When a welfare advisor handed Melisa-Ann Mikasobe a brochure about ’s newly-established , Mikasobe knew she had found just what she was looking for. A single mother from West Oʻahu, she had several years of experience in the food service industry but no formal training or certification.

“Food service has always been a passion of mine,” said Miksasobe, who had been struggling to make ends meet. “So when I heard about the GoCook! Â鶹´«Ã½ program, I knew I wanted to apply right away.”

The 12-week culinary training program is one of several programs supported by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College to Career Training (TAACCCT) program at Kapiʻolani CC, and aims to prepare participants for high-skill, high-wage employment and a swift transition into the workforce, all at no cost to the student.

Getting kitchen ready

“The program focuses on getting them ‘kitchen ready’ in less than 3 months,” said Ron Takahashi, culinary department chair. “Classes are taught by professional culinary instructors in a hands-on, real work environment.”

Students are trained in a wide range of subjects including food safety, food service training and food innovation.

“It was really exciting getting that hands-on experience,” said Mikasobe. “One thing we learned was how to properly use different knives, how each knife is different and how to take care of them.”

Mikasobe was part of GoCook! Â鶹´«Ã½’s first graduating cohort in December 2015. Just three days before graduation, she was invited to interview and later hired by one of the most well-established in-flight catering companies in the abbr title=”United States”>U.S.

“I’ve come to really succeed in my job by applying the skills I gained from the GoCook! program,” she said. “Being prompt, ready to learn and improve and having a passion for cooking, these attitudes have built my success that is still growing today.”

A lasting impact

“Since 2009, the TAACCCT grant has provided colleges, including Kapiʻolani Community College, with funds to expand and improve their education and career training programs,” said Stan Fichtman, Kapiʻolani CC’s TAACCCT grant manager.

“Through this multi-year grant from the the U.S. Department of Labor and a program developed by Kapiʻolani Community College, adults in our communities are learning new skills that lead to gainful employment,” added Fichtman.

Kapiʻolani CC’s TAACCCT program currently helps fund culinary, hospitality and health programs at the college. Students who complete the GoCook! Â鶹´«Ã½ program receive the equivalency of 4 college credits, should they wish to enroll in a culinary program at a UH community college.

“If someone asked me about enrolling in the program, I would say just go for it!” said Mikasobe. “Even though there may be obstacles or hardships in life, you just have to make that change, make that effort and you can succeed.”

—By Kapiʻolani Ching

• RELATED: – March 10, 2015

The (UHCC) system announced that it is working with Impact Hub Honolulu to create and grow an entrepreneurship program to engage enterprising students (and eventually faculty and staff) across UH’s seven-campus community college system. The program is being funded with $100,000 from a $10-million to the UHCCs from the .

“This grant will help provide a direct portal to real-world start-up activities, as well as business planning, budgeting, patenting and more,” said UH Community Colleges Associate Vice President Peter Quigley. “Bringing products and businesses into existence is the goal of the entrepreneurial initiative.”

Impact Hub Honolulu is part of the local startup ecosystem, Startup Paradise, as well as a global network of 85 Impact Hubs and 16,000 connected entrepreneurs. These partnerships with Â鶹´«Ã½-based and global networks will be leveraged to connect UHCC entrepreneurs to mentorship, follow-on programs, incubators, accelerators and scaling opportunities. The six-week UHCC entrepreneurial program will host its first cohort July 11-August 12, 2016.

“We see this as an incredible opportunity to create a path for the innovative students across the UHCCs to actualize their ideas, create jobs for themselves and others and diversify economic development for Â鶹´«Ã½,” added Shanah Trevenna, director of Impact Hub Honolulu.

The partners are asking any faculty, students, staff or community members who would like to contribute ideas, suggest a collaboration, participate as an advisor or mentor, or join the program to please email Shanah Trevenna or George Yarbrough.

Entrepreneurship roundtables at UHCC campuses

Impact Hub Honolulu will also be conducting roundtable discussions to be held at each of UH’s community college campuses and UH Hilo. , UH’s accelerator program to educate, mentor and invest in the University of Â鶹´«Ã½’s research and talent, will also participate in these roundtables.

