Placement Provider Interviews

Marcela Hermosillo

Placement Provider Interviews

. 1. I interviewed Sonia Reyes via phone on 11/02. Sonia is the Regional Director for Proteus.
Proteus mission is to provide communities with health, educational and economic opportunities.
Their vision is to be recognized as a premier community service organization. In conversation
with Sonia, she discussed the importance of collaboration amongst cross sectors, especially when
your organization's goals encompass health, education, and economic areas. She believes one of
the reasons why Proteus has been successful in placing services related to health, education and
economic opportunities to their clients across the state are as a result of their strong partnerships.
She explained Proteus has different types of connections, some more formal than others but all
imperative for her agency to achieve their goals.
Sonia mentioned one of their objectives was to place migrant workers on career pathways
that will lead to their clients becoming self-sufficient. They can provide educational funds to help
offset the costs associated with obtaining an education beyond high school. Their biggest
challenge with this type of placement is a lack of knowledge about the program and resistance
from some colleges to refer their students to Proteus programs.
Sonia began a Latino listserv that is now used by state agencies, private and nonprofit
employers as a source to market their job openings to a more diverse pool of professionals. In
conversation with Sonia, she mentioned employers were willing to hire diverse candidates
however they were not sure where to find them. The Latino listserv came to fruition as a result
of the needs expressed by her connections.
In conclusion, Proteus services allow migrant workers to be integrated into our economy,
it is as a result of partnering and creating the network that Proteus has position themselves as an
agency who serves communities with health, educational and economic opportunities.

Placement Provider Interviews

Marcela Hermosillo

2. I interviewed Claudia Thrane regarding the Summer Youth Employment Initiative. Claudia is

part of the steering committee for this program. She works for American Family and Friends
Service Committee as their Youth Program Coordinator. The goal of the Summer Youth
Employment Initiative is to provide disconnected youth with work base learning opportunities.
Claudia shared her frustration for the lack of services available to youth who live in communities
in which poverty prevails. She mentioned youth in those communities have a higher chance of
getting involved in gangs and dropping out of high school. Opportunities such as being
employed during the summer allows youth to see themselves as contributing members of their
community. It also provides them with the opportunity to earn additional cash and create a
mentor like relationship.
The challenges of this program have been getting enough employers on board and
helping them see the value of paying the youth and having them do job like activities in which
youth will feel empowered and motivated to stay on the right track. Claudia, mentioned, there are
plenty of well-intentioned employers but many times, it is difficult to convince them to try
different things, especially if they dont see a labor market need.
As a result of meeting with Claudia, I learned that placement for youth has many similar
components to employment placement for people with disabilities. Youth are required to take
assessments, check in on a weekly basis, and create their own support system with the assistance
of the Summer Youth Employment coordinator.
3. On 11/29, I interviewed Dr. Norma Perez-Kahler, Director of DMACC TRIO Student

Support Services. The directive of the TRIO/Student Support Services program is to provide
underrepresented student populations with the added support mechanisms needed to meet the
challenges of higher education. Through the development of academic and personal skills, the

Placement Provider Interviews

Marcela Hermosillo

program focuses on deepening critical thinking competencies, increasing student persistence, and
promoting degree completion and transfer. In conversation with Dr. Perez-Kahler she mentioned
her program creates a community for those underrepresented students, which leads her students
to have a sense of belonging on campus. Dr. Perez-Kahler is extremely proud of her programs
graduation rate and believes there is a direct correlation between the graduation rate and the
services and best practices her program has incorporated. Some of those services include viewing
the student from a holistic approach, identify current, and possible barriers and connect students
to programs, supports inside and outside of the college. Dr. Perez-Kahler mentioned her
program has a laboratory in which tutoring assistance is provided to only TRIO Student Support
Services, the laboratory is more than a place to obtain a tutor it is a place students call home
away from home.
In summary, Dr. Perez-Kahler successful placement of students in post-secondary
education is as a result of her dedicated team who genuinely care about the success and
integration of all of her students.
4. On 12/4 I interviewed Sanjita Pradhan Executive Officer with the Office of Asian and Pacific

Islanders. Sanjita shared the Employer Resource guide she created about a year ago as a result of
the need to provide more job placement opportunities for refugees. As a refugee herself and a
professional with marketing experience back in her home country Sanjita knew she needed to
educate employers on the benefits of hiring a refugee. In collaboration with other agencies who
advocate for refugees, Sanjita created her Employer Resource guide. The Employer Resource
guide, highlights employers who excel in hiring, retaining and promoting refugees. The guide
also provides information to employers as to what it is to become a refugee and the cultural
strengths of refugees. Sanjita and her group are currently collaborating with DMACC to provide

Placement Provider Interviews

Marcela Hermosillo

ESL employment classes, the goal is to provide refugees who are employed at certain
organizations with the basic literacy skills in order to be successful.
5. I interviewed Alex Piedras he is part of the Latino Forum. The Latino Forum is a collective of

individuals committed to the advancement of Latinos in Iowa. The Latino forum is a composed
of members from different backgrounds and its divided into different committees. Alex, is a
member of the education committee. The education committee came to fruition as a result of the
need for more equitable opportunities for K-12 students in Des Moines Public Schools. As a
result the Latino Forum Education committee has been instrumental in the efforts towards
creating awareness for the importance of non-English speaking parents attending parent
conferences. In summary, the Latino Forum placement services serves as an awareness group on
behalf of Latinos. Latino Forum serves as the bridge between both in order for effective
placement of kids in DMPS schools.