Beverly Hills Courier

Last week, Chrysalis hosted a Makeover Night at Planet Salon in Beverly Hills as part of its nine-week Women’s Empowerment Program for homeless and low-income women re-entering the workforce. “The Women’s Empowerment Program is an outstanding program designed specifically for our female clients to motivate and inspire them from within as they prepare to re-enter the workforce,” President/CEO Mark Loranger told The Courier. Pictured: Beverly Hills stylists and make-up artists transform the 35 women in the program with complimentary haircuts and makeup applications. Read Full Article.

Santa Monica Daily Press, By Ashley Archibald

When Robert Contreras separated from the U.S. Navy in 2010, he had hoped to leave the service with a job waiting for him in the civilian world. He spent the last three months of his career as an operations specialist looking for work. Although he landed a few interviews, there was nothing definite. “I was starting to get a little worried,” Contreras said. “My savings were getting cut down.” He eventually landed a job in the oil and gas industry through a military recruiting fair and stayed there for six months before the 15 to 16-hour days wore on him to the point of leaving. Read Full Article.

Santa Monica Daily Press, By Ashley Archibald

Halo has a job at a tech office in Santa Monica, helping keep the premises ship shape. He has dental, vision and even managed to get that pesky “check engine” light on his car fixed. Seven months ago, the story didn’t look so good. Halo was recently released from prison after 27 years behind bars. He had been in a gang, and was present when a friend shot a man to death, which earned them both lengthy sentences at a time when, activists say, the California prison system is more about retribution than rehabilitation. Still, Halo worked. He received five different kinds of vocational training, an education and, perhaps most important, behavior modification training and counseling. He became a different man. Read Full Article