Author: Veronica Barrera

Del Mar College’s Center for Economic Development is not necessarily what comes to mind when you think of furthering your education or taking training classes, but the CED has a variety of classes available for students who are looking to quickly gain the skills they need to enter the workforce. For example, Del Mar College’s Certified Nurse Aide program prepares students for entry-level positions in a high-paying field.   Contributed photo/Caller-Times  Alyssa Zarate (left) and Jassel Ramirez, both 17, get ready to perform surgery on potatoes to help learn medical terminology. Students from Banquete High School are in the middle…

Dolores Huerta, a prominent Chicana labor leader who has received numerous awards for her advocacy and community service, will share her experiences with Del Mar College on Oct. 23. Huerta, the co-founder of United Farm Workers, has advocated for the rights of workers, immigrants and women, earning her the Eugene V. Debs Foundation Outstanding American Award. Contributed photos Huerta is also a two-time United States Presidential Award recipient. In addition, Huerta received the Eleanor D. Roosevelt Human Rights Award from President Bill Clinton in 1998. Huerta received the Medal of Freedom Award from President Barack Obama in 2012. The Medal…

Del Mar College was recently awarded $175,445 in Skills Development funds, reserved specifically to help veterans gain skills for in-demand occupations, from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). As the construction industry continues to boom in South Texas, Del Mar College’s Corporate Services department is working to help veterans meet new qualifying standards and better their chances of getting a job. “Right now, one of the fastest growing job sectors in our economy is industrial construction,” said Mary Afuso, a Del Mar College grant administrator. “One of the single most important skills of the construction craft is safety.” Del Mar College…