Verizon Wireless Retail Sales – Bilingual
You’re focused on your future – on finding the right fit for your talent and charisma, and making your presence known. And when you join Verizon Wireless, you’ll find unlimited opportunities to evolve, excel and amplify your success with a company that’s continually redefining the communications industry. If you’re ready to make your mark with a team that thrives on collaboration, you need to consider a future as a Verizon Wireless Retail Sales Representative.

Your record is defined by meeting challenges head-on and always striving for excellence. And it’s that tireless drive, coupled with your strong interpersonal skills and natural instinct to see opportunities at every turn, that sets you apart – and makes you a perfect fit for our team.
Qualifications:
We’re looking for someone who has what it takes to close sales, beat quotas and rack up commissions. You should have at least 1-2 years of sales experience in a commission environment. A college degree is prefered and bilingual Spanish skills are a definite plus. You must also be able to move throughout the store to actively engage customers, demonstrate products, and effectively execute the sales function.

In return for your talent and dedication, we’ll proudly support you with comprehensive benefits worthy of the name Total Rewards, including: award-winning training, a competitive salary, medical/dental/vision from day one, 401(k), work-life programs, phone discounts, generous tuition assistance, and unlimited opportunities to maximize your career potential.  Take a giant leap toward a career for everything you are. Visit us at careersatverizonwireless.com.

Job Opening: Room Attendent

Parrish Hotel, Inc. is seeking room attendants. This position is responsible for maintaining the highest of standards of cleanliness in all guest rooms. He or she must work to promote safety in all guest areas by following strict procedures with respect to pass keys, entry into guestrooms, and reporting any suspicious activity. Hours are flexible.

Applications are available at the El Centro of Topeka office or at any of the following locations: Ramada Convention Center, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, or the Senate Luxury Suite.

Families can immerse themselves in the traditions of the Hispanic and Latino cultures at El Día de los Ninos/El Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) Friday, May 4 – perfect timing for those planning family friendly activities in honor of Cinco de Mayo.

El Día offers visitors free snacks, free books and exposure to different cultures. Check out the library’s Spanish-language materials and sign up for summer reading, where you can earn more free stuff just for reading the books and authors you love.

El Día Schedule of Events | Cambio de horario (all events in Marvin Auditorium)
6:00 pm – Book Pick-up | Entrega Recepción de Libros
6:05 pm – Dennis Rogers, Native American Dance Performance | Dennis Rogers presenta espectáculo de danza Nativa Americana
6:25 pm – Abuelita Mary Valdivia Reads Llama Llama Red Pajamas | La abuelita Mary Valdivia leeLlama Llama Rojo Pijama
6:35 pm – Rosie Cutrer, a Multicultural Storyteller | Presentación de Rosie Cutrer – cuentista multicultural
7:00 pm – Craft Time – Create a craft you can eat! | Tiempo de Manualidades- ¡crear una manualidad que te puedas comer!

About 500 individuals participate in our program each year, and many are Hispanic or Latino. All activities are presented in English and Spanish.

Día was founded in 1996 by Author Pat Mora to link children’s books, languages and cultures. Día means “day” in Spanish and is a family literacy initiative celebrated every year. It’s an opportunity for communities across the country to practice DÍA = Diversity in Action.

This program made possible by a generous donation from Marianna and Austin Nothern to The Library Foundation.

Join us for  a special meeting to learn more about El Centro of Topeka and an opportunity to improve the community.

El Centro of Topeka is partnering with the Topeka Fire Department to help share information about a smoke alarm grant it received. The TFD received a $73,700 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It will allow them to purchase 2500 smoke alarms and 3000 batteries to be given to families and individuals in need for FREE.

If you know of a family or elderly individual who would benefit from a FREE smoke alarm or a new smoke alarm battery please share this information. Lets help save lives!

TFD is coordinating with its firefighters union, El Centro of Topeka and other groups to have alarms installed in homes to ensure that they are working properly. Firefighters will come the house to make sure they are installed and working properly free of charge. The devices give people early warning and the best chance of getting safely out of a fire emergency.

The grant also provides for 100 smoke alarms designed for people who are hearing impaired.

Applications can be turned in to the addrress in the application or directly to El Centro of Topeka’s offices. For questions contact Lalo Munoz at 785-232-8207.

photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/dottiemae/

Through the generosity of the Topeka Symphony, fifty (50) free tickets are
available, while supplies last, for a program of music by Latin composers
scheduled for this Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 PM in White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus. The music will be conducted by Music Director John Strickland.

Special guest for this concert will be Mexican marimba quartet “Marimba Sol de Chiapas” from Kansas City. The ensemble is directed by John Currey and includes James Schank , Sam Wisman Lara Lee Crandall.

“I’ve had this program in the back of my head for a long time, and it seems a perfect anti-dote for the post-holiday blues,” Strickland commented. “We’ll open with the fiery ‘Capriccio espagnol’ by Rimsky-Korsadov and conclude with Ravel’s famous ‘Bolero’. The ‘Capriccio’ is such a brilliant, colorful piece and it never fails to please the audience.”

Other works on the program including “Huapango” by Jose Pablo Mancayo, and selections from Manuel de Falla’s ballet “The Three-Cornered Hat”.

In order to obtain tickets, you will need to pre-order by calling and mentioning El Centro of Topeka.  Limit 4 per person.  Contact the Symphony office at 785-232-2032. Tickets can be picked up Saturday after 6:30PM in the lobby of White Concert Hall, 17th and Jewell (the main campus entrance).

