Celebration Luncheon with UDW and NOCE
UDW and NOCE hold luncheon to celebrate the first group of students who completed their classes in a partnership project that aims to improve educational opportunities for about 8,000 domestic workers.
On Friday, August 2, 2024, United Domestic Workers (UDW) and North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) hosted a luncheon to celebrate the first UDW/NOCE cohort of students who completed classes at the end of summer. The luncheon was sponsored by UDW and held at their offices in Santa Ana. Students were congratulated for their efforts, asked for feedback about their experience, and had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the upcoming fall semester.
NOCE President Valentina Purtell, Vice President Martha Gutierrez, and Dean Deb Perkins provided words of gratitude, encouragement, and shared information on support services.
About the Program
In the spring of 2024, the California Community Colleges (CCC) invited NOCE to be one of three schools in the state to be an early adopter in partnering with the United Domestic Workers (UDW) to support socioeconomic mobility for low-income adults.
The Pathways for Low-Income Workers Demonstration Project, an initiative within the CCC Chancellor’s Vision 2030 Strategic Plan, is a collaboration between NOCE and the UDW to offer continuing education to about 8,000 of the union’s members in North Orange County. San Diego College of Continuing Education and Southwestern College are the other two early adopters partnering with UDW members in their areas.
“Being one of the early adopters of this demonstration project is more than an opportunity,” said Valentina Purtell, president of NOCE. “It’s also a testament to our dedication to inclusive education and our belief in the transformative power of knowledge.”
UDW members are home care and family childcare providers, 78 percent of whom are women with 42 percent identifying as Latinx, 18 percent Asian and 8 percent Black. Only a quarter of family childcare providers report making a profit while the rest break even or operate at a loss.
Thank you to UDW’s Caroline Do and all the support team for their vision, hard work, and partnership.
