MORGAN HILL
– The St. Catherine’s Dayworker Committee has hired a director
for the planned Dayworker Center.
MORGAN HILL – The St. Catherine’s Dayworker Committee has hired a director for the planned Dayworker Center.
America Romero, a 4-year Morgan Hill resident, will take on the job of getting the center up and running. First, however, legal details must be worked out between the committee and Weston Miles Architects, on whose property the center will sit – once that firm completes the purchase.
Romero said she was happy to be working for the center but is not yet on the job.
“I don’t have a date to start yet because I just heard yesterday,” Romero said Thursday. “As soon as we find office space, I will start networking with the workers to get as much done as possible, even before we have a building.”
Romero has a long history with nonprofit agencies, having worked with homeless programs, with Head Start and having taken an INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) program from startup to reality. During the 2000 census year, she was the public relations specialist for the nine Northern California counties.
“I hope to run the center so it is beneficial to day workers,” Romero said. “We will work closely with local government, business and the community. I want it to work for everyone.”
Charles Weston said his firm is in escrow to buy the now closed Isaacson Grain Co. on Depot Street at East Main Avenue and the lease with the committee can be finalized when escrow is complete. He expects the deal to close in mid-June.
Julian Mancias, member of the committee and a local Realtor, said the committee was particularly impressed with Romero’s experience in grant writing.
“That is something we desperately need,” he said. Mancias said Romero has read all the media reports and is up to date on the background of the proposed center and the reasons why local citizens came together to solve the problem of dayworkers lining downtown streets in search of casual work. The workers stand out in all weather and have no access to services that might improve their lot.
The center will also be designed to ease problems that arise between worker and employer from the language barrier. It will hold English as a Second Language classes and help the workers toward citizenship. Romero is bilingual and has dealt with similar issues in previous jobs.
“She knows what she’s getting into,” Mancias said.
The position, Romero said, is three-quarters time at a salary of about $29,000 with full benefits.
The grandmother of six – almost seven – has two daughters and two sons, one in the U.S. Navy stationed on the USS Denver in San Diego.
