"I've saved people's lives. I'm a pretty smart guy," said Jorge Gonzalez, 24, who returned home to East L.A. after four years of military service in Iraq. "I thought that counted for something."
Gonzalez was ready to find a job and begin a normal life, but found only roadblocks. After applying to more than 50 positions, he said, "It was closed door after closed door. No one [wanted] me, not even for an interview."
With a bad economy and tough job market, many veterans like Gonzalez have found the same disappointing homecoming, despite having impeccable recommendations and a host of transferable skills. "I don't use drugs — never have," Gonzalez said. "I can control air traffic, ground traffic, radio and all kinds of technology."
The UCLA/United Way 2013 campaign will help people like Iraq Army veteran Jorge Gonzalez get good jobs.
Once again UCLA has partnered with the United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) in an employee-giving campaign. Since 1968 UCLA faculty and staff have usually donated $200,000 or more annually. Each year, Bruins receive an email with information about how to donate and continue the UCLA tradition of helping the community. This year's employee-giving campaign runs from May 20-31. Staff and faculty can go online to the UCLA/United Way 2013 site to make a one-time gift or continuing payroll deduction. "The United Way's veterans initiatives are squarely in line with UCLA's," said Chancellor Gene Block in a letter urging support for this year's campaign.
California is home to nearly 10 percent of the country's veteran population. In the greater Los Angeles area about 9,000 veterans are homeless and nearly 11,000 veterans are unemployed or underemployed, putting them at risk for poverty or homelessness.
United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which has set a goal to cut post-9/11 veteran unemployment in half by 2017, is calling for business and civic leaders, nonprofits, grant makers and other partners to strengthen the service system and help veterans succeed.
With 24,000 veterans expected to eventually return to L.A. County from Iraq and Afghanistan, United Way is looking for more businesses to bring veterans like Gonzalez back into the workplace.
"How successful they are depends largely on the systems we have in place to support them," wrote Elise Buik, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, in a recent letter. "The need for a coordinated response is urgent."
UCLA's donations help people like Carolyn Williams, a single mother who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. "I wanted to buy a home one day," Williams said. "When I got out of the military, I kind of felt lost. I just took odd jobs: bartending, retail, fast food … just doing what I [could] to survive."
Williams began to battle substance abuse, and soon became homeless.
United Way has provided her, and thousands of others, with job training to get on a solid career path.
"I see life so much differently [now]," Williams said. "I'm responsible. I show up. I'm on time. I'm honest … I belong again."