El Centro of Topeka is now hiring 1 AmeriCorps*VISTA position to start in Mid-February 2012.   

El Centro of Topeka is currently accepting applications for an AmericCorps VISTA Development Coordinator. The Development Coordinator will help expand and strengthen the capacity of this organization by identifying new funding streams, planning fundraising events; creating fundraising material and more. This position will be rewarded with invaluable nonprofit skills in high demand as well as the gift of making a positive difference in the lives of struggling families.

What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, strengthen community groups, and much more.  VISTA members receive a living stipend and medical coverage. They also receive an education award at the end of their service to put towards students loans or grad school.

Development Coordinator VISTA duties:

-Build organizational capacity of the organization by researching prospective foundational grants; writing grants;

-Planning fund raising event

-Writing fund raising letter

-Draft and edit community newsletter

-Develop and maintain organizational database

 Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelors degree or higher. Grant writing/Fundraising experience a plus. Excellent organization and communication skills. Demonstrated desire to work for social change. Self starter with capacity to follow through. Ability to manage multiple projects with varying degrees of complexity. Team player. Excellent writing skills. Experience in similar a program a plus.

AmeriCorps*VISTA Benefits:

• A living allowance, dispersed bi-weekly
• An education award OR a stipend upon successful completion of service
• Health care
• Relocation Allowance
• Loan forbearance on qualified student loans
• Interest accrual payment on qualified student loans
• Child care (if eligible)
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Extensive network of AmeriCorps Alums
• Non-competitive eligibility for federal government service (for one year after service)

For more information about the program and the position, please email Lalo Munoz at lmunoz@elcentrooftopeka.org

For over a decade El Centro of Topeka has assisted families in need during the Christmas season. Our organization has parterned with the Christmas Bureau to help families in need of interpretation and translation. El Centro has contributed more than 50 volunteer hours  each year to the Christmas Bureau. This year, we are looking for volunteers to help with interpretation and translation.

The Christmas Bureau has two locations this year where assistance is greatly needed.

Antioch Community Center, 1921 S.E. Indiana

Available Time:

8:45 am – 1:15 pm

Dates:

Friday, Nov. 4th

Tuesday, Nov. 8th

Thursday, Nov. 10th

Friday, Nov. 11th

Let’s Help, 200 S. Kansas

Available Time:

2:45 pm – 7:15 pm

Dates:

Monday, Nov. 7th

Tuesday, Nov. 8th

Wednesday, Nov. 9th

Thursday, Nov. 10th

Friday, Nov. 11th

In addition to assisting the Christmas Bureau with interpretation and translation, El Centro is looking for individuals to adopt families. 

Are you willing to adopt a family in need this Christmas season, who otherwise may not have that blessing?

More than one hundred families were not adopted last year. El Centro would like to close that gap to ensure every family has a joyous and fulfilling Christmas.

If you would like to volunteer for the Christmas Bureau and/or adopt a family, please contact the El Centro office at 785-232-8207.

Topeka BiNational Health Fair – Oct. 8th

El Centro of Topeka will host the 4th annual BiNational Health Fair in Topeka. More than 24 local health organizations have joined an effort to serve the underinsured and underserved Latino community. The goal of the health fair is to close the gap in health disparities that are affecting the Latino community.

To reach that goal, dozens of Topeka health groups are working to share educational materials about a balanced eating habits, staying active and healthy as well as performing health checks for blood pressure, Body Mass Index, Blood sugar tests and many more exams.

Health is an important issue that too often in our community does not get enough attention. Healthy habits leads to workers avoiding losing precious work hours and increases their earnings. Healthy habits lead to a decrease in emergency room visits and less costly medical bills. Parents who have healthy habits reinforces good habits in their children giving them the best shot at a more healthy and prosperous future.  In short, health is an issue that affects not just an individual but an entire family and the Latino community.

To complicate the Latino community’s health, the Great Recession has had a devastating effect on the Latino community. Today the unemployment rate in the Latino community, at 11%, is higher than the national average of 9.1%. In addition, the household wealth of Latinos has dropped by 66% from 2005 to 2009. This has resulted in record poverty rates among Latino children, an astounding 6.1 million children in the United States.

Despite the tough economic times, El Centro of Topeka and countless other local health organizations will continue to work tirelessly to promote healthy families and healthy habits.

For more information contact Lalo Munoz at 785-232-8207 or by email at lmunoz@elcentrooftopeka.org.

#1 Local office looking for a bilingual (Spanish/English) receptionist to work 2 days a week, 4 hours per day during the summer. Flexible hours! This part-time position will turn into a full-time position in December, 2011 through April 15th, 2012. $8.50/hr. Professional environment. Candidates must be reliable and able to translate/interpret with ease.

#2 Job opening  for a bi-lingual intern for the Summer. Basic duties would be translation, working with Hispanic folks who don’t speak English, filing, customer service, and some basic computer work.

#3 A local office seeks bi-lingual Customer Service Representative.

also

#4 Cleaner/Custodian. Duties include sweeping, mopping, dusting, detail cleaning, window washing, and other custodial assignments.  Applicants must be at least 18, able to pass drug screen, background check, physical, & available to work evening hours.

Contact El Centro of Topeka at 785-232-8207 for more information.