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Training tomorrow's workforce | How the Neighborhood House Association turns dreams into reality

"We want to hire the babies that we're serving today. I'm not just a president and CEO, I'm a former client," Rudolph Johnson said with pride.

SAN DIEGO — The Neighborhood House Association's name might not be familiar right off, but if you've ever heard of The Head Start program, that is one of the many ways NHA helps families across the country.

The Neighborhood House Association is celebrating 110 years of serving our community as one of the largest multi-purpose non-profits in San Diego County.

The Neighborhood House Association was established in 1914 in Barrio Logan as a settlement house to help immigrants transitioning to the San Diego community. Today, NHA employs more than 800, and touches the lives of thousands of San Diegans and scores of other Americans across the country.

NHA President and CEO Rudolph Johnson is passionate about training tomorrow’s workforce.

"We want to hire the babies that we're serving today and put them into our workforce tomorrow. I'm not just a president and CEO; I'm a former client," Johnson beamed with pride.

As a child, Johnson’s parents enrolled him in the NHA’s Head Start Program. Head Start provides families with early childhood development. Johnson says he is making the vision of NHA, “healthy and educated communities where dreams become reality,” a reality for others because he's proof that it works.

“The four-year-old that we’re serving today is going to be just as lovely 10 years from now when they're 14, and society may not see them the same way,” Johnson said. “It's my responsibility to make sure we're still wrapping our arms around him or her.”

The NHA portfolio of programs is as vast and varied as the communities we serve. Current NHA programs range from early childhood development in Head Start to an innovative nutrition program to health programs like HIV/AIDS case management, mental health services, Adult Day Health Care services, youth services, and Senior Services

"We are proud to serve approximately 4000 of those 0–4 year old's daily. We're a mini-school district. We have a technology center, a college prep program, a youth internship program, and a central kitchen that produces 6000 meals per day.

Jasmine Herrera is an award-winning student in high school today who got her start in Head Start. She says when she grows up, she’d like to be a principal or counselor in a San Diego area school because of what she’s learned from several of NHA’s programs.

“When I started middle school, I was very shy. I didn't have friends or anything," Herrera explained.

Now, she’s learned how to be more open and make friends while pursuing her high school education despite her family not always having enough to make ends meet.

NHA was there to help again years after Herrera graduated from Head Start.

"They gave out free pencils and markers, and that was a big help to me to have school supplies for my school," she smiled.

Herrera’s little brother also attended Head Start. He loves reading and is also thriving in school.

Johnson says that’s because NHA has wraparound services in their continuum of care.

When a child enrolls in Head Start, NHA’s wraparound services mean the entire Herrera family, including Jasmine’s dad, Jorge, are all involved.

"You take a day off work and can go on a field trip or read with your kid in school,” Herrera started. “You're not going to get paid that day, financially speaking, but you will get paid with beautiful core memories with your child."

Herrera says he knows firsthand how difficult balancing work, paying bills, and raising children can become. That’s why he says he’s thankful for the opportunity to take advantage of NHA’s financial counseling program. 

"They teach the skills necessary for knowing how to pull yourself up from the bottom. A lot of people hit financial lows and don't know how to recover. NHA has classes for parents to help," Herrera offered.

Jasmine Herrera says she’s also been given the opportunity to give back through community service activities with NHA’s programs.

"It makes me feel good that, at the same time, I'm helping other people,” she smiled again.

The Neighborhood House Association will celebrate 110 years of serving communities across the country after getting started right here in San Diego County.

For more information on how you can help them help others, click here.

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