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Home About Us Boards and Committees Regional Service Areas Updates, Latest News & Publications Calendar of Events, Meetings & Meeting Notices Meeting Minutes Workforce Professionals Compliance Documents Contact Us	Congressman Walden Visits WorkSource Oregon--Hermiston By DEAN BRICKEY The East Oregonian It might seem odd for a politician, but U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., did more listening than talking Monday at WorkSource Hermiston. More than 20 people involved with helping people find work crowded into a conference room at the Oregon Employment Department to educate Walden. A few spoke about the value of jobs programs and some who had found work through those programs gave testimonials. Although no one directly pleaded with Walden for more money for such programs, organizers distributed a packet containing letters from several agencies. Agency leaders encouraged Walden to support Workforce Investment Act programs in Congress. The letters described how past funding has been put to good use. Kris Latimer, chief executive officer of The Oregon Consortium and Oregon Workforce Alliance in Albany, told Walden all but two of the counties her program represents are in his widespread eastern and southern Oregon district. “Our needs in rural areas are different from urban areas,” she said. “Rural economies need to transition from economies of the 20th century to economies of the 21st century.” Roy Gomez, 19, a Hermiston student at Portland Community College, described how the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon has helped him to attend college when he had little hope of doing so. In addition to providing him with a summer job, he said, he learned interviewing skills. He’s studying for a teaching degree. “I want to come back to Hermiston and teach here,” he said. Sonia Silva said she’s been involved with CAPECO since she was 13. “The youth program changed my life completely,” she said. “I needed somebody to believe in me.” Now she’s helping others by tutoring them in mathematics. “The CAPECO organization is very important to me and other students,” Silva said. Patricia Cook of Hermiston described her rocky road since losing her job at Simplot in Hermiston about five years ago. She was among about 400 out of 600 the company laid off who benefited from CAPECO’s services. Realizing she really liked learning, Cook attended BMCC and received CAPECO’s help all along the way — such as when she needed eyeglasses and when her vehicle broke down. She eventually graduated with honors and got a job at Cayuse Technologies at Mission. “Where I am today is really a miracle,” she said. “CAPECO really helped me a lot.” Bob Schroth, a Hermiston insurance agent and longtime job-training advocate, praised Walden for his efforts and encouraged him to keep up the good work. “It’s just critical to keep the funding as high as possible,” he said, adding that putting people to work helps the economy, boosts tax revenue and slows unemployment. Mark Bell of Hermiston, manager of Portland General Electric’s Coyote Springs Power Plant at Boardman, said there are more people qualified to work in the region’s industrial plants than most people know. “Somehow, that message is lost,” he said. “We need to get that message out.”

Congressman Walden Visits WorkSource Oregon--Hermiston
By DEAN BRICKEY
The East Oregonian

It might seem odd for a politician, but U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., did more listening than talking Monday at WorkSource Hermiston.
More than 20 people involved with helping people find work crowded into a conference room at the Oregon Employment Department to educate Walden. A few spoke about the value of jobs programs and some who had found work through those programs gave testimonials.
Although no one directly pleaded with Walden for more money for such programs, organizers distributed a packet containing letters from several agencies. Agency leaders encouraged Walden to support Workforce Investment Act programs in Congress. The letters described how past funding has been put to good use.
Kris Latimer, chief executive officer of The Oregon Consortium and Oregon Workforce Alliance in Albany, told Walden all but two of the counties her program represents are in his widespread eastern and southern Oregon district.
“Our needs in rural areas are different from urban areas,” she said. “Rural economies need to transition from economies of the 20th century to economies of the 21st century.”
Roy Gomez, 19, a Hermiston student at Portland Community College, described how the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon has helped him to attend college when he had little hope of doing so. In addition to providing him with a summer job, he said, he learned interviewing skills.
He’s studying for a teaching degree.
“I want to come back to Hermiston and teach here,” he said.
Sonia Silva said she’s been involved with CAPECO since she was 13.
“The youth program changed my life completely,” she said. “I needed somebody to believe in me.”
Now she’s helping others by tutoring them in mathematics.
“The CAPECO organization is very important to me and other students,” Silva said.
Patricia Cook of Hermiston described her rocky road since losing her job at Simplot in Hermiston about five years ago. She was among about 400 out of 600 the company laid off who benefited from CAPECO’s services.
Realizing she really liked learning, Cook attended BMCC and received CAPECO’s help all along the way — such as when she needed eyeglasses and when her vehicle broke down. She eventually graduated with honors and got a job at Cayuse Technologies at Mission.
“Where I am today is really a miracle,” she said. “CAPECO really helped me a lot.”
Bob Schroth, a Hermiston insurance agent and longtime job-training advocate, praised Walden for his efforts and encouraged him to keep up the good work.
“It’s just critical to keep the funding as high as possible,” he said, adding that putting people to work helps the economy, boosts tax revenue and slows unemployment.
Mark Bell of Hermiston, manager of Portland General Electric’s Coyote Springs Power Plant at Boardman, said there are more people qualified to work in the region’s industrial plants than most people know.
“Somehow, that message is lost,” he said. “We need to get that message out.”