Roundtable dates

• April 4, 12–1 p.m., , Wong Conference Room in the Hookipa Building
• April 6, 12–1 p.m., , Ilima 202A
• April 6, 2–3 p.m., , Akoakoa 107/109
• April 7, 12–1 p.m., , Cafeteria
• April 8, 12–1 p.m., , Administrative Building, Chancellor’s Conference Room
• April 11, 12–1 p.m., , Kaneikeao Building 379
• April 11, 12:30–1 p.m., , Administrative Conference Room, D-183.
• April 11, 3–4 p.m., Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College, Kaneikeao Building 379
• April 12, 12–1 p.m., , GT-105
• April 18, 12–1 p.m., , OCET 106

—By Kelli Trifonovitch

will host a series of free coaching workshops on Wednesday, June 10 in GT-105 (Kaʻala Room). Workshops include an introduction to coaching (informative session) and coaching for calm, and effective communication using basic coaching techniques. This workshop will be facilitated by team members of the Hoʻa Coaching Program (UHCC student success coaches).

The workshops will provide new skills for those who work in education, workforce development and service-oriented organizations. Participants will gain a better understanding of the mindsets of students/clients and learn to improve communications using that knowledge.

Sponsored by the U.S. ’s Community College and Career Training grant and Leeward CC, these workshops are free of charge.

Workshop details

Participants can choose to sign up for all sessions or for specific sessions.

• Introduction to Student Coaching information session, 9–9:30 a.m.
  This workshop will provide an overview of how UHCC Hoʻa Coaching team came to be, what academic coaching is, the elements and structure of coaching and the topics used as focal points of communication between students and the coach. Participants will gain an idea on how to incorporate coaching in different student services settings.
• Effective Communication Using Basic Coaching Techniques, 9:40–11:30 a.m.
  This workshop will provide an overview to basic coaching and share methods to improve communication in the classrooms or working with students/peers one-on-one. Participants will gain a better understanding of effective communication using techniques such as active listening and open-ended questions. Participants will gain skills through role play and interactive activities.
• Coaching for Calm workshop, 1–2:30 p.m.
  Using Mindset Coaching techniques this workshop offers an understanding and hands on experience of “stress” and how the brain, body and mind are affected. Participants learn how feeling optimistic, hopeful and confident about their ability to surmount challenges in their lives increases overall health, vitality and ability to learn. Participants discover the relaxation response and other techniques to use.

To sign up, please contact Sabrina Sullivan via email or at (808) 455-0318.

is the first in the state to offer non-credit courses in hybrid and electric vehicle automotive maintenance. Whether someone is a technician, a sales person, or just a car enthusiast, Honolulu CC is offering the most advanced training ever offered.

“We have developed new curriculum in hybrid and electric vehicle technology that meets the auto industry demands for highly trained technicians, especially in the emerging sector of hybrid and electric vehicle repair and maintenance,” shares Steve Auerbach, director of at Honolulu CC.

Participants will be able to gain valuable hands on technical experience working on hybrid and electric vehicles using specialized equipment.

The course is designed to give an overview on:

• Shop safety, proper procedures and basic maintenance for EV/Hybrid vehicles
• Proper handling of basic hand tools and high voltage equipment
• Identification of safety equipment required in electrical systems environment
• Technical service information and vehicle maintenance

Additional course information

EV/Hybrid Safety and Fundamentals, valued at $739, is being offered this summer only at a special rate of $395. Students must be 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license.

• Dates: June 16–July 2 (9 meetings)
• Days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Time: 6–9 p.m.

These courses were developed as part of the , better known as .

For more information on how to register, call (808) 845-9296.

—By Billie Lueder

The recession cost Robert Bennie his construction job, Kalama Colburn lost her position as a hairdresser when her salon closed down and like a lot of people who had never pursued a higher education, college seemed like an impossible dream to both of them.

Now Bennie and Colburn are each enrolled at a , thanks to iCAN, a career and workforce student support program.

“I had a great fear of sitting in a classroom in college with a lot brighter people around me,” said Bennie. “But now after going through iCAN, I am confident I can sit there with anyone.”

