YOUTH AND PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT, Employment & Training Administration (ETA)

YO! Buffalo Youth Opportunity Grant Student Success Stories

Esamuel Castellano received an Automotive Training Certificate from Erie Community College's Summer Automotive Institute back in 2001. Although he now has a viable skill, Esamuel chose to work for Chase Security. Realizing that he needed to upgrade his soft skills, he enrolled into the YO! Buffalo's Jobs Plus job readiness training program. Mr.Castellano obtained full-time employment on August 18, 2003, with Goodyear Automotive as an Automotive Service Technician.

Angel Ruiz has been employed at Tops Supermarket for over 2 years. Mr.Ruiz currently attends Erie Community College (ECC), and is in the process of transferring to the University at Buffalo. Even with all his work and study, Mr.Ruiz still finds time to represent his school on the basketball team. Although he is still undecided as to what his intended major will be, he believes that Engineering may be of interest to him. He also plays on the ECC basketball team.

Noel Gonzalez will start Buffalo State College in the Spring of 2004. Mr.Gonzalez will be exploring Computer Information Systems in the hopes of making it his major. Mr.Gonzalez is a very active YO! member, and is currently the treasurer of the YO! New Youth Council; a small representative body of the youth at the BELLE CENTER who meet weekly in order to plan events, network, and share a common bond. Mr.Gonzalez works at Tops Supermarket and is looking forward to getting promoted to assistant manager in the future.