Self-Help Enterprises offers an exciting work environment where you can bring your high caliber skills to a true career opportunity and impact the world around you.
We have openings for
Community Development Project Technician responsible for supporting Community Development efforts, a
Resident Services Coordinator responsible for
coordinating resident services programs and preparing funding applications for the resident services programs, a
Drought Project Tech responsible for helping rural, low-income individuals and communities with drought relief efforts; and a
Community Development Specialist responsible for working with rural residents and boards to assist them in the development and management of community systems.
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REMEMBERING LILIA G. JIMENEZ
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We are saddened by the passing of Lilia G. Jimenez, a friend of Self-Help Enterprises and one of the first residents to build a self-help home.
In the late 1950's, Lilia, her husband, and their children lived in the rural community of Goshen in a house with no insulation and no city water. Like Lilia, many people lived in poverty and substandard housing conditions in this farmworker community.
Together with pioneers from Self-Help Enterprises, the Jimenez family, along with two other families, embarked on a journey to build the first three mutual self-help homes in the nation. Little did they know in 1963 that they were breaking ground for the foundation for a better future for tens of thousands of families across rural America. Lilia continued to live in the home she built over 50 years ago, the home where she saw her children and grandchildren grow up.
Our condolences to the Jimenez family.
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OPENING THE DOOR TO BETTER HOMES & COMMUNITIES
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Imagine yourself, for just a minute, without a safe home in a good community, and what that would mean to you, your family, your friends and everyone's prospects....the picture is pretty bleak. To spark a conversation about the lack of safe homes and livable communities, a new campaign called #OpenTheDoor which was launched by the national movement Home Matters®.
Research proves safe homes and communities are linked to better health, education, public safety and local economies. Yet,
this video shows the reality far too many American families find themselves facing: lack of a safe home and quality healthcare where they live.
The campaign also features a
national search tool that connects people to donate, volunteer or who are in need, to more than 330 Home Matters supporting organizations across America.
Self-Help Enterprises is a proud to build better homes and communities that support the Home Matters movement.
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SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO LOCAL STUDENTS
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Self-Help Enterprises is proud to award $6,000 in scholarship awards to seven local students in recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement.
The Doris "Do" Dooley Scholarship, named after Self-Help Enterprises' former Board member and dedicated friend of the organization, was established to help further the education of children whose families have participated in one of Self-Help Enterprises'
programs. This competitive academic scholarship is available to students who plan to enroll full-time in a vocational or trade school, community college or four-year university. The students were selected by Self-Help Enterprises' Board of Directors based on academic merit and commitment to community service.
The $1,250 scholarship award recipients are:
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Sam Alonso (Wasco) - Sam is a 2014 recipient of $1,000, and this year he was awarded $1,250 to continue his pre-med studies at UC Santa Barbara. He and his sisters were raised by their single mother who lives at the Almond Court Apartments in Wasco.
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Maria Gordillo Herrejon (Reedley) - Maria is the sister of two previous scholarship recipients whose parents built their own home in Reedley. She plans to attend Fresno State with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. She is involved in numerous clubs and activities and is ranked 8th in her graduating class of 382 with a 3.9 GPA.
The $1,000 scholarship award recipients are:
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Leticia Mendoza Gonzalez (Parksdale) - Leticia lives with her parents and siblings in the Parksdale Village Apartments. Leticia has been accepted to UC Merced where she plans to become an anesthesiologist.
- Alexandria Smith (Wasco) - Alexandria Smith's mother built her own home in Wasco. Alex returned to school after realizing she could earn a degree and work in child development, a field she loved. She is currently attending Brigham Young University in Idaho. She plans to teach after earning her bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Science Education.
The $500 scholarship award recipients are:
- Zuri Espinoza (Goshen) - Zuri and her family came to the US from Mexico and currently live in Goshen Village. Zuri is a great student and she was recently recognized as the Most Outstanding Student for English Language Development at El Diamante High School. She plans to attend COS in the fall on her way to becoming a dentist.
- Tru Flores (Goshen) - Tru lives with her mother at Goshen Village II. Through a difficult childhood, Tru discovered the healing power of art and plans to become an art therapist in order to help other young people. Her post-high school journey will begin at COS.
- Marisol Mendoza (Parksdale) - Marisol lives with her family in Parksdale and attends community college. Since her father has been ill, she has been working part-time to help support her family. She plans to eventually transfer to Fresno State to become an accountant.
The Doris "Do" Dooley Scholarship is possible because of the vision and generosity of many people including the Dooley family. Since 1997, Self-Help Enterprises has awarded 108 scholarships totaling $87,250 to deserving students.
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| CONNECTING COMMUNITIES TO WATER |
 A decade-old project is due to wrap up June 1. The 350+ homes in Matheny Tract will finally be hooked up to the City of Tulare water system. It hasn't been an easy road, nor a straight one. The Pratt Mutual Water Company, its Board of Directors, the Matheny Tract Committee and the residents of the unincorporated Tulare County community have persevered and their efforts will finally be rewarded when the water valves are opened on June 1.
In 2006, Self-Help Enterprises' Community Development program began working with the Pratt Mutual Water Company board of directors and the public works staff of the City of Tulare to assemble a consolidation project. In response to arsenic and nitrate contamination in Pratt's wells, a State-funded engineering report completed by Provost & Pritchard recommended new wells or a water system consolidation. With some influence from the State, it was agreed that consolidation with the larger, neighboring water system owned and operated by the City of Tulare was the most sustainable solution. Funding was sought and obtained to build a new water distribution system that would replace the Mutual Water Company's aging system and install new water meters, so the water system would be in excellent condition when the City took over ownership and operation. Construction of the new distribution system was substantially completed in 2014.
Consolidation seemed simple enough, given the proximity of Matheny Tract to existing City infrastructure. As it turned out, the process was fraught with complications, ranging from charter city and prevailing wage law, to a public debate over a proposed industrial park; from drought and contamination impacts on Tulare's wells to the implementation of a new law - SB88. SB88, passed by the legislature in 2015, gave the State Water Board the authority to order water system consolidations. In 2016, the State Water Board exercised its new power for the first time and directed the City of Tulare to accept Matheny Tract as water customers.
The spring of 2016 has passed quickly as the project partners race to meet the June 1 deadline to have water meters installed, customer accounts established, and other details in order. Self-Help Enterprises congratulates project partners Pratt Mutual Water Company, the City of Tulare, the Matheny Tract Committee, Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability, the State Water Resources Control Board, Provost and Pritchard, and West Valley Construction on the completion of an extraordinary journey.
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