The Center for Employment Training (CET) National Headquarters has been a pillar in the community of San José, Silicon Valley, since 1967 and currently operates Centers in California, Texas and Virginia. CET National Headquarters began in San José, CA, when farmlands were being cleared to make way for the new industrial growth in the valley and many were losing their only source of income. Since 1957, CET has transformed over 200,000 lives.
The mission of CET, an economic and community development corporation, is to promote human development and education by providing people with marketable skills training and supportive services that contribute to self-sufficiency. We are a community-based nonprofit organization that specializes in providing integrated job training, remedial education, vocational English instruction, and human development training. CET provides vocational training in Automotive Specialist, Machinist Technology/CNC, Green Building Construction Skills, HVAC and Green Technology, Truck Driver, and Welding Fabrication. Upon graduating successfully from CET, we provide career services and assist with training related job assistance. Our students come from various socio-economic statuses which include long term unemployed, GED recipients, ex-offenders, and veterans to name a few. Each student has an individualized education plan which incorporates results that guide their individual training plan, identify possible barriers to completion, as well as supportive services that may be offered to minimize those barriers.
CET San Bernardino became CET Colton in March 2015, expanding from 3 training programs (HVAC, Machinist Technology, and Welding) to adding 3 more programs (Auto, Green Building, and Truck Driving). CET Colton is the only local nonprofit training center in this area.
CET Colton hosted an annual commencement for graduates from May 2017 through end of April 2018 on May 5th, 2018 and I serve as the Graduation Coordinator annually. Pam assisted with finding a photographer, Sebastian Diaz, and key note speaker Dr. Sean Flynn, who has visited our campus a few times. 50 CET graduates from various backgrounds, training programs, and socio-economic statuses attended the ceremony. All graduates were invited to participate in the ceremony. Graduates were allowed to invite as many guests as they like to celebrate their accomplishments. For several of them, this was the first time they participated in the Pomp and Circumstance March. For some graduates, this is their first real accomplishment as an adult. We invited a few students from the programs to share their experiences at the mic and recognized multiple students for their overall achievement at CET.
Planning takes place as soon CET Colton returns from Christmas break and worked on every school day until the ceremony day to ensure the event is possible. There was a dozen volunteers of my friends and family who came to help and a few faculty members came early to assist. We started our day before 7:30 am to make sure everything was ready at 11 am. The Colton Community Services Department was helpful to us in loaning chairs to accommodate the ceremony. We reached out to 50+ companies through letters, emails, applications, and in person visits to accomplish getting donations and sponsorships for decorations and refreshments for the ceremony.
The ceremony was an overall success with happy graduates and happy families. At the end of the ceremony, families and graduates were invited to enjoy cake, along with coffee, lemonade, and water.