors which make a difference in the lives of others.''

The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation is slated to receive the Humanitarian Award.

The Corporate Sponsorship Award will be presented to Hamer Toyota and its president, Donald Redding, for ``their extraordinary philanthropic commitment to the community.''

Master of ceremonies Carlos Amezcua and Jorge Jarrin will serve as auctioneers at a silent auction planned to benefit the organization.

Expected guests include Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks and other local and state officials.

New Directions offers one of the state's top-rated intervention counseling programs and gives assistance to at-risk youths.

Jim Lee, 70, a Reseda commercial building maintenance man, gives a little extra: moonlight visits to the complex to provide security.

The tenants in the building appreciate his unpaid efforts. ``We've had attempted break-ins three times. Jim Lee chased them off. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here,'' saidJim Burch, owner of Classic Investigative Services and a tenant in the complex.

Howard Richman, a piano teacher who is also a tenant, is thankful for Lee's oversight. ``He takes care of more than maintenance problems . . . He scares people off who look like they don't belong here. Sometimes he comes here at 2 a.m.,'' he said.

The senior takes pride in his work. ``I like to keep it looking real neat . . . The building has a lot of bad elements around, so I run them out of there. I just like the place,'' he said.

He has high standards. ``I try to live a good clean life. . . . I'm only doing what I feel is right for the people who have offices there. They need protection,'' he said.

The caretaker is a former Detroit police officer. He has no intention of quitting his current efforts. ``I believe I will never retire, as long as I can help people,'' he said.

Eleven bilingual volunteers have received certificates as employment assistants from the Jewish Vocational Services of West Hills' Train the Trainers program.

City Councilman Alex Padilla, representatives from the Los Angeles Educational Partnership, the California Wellness Foundation and the Latin American Civic Society attended the program's culmination.

Those who have completed the 12-week training are: Norma Cervantes, Lupe Guzman, Marina Ceja, Paulino Guervara, Gloria Lazalde, Lorenza Estrada and Alma Ramos.

Also recognized were: Roxana Grijalva, Merielen Ramos, Guadelupe Perez and Amalia Espinosa.

The services of the newly certified volunteers will be offered to adult high school students in Pacoima.

California State University, Northridge, is the recipient of a $50,000 award from General Telephone to expand a pilot online writing project for students. The project has been operating since 1997.

Instructors from the Asian-American, Chicano, English and Pan-African Studies departments developed courses that link students from each group by computer for their individual writing classes.

The idea resulted in students spending more time sharpening their writing and computer skills.

The funds have been earmarked for faculty and tutor training over the next two years. There are also plans to purchase additional computer equipment.

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Photo: GUILLAUME