“It is very eye opening to see what I can accomplish, you know, in such a short time,” agreed Colburn.

iCAN is a self-paced fast-track program, four hours a day, 120 hours total, that prepares individuals for college and/or trains them for jobs that are in demand in today’s highly competitive economy. It offers a broad range of support services. Instructors work with the students on reading, writing, math and computer skills.

“They were so nice and patient with me and I kept asking the same questions, kept asking until finally I got it,” said Bennie. “Every time I asked they were happy to answer.”

Counselors coach job readiness skills like collaboration and other social skills critical to success in both the work place and classroom.

“Communications, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and along that we try to help them to maintain psychological and mentally strong to finish the program,” said Hieu Pham Stuart, a counselor.

“It’s just helped a lot, you know, you learn a lot,” said Colburn. “You meet good counselors that help you deal with some of the stress issues that you are having.”

The students also work on things like resume writing and job interviewing techniques.

iCAN is a partnership between the and the and is part of the program or C3T, funded by a $24.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

C3T’s mission is to enhance the relationships between community colleges and the public workforce system by developing new training programs and supporting existing ones that lead to jobs in the agriculture, energy and health industries; a critical part of government initiatives to diversify the economy and improve food and energy self-sufficiency.

And it all starts with giving motivated individuals the tools and support they need to succeed.

“The lessons are really difficult and they get difficult, and then you punch through like a wall of understanding,” said Bennie. “And then it’s easy. Then it gets harder and harder again and you punch through another wall of understanding. And after going through so many walls of understanding it just builds a lot of confidence.”

“There’s great people that will help work with you, as well as push you to your goal, as well as you pushing yourself,” agreed Colburn. “And they hold you accountable to that. And from there, anything is possible.”

Â鶹´«Ã½’s pleasant year-round weather makes for a lush and green environment, which requires a steady supply of landscape technicians. Helping to meet this industry demand is Leeward Community College’s . Beginning in February 2014 they will offer a new course – .

magazine’s Fall 2012 Landscape Contractor’s Business Outlook showed that 53 percent of companies expect to be more profitable in 2013 recording increases in lawn care providers, irrigation, maintenance and installation. The need for qualified and highly trained landscape technicians is on the rise.

The 48-hour course will be delivered through a series of classes February 13–May 15 and has a participant cost of $450. The course blends classroom learning with hands-on experience, based on the Professional Landcare Network Training manual.

Class topics

• Landscape maintenance equipment safety
• Prevention of common accidents and injuries
• Read and understand a landscape plan
• Identify common landscape plants and pests
• Repair and maintain irrigation systems
• Assess soil problems and select proper amendments
• Softscape installation
• Properly install and maintain ornamentals and turf
• Identify sustainable landscape maintenance practices

The course is intended to provide entry level students with a good fundamental background in landscape maintenance, and may be used as an excellent study guide for experienced landscapers preparing to take the Landscape Industry Certified Technician exam series that aims to raise industry standards by upgrading the status of landscape professionals in the areas of installation, maintenance and irrigation.

This training was made available as part of the , better known as C3T Â鶹´«Ã½.

—

With the growth of hybrid and electric vehicle sales across the nation, the emerging need for skilled automotive technicians is on the rise. Addressing this gap, automotive instructors from , and participated in an intense training in hybrid and electric vehicle repair and maintenance.

The four-day workshop allowed the instructors to immerse themselves in the theory behind the operation of electric drives and gave them the opportunity to test their knowledge by working on actual vehicles like the Nissan Leaf.

“These instructors learned theory and application to be problem solvers and diagnostic specialists,” said Jack Rosebro, instructor with Perfect Sky. Rosebro taught the workshop. “The ability to be a self-learner and adapt to the changes of the auto industry will enable these instructors to be successful when transferring this knowledge to their students.”

“I’ll be able to implement different teaching techniques that I learned from our instructor and my peers in my classroom,” said Professor Gordon Talbo, hybrid/EV program coordinator for Kauaʻi CC. “There is strong support and collaboration between the community colleges, which makes training opportunities like this so valuable.”

This training was made available as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training Grant (C3T).

Read the for more information.