Automotive Training Center – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Hosts LISC Employees From Throughout U.S.

Michelle Lang — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 16:25:18 +0000

91��Ƭ hosted a group of about 60 new employees of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Nov. 7. The employees, who were from various parts of the country, got an overview of what NCC offers during a luncheon at St. Joseph Plaza, 233 West Market St., Newark. They then toured 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center main campus at 274 South Orange Ave., Newark, to see the facility and hear about its work with the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) and with the Bridges to Career Opportunities (BCO) programs that LISC helps fund. Finally, they got to see the Automotive Training Center, 210 West Bigelow St., Newark, and learn more about the Automotive Technician, Diesel Technician and Building Trades Specialist programs offered.

New Diesel Technician Instructor Brings Wealth Of Knowledge

Michelle Lang — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 14:59:55 +0000

Monica Perry teaches the first Diesel Technician class at the 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center Automotive Training Center.

91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center began its first Diesel Technician class Oct. 15 and with that comes a new instructor to the staff — Monica Perry. She brings a great deal of knowledge and experience with her, having served in a variety of roles over the course of her career.

Perry was on active reserve duty for the Air Force and the Navy. She is a diesel mechanic, airplane mechanic, auto mechanic and served as the head mechanic for Brunswick Bowling for a time. She can also do work on wind turbines and solar panels and is a licensed cosmetologist. Before joining 91��Ƭ, she worked as the first and only female diesel mechanic for the city of Newark, where she lives.

“Monica is one of Newark’s hidden gems and 91��Ƭ welcomes her with open arms. She’s an experienced diesel and aviation technician with excellent theoretical and practical training,” said 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center Director Rodney Brutton. “Our students, and equally as important, our employer partners, will benefit greatly from Monica’s vast experiences.”

Being a female in a traditionally male field comes with its challenges, but Perry said she has a support system.

“That fight to be where I am as a woman was a long journey,” she said. “There’s a whole planet of us and we’re one big clique.”

She said females in the field participate in private online forums to share stories and experiences and ask for advice and help when needed. She knows many females who now own their own shops and have female shop foreman.

“The womanhood of mechanics is strong,” she said.

Perry decided to become a mechanic after being taught some basics about her vehicle.

“As a woman you’ve got that male in your family that wanted to make sure you knew something about your car. I think we all go through that. The difference is it took off for me,” she said.

Perry found out about the Diesel Technician instructor position from a former teacher who lives in Brooklyn. He had gotten a call about the opportunity but didn’t want to make the commute. Instead he recommended Perry.

This is her first official teaching job, but she has experience with helping others learn. She ran an after-school program called Student Work Study where students worked on cars. She was also a drill sergeant shadow during her military service and in charge of kitchen patrol where she had to work with 30 different personalities every day.

“I was always around a type of environment where I’m in charge,” Perry said. “But now I’m actually teaching.”

Her mother pushed her toward teaching for a long time, which she resisted.

“My mother wanted me to teach so badly all my life. I was like no. And even before she died there was always this clash,” she said. “Like, no I’m not going to teach. Leave me alone.”

But as the saying goes, “mother knows best” because Perry very much enjoys teaching. She said the students want to be in her class and are engaged in the learning process.

She’s also happy the training is taking place in Newark because there is a shortage of diesel mechanics in New Jersey.

“Many of the diesel technicians are in New York and have to travel to New Jersey for jobs here. Now we can train people right here in Newark and they can fill the jobs,” Perry said.

Perry is from New York and also lived in Los Angeles. She moved to Newark about five years ago. She has many hobbies.

“I’m an artist. I’m a musician. I play drums. I do crafts. I airbrush. I still work on cars on the side,” she said. “I garden.”

Perry is impressed with the amount of services provided to her students, particularly a financial coach. She says that is extremely useful to help students budget and save money in case of an emergency.

Globetrotting: International Students Get Lesson On Social Enterprise At NCC

Michelle Lang — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:30:56 +0000

Students from different countries participated in an icebreaker activity where each person drew a flag that represented who they are and shared it with the rest of their groups.

Sixteen-year-old DeShawn Ford acknowledges that meeting a bunch of new people – especially from far-flung places – takes him out of his comfort zone. But now, Ford says he can appreciate diversity in a new light.

Ford and a group of teens from 91��Ƭ welcomed visiting international students to NCC, where they toured one of the largest community development corporations in the nation to learn about social entrepreneurship. 91��Ƭ 100 visitors from a dozen countries around the globe took part in a cultural exchange with teens from Newark as part of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Social Ventures for Social Development seminar. Countries represented included Bolivia, China and Saudi Arabia, among others.

Earlier in the day, visitors like Jiyeong Ha toured four sites to see NCC’s vast network of services in action at the Automotive Training Center, Community Hills Early Learning Center, 91��Ƭ Commons Senior health clinic and the ShopRite miniature store.

Ha, 24, of South Korea, observed that 91��Ƭ’s model of social entrepreneurship generates wealth within the community but also builds relationships with the people served. She said she “likes the way NCC is a leader.”

As part of a lesson on NCC’s history, Ford and his peers in 91��Ƭ’s summer program called the Newark Youth Leadership Project and Newark One Stop performed a dramatic skit depicting the racial tensions that led to the summer disorders of 1967. The teens acted out how NCC was formed through the leadership of Monsignor William J. Linder. Afterwards, the group sang the song “Lean On Me,” led by vocalist Essence Rivera.

The reenactment was part of a lunchtime program held at St. Joseph Plaza, where NCC CEO Richard Rohrman and other officials gave remarks. Over a lunch of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and collard greens, the students from Newark and around the world began building bonds.

The Social Ventures for Social Development seminar is an intensive certificate-based mini-course developed by FDU with support of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, an organization promoting youth leadership and peace through cultural exchanges.

Ford said he “would do this event again.”

As part of the cultural exchange, a group of NCC teens also had the opportunity to visit the United Nations in New York City to participate in the annual Youth Assembly, which draws hundreds of students from around the globe.

Intern Katherine Angulo contributed to this report.