Older Workers: The Future Of California

For Immediate Release September 25, 2002
Contact: Robert Maestre (760) 352-6181 or Tony Sarmiento (301) 578-8469

WASHINGTON—A renewed U.S. Department of Labor grant is giving a much-needed boost to low-income senior citizens looking to lift themselves up with good jobs that provide community service throughout California. The announcement comes as California observes “Employ the Older Worker Week,” Sept. 22-28, by proclamation of Gov. Gray Davis.

Local government agencies and non-profit organizations, including faith-based groups, are among the beneficiaries of approximately $6.2 million in funds awarded in California this year by Senior Service America Inc. through Title V of the Older Americans Act. Senior Service America is one of 13 national organizations that receive Title V funding, but the only one that sub-grants the awards to community organizations across the country.

“We’re very proud to be able to fund senior employment agencies throughout California, so they can provide real assistance to people in need,” said Tony Sarmiento, executive director of Senior Service America. “We’re helping seniors find good jobs that really matter to the community.”

Among the recipients of the grants are the Mexican American Opportunity Foundations of Los Angeles and Bakersfield, the City of Oakland, Catholic Charities of San Bernardino/Riverside, Adult Protective Services, Inc. in San Diego, and the Imperial County Work Training Center in El Centro.

“We serve an elderly population of largely Hispanic-Americans, many of whom would have little chance of getting employment without our help,” said Robert Maestre, Senior AIDES project director for the Imperial County Work Training Center. “Seniors can offer constructive skills and services to the workplace. All they need is opportunity.”

Fifty-six-year-old Emma Villegas found that opportunity as a Senior Aide. Villegas spent over a year in the program sharpening her office and communication skills working for the federally funded Healthy Families program. The experience later helped her land a permanent position with Catholic Charities, where she now recruits other seniors to help with safety in the community, as part of the Homeland Security effort.

“It’s very important to be active,” said Villegas. “It’s good for me both physically and emotionally. And the income helps. This opportunity is helping me enjoy life even more.”

In recent years, seniors have found it increasingly difficult to find employment independently, even as many have fallen victim to downsizing or have chosen to re-enter the job market after retirement. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, charges of age discrimination have risen in each of the last three years. This is a trend that belies the value of older workers, as Gov. Davis notes in his proclamation.

“California’s labor market continues to benefit from the wide range of expertise offered by older workers who ably mentor younger colleagues,” Gov. Davis proclaimed. “Older workers bring stability and a sense of continuity to the workplace.”

For example, there’s Ray Garcia, a 66-year-old Senior Aide at the East San Diego Community Center. Garcia works in the ALPHA program at the center, helping to distribute bread, cakes, and sweets to low-income residents in the neighborhood. Known throughout the community as the “Bread Man,” Garcia says that the best part of his job is “seeing the smiles on little kids’ faces and making people happy.”

Roland Fiedler, Garcia’s supervisor at the center, says that without Senior AIDES, he would not be able to afford a paid employee. “We have a lot of volunteers, but I need someone to count on, someone who is reliable every day,” says Fiedler. “Ray helps us out by being here all the time. He is very dependable.”

The California grants are part of $65 million awarded to Senior AIDES programs in 27 states and the District of Columbia.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) of Senior Service America is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. SCSEP is an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.