RETRAINING FOR TODAY'S JOBS NEW CENTER HELPS PEOPLE DEVELOP COMPUTER SKILLS.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

PACOIMA - Maria Guzman lost her job at Burbank Airport two months ago after logging more than 12 years as a security guard.

She was a screener, assigned to run the X-ray machine that examines luggage. Her ability to spot suspicious objects was valued by the airport until new federal security measures required Guzman to take a series of tests.

``But I couldn't pass the tests, and I was forced to leave,'' she said. ``It was hard to accept. Twelve years of work, and I was left with nothing.''

That was until Guzman heard about the new Pacoima Community Technology Center. Located on a stretch of Van Nuys Boulevard where car lots and pawn shops commingle, this $3 million technology center is now helping members of the community enhance their job prospects.

Open to the public, the center provides classes to sharpen computer skills free of charge. Funding was organized by the Youth Policy Institute, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that was founded in 1983 as an outgrowth of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. Among the biggest donors to the technology project is the California Employment Development Department with its $1.27 million contribution.

``This is a dream come true, helping the people of my community learn computer skills to improve their competitiveness in the job market,'' said City Council President Alex Padilla, who helped raise funds for the new center located next-door to his district headquarters. ``It's a little tough to raise money right now given the economy, but there are a lot of people out there who carry a common vision.''

Mario Matute, director of the Valley Family Technology Project, is familiar with such a vision. In 18 months, Matute, along with YPI Director Dixon Slingerland, created a center filled with new Pentium 4 Dell computers, wireless laptops and an interactive white board.

``This was a huge vision. We don't have much in this community, and we wanted to make a very important socioeconomic change. I'm so excited. I'm not going to sleep tonight, either,'' said Matute, preparing for today's grand opening.

Ergonomic chairs already fill the center's classroom, where a work-force development session began four days ago.

Guzman was among the first to sign up.

``Look at this: I'm sitting in front of a brand new computer, learning skills I never thought I'd be able to afford,'' she said. ``And now I have some hope I'll find work once I've completed the course.''

For the next three months, Guzman and about 40 other students will learn business English, math, Windows XP and Microsoft applications. And the project center has created a paid internship program through Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. so that, after successfully completing the course. students will intern at the hospital for several months.

``And once they've completed the internship, the idea is that they will be ready to find employment,'' Slingerland said.

Nancy Munkres, who is employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District, is teaching the office-skills class. She said high school diplomas are not a prerequisite to enter the course, though the students are tested regularly.

``So far, it seems that all of my students enjoy learning in this environment,'' Munkres said. `'And I'm thrilled to be a part of such a program.''

Several other programs are also being offered through the technology center. The computer ownership program enables parents who have children in the fourth grade at Pacoima Elementary School to enter a 60-hour computer literacy course. Upon successful completion of the course, parents receive a new Pentium 4 computer, monitor and printer for free.

Martha Lazalde, 32, learned about the program through her son, Emmanuel.

``He just came home from school one day with a flier and said, 'Mom, do you realize we can get a new computer?' I took the course, and now we have a new computer,'' said Lazalde, who is a case manager at the technology center.

For older students and adults, YPI and Cerritos College have partnered to offer online college courses via the center. Whitney Kasserman, the Pacoima Online Academy Coordinator, said the course allows people to obtain credit that can be used toward vocational degrees, four-year colleges and universities.

``And we will help people if they aren't familiar with taking a class online,'' she said.

Aside from online courses and computer skills, the technology center eventually will offer SAT preparation classes. ``And when these classes open up,'' said Pablo Garcia, youth services coordinator, ``I bet the lines will be wrapping around the building here.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Nancy Munkres, standing, Pacoima Skills Center instructor, works with Edith Reyna, right, and Marisol Vasquez, left, during a computer lesson at the Valley Family Technology Project Center on Wednesday.

(2 -- color) The screen of one of the skills center's students shows the progress being made in the computer literacy classes.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer