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MARCH 2011
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As Chairman of the Boardof the Center for Mi-cronesian Empower-ment (CME), it is with
great pleasure that I greet the read-ers of this first issue of “EMPOW-ER” magazine, published with thesupport of the Pacific Daily News.
We hope this publication willserve to increase understandingand communication amongall people in this region ofthe world.
It was just over twoyears ago that a group ofconcerned people here onGuam came togeth-er to establish theCenter.
CME assists in-dividuals from theMicronesian region in becoming as-similated into the culture of Guam.We do this through various trainingprograms and we are pleased towork in close cooperation with theGuam Community College and theGCA Trades Academy.
Our first Chairman was Dr. An-sito Walter of the University ofGuam (and former Governor of theState of Chuuk).
In our roles as Chairmen of theBoard, it has been our privilege tohelp guide CME in its formativestages.
Much has been accomplished inthis initial stage. Programs havebeen established for both residentMicronesians on Guam and also fornewly-arriving training groups (in
the work areas of construction,health care and more).
Through these pro-grams, it is our ferventdesire to help in build-ing a better Guam and astronger Micronesian re-
gion.CME has been
helped by somany people ofgoodwill and wewant to extend
our deepest appreciation to all whohave helped us come so far in sucha short time.
We hope this first issue and sub-sequent issues will help empowerall readers to come to a better un-derstanding of the whole Microne-sia region.
Our thanks to the Pacific DailyNews for your support in all we do.
Gerson Jackson
Everyone deserves a chance in life. Everyone de-serves an opportunity.This is the goal of the Cen-ter for Micronesian Empowerment.
It is our dream.Through our training programs, we provide that
chance, that opportunity.Our programs
serve resident Mi-cronesian individ-uals on Guam, aswell as individu-als and groups ar-riving from out-side Guam.
I am pleased toserve as the Exec-utive Director ofsuch a dynamicorganizat ion,bringing positivechanges to Guamand the region.
And we are allthankful to themany people who have stepped up to help our graduateswith job offers and other assistance. Our graduates arenot looking for a hand-out, just a chance to work and bet-ter themselves, their families, and their communities.
So, CME is not just an organization providing train-ing and jobs.
What we are attempting to do reaches deeper into thefabric of life here on Guam — because what we are re-ally involved in is changing lives, solving problems, cre-ating a better Guam and a stronger Micronesia region.
We thank all those who walk with us on this path toa bright new future.
Mike GhiglioneExecutive Director, CME
In addition to being Vice Chair for CME, I am also theCEO of Advance Management Inc., a Real Estate andFacilities Maintenance company comprised of some300 employees of whom 50% have roots from the
Freely Association States (FAS) of the Federated States ofMicronesia (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, & Kosrae), Republic ofPalau (ROP) and Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).
As we look around our beautiful island of Guam we seea highly multicultural landscape. Guam is a melting pot ofpeople frommany places ofthe world. TheCompact of FreeAssociation be-tween the FASCountries andthe United Stateshas opened theimmigration gateto Guam of theseculturally richpeople. Many ofthese 25,000+new Microne-sian residents toGuam lack certain attributes required to become produc-tive members of the Guam community -- attributes likeGuam cultural knowledge, English Language, trade skillsand more.
Today, programs have been crafted that take an under-served Guam resident (in particular one with roots in theFAS) and provide tools and training to allow them to be-come productive within their community.
Our trail is still being traveled and the learning curve isever growing. I am blessed to be associated with so manywho want to assist Guam’s underserved and further blessedby my daily association with our Micronesian Guam res-idents.
Monty McDowell
EMPOWERA quarterly publication of the Pacific Daily News March 2011
Publisher Rindraty Celes Limtiaco
INFORMATION CENTER
Managing Editor David V. Crisostomo
Magazine Editor Arleen Mad
Visual Editor Cid Caser
Writers Jojo Santo Tomas/Min Kim/Janice Miller
ADVERTISING
Advertising Director Jae Fermin Medina
Online Director Ratna Williams
Special Sections Coordinator Rena Santiago
ON THE COVERGroups from the Center for Micronesian Empower-ment study together at the GCA Trades Academy.
ABOUT THE COVERDesign by Brian WilliamsPhotos courtesy of Center for Micronesian Empower-ment
CONTACT USn For editorial inquiries, call Managing EditorDavid V. Crisostomo at 479-0400. E-mail:[email protected] For advertising inquiries, call your account executive at 479-0203/0205.n For other customer service needs, call PDN customer service at 472-1PDN (1736).
The Pacific Daily News —Guam’s Complete Source.
Vice Chairman, CME
Chairman, CME
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Chuuk graduates t’s show time, boys.With these words, the young dark-
skinned men stood a little straighter,tugged at the collars of their white dressshirts, smoothed their pants and raisedtheir chins just a little.
They couldn’t help but smile, for theirgraduation ceremony was just minutesaway. In the packed hall — borrowedjust for the event — were dozens of fam-ily members gathered to celebrate theiraccomplishments.
Each of the 15 Chuukeese — 10 fromChuuk and five from Guam — earnedthe right to walk tall and proud. They hadjust finished their 90-day cultural as-similation “boot camp” sponsored bythe Center for Micronesian Empower-ment, along with a core education inconstruction learned at the Guam Con-tractors Association Trades Academy.
They were the first from Chuuk, thepioneers. They worked hard, they stud-ied hard and they helped each otheralong the way. Everybody passed. Therewould certainly be harder days aheadbut today, Oct. 3, 2010, was a day to re-joice.
Helping them celebrate were five sen-ators from Chuuk, the CME board anda very proud Gov. Wesley Simina, whoheaped praise.
“You have set a high standard indeed,”he says, smiling. “You have made Chuukproud.”
The class president,who grew up in theimpoverished Chuukouter island of Fala-bangs, addressed hiscountrymen: “Today isthe start of a new be-ginning of a brighterfuture.”
Every graduate hadtheir dream. ArsonBoone, 26, was ready to leave his job asa janitor and start learning how to oper-ate heavy equipment.
Carnigie Osiena, 23, wants to learnelectrical and one dayopen his own business.Junior Sykap, 26, islooking forward to anelectrical career as well.And graduates say theyare looking forward tojobs that can help ex-pand their knowledge.
By Jojo Santo TomasCME
New batch: Chuuk Group 1 Graduating class with Gover-nor Wesley Simina, governor of the State of Chuuk.
celebrate first success
Mike G. Santos/For CME
Upper right: ChuukGroup 1 students clap asone of the graduates fin-
ishes his speech atChuuk Group 1 gradua-
tion held at the GCCMulit-Purpose room.
Lower right: BMJBenjamin and MontyMcDowell pose for aphoto after receivinghis diploma Oct. 3 af-ter his graduation fromthe GCA Trades Acad-
emy.
Pick up the PDN for the newest job listings!
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Interview with
QWhen did you first come toGuam?
AI came to Guam in 1992, I wasonly 15 years old. I moved here
with my family. My father was workingfor a construction company, so he movedhis whole family here and that’s how Ifirst came to Guam.
QHow did you first find your jobat Jamaican Grill?
AI saw an ad in the PDN for a cookat Jamaican Grill, so I went to ap-
ply. The position was already filled, so Iapplied for any open positions.
QWhat was your first position atJamaican Grill?
AI was first hired as acashier/kitchen helper.
QHow long did it take you, fromthe time you started, to become
a manager?
AIt took 2-1/2 years to become a su-pervisor, then it took 4 years for
my job
title to change from supervisor to asst.manager. Then it took another 4 yearsfrom asst. manager to Restaurant Manag-er.
QWhat is a typical day like as amanager?
AFirst — Check orders (pre-ordersfrom the day before). Second —
Activities from previous day if I need toact on any urgent matter. Third — Startopening up and get ready for staff andcustomers to come in.
QWhat is the most difficult thingabout being a manager?
AThe most difficult thing about be-ing a manager is trying to please
all the guests and at the same time keep-ing in mind that I’m in charge and I havea full responsibility to the owners and thestaff. But I won’t say it’s difficult; I takeit as a challenge and that I learned from it.If worse come to worse I do the best for
my guests because my guests are my #1BOSS.
QWhat do you like most aboutyour job?
AMeeting new people, seeing sat-isfied guests walking out with a
smile on their face, knowing that I did thebest I could for them. Basically when Iknow that they feel “WOW, this is seriousfood and serious service.”
QWhat advice can you give to Mi-cronesians who are living on
Guam and currently looking for a job?
ABe presentable even if only get-ting an application. Be prepared.
Have work documents ready (includingpolice & court clearances). Last, but notleast, have confidence in yourself!
QWhat is your daily life like out-side of work?
AI’m a working mom of a one-year-old so life outside work is
busy. When I get off from work I rush topickup my daughter at her grandma’shouse, go home cook dinner and try tocatch up on house work.
QTell us a little bit about yourfamily.
AI have a BIG family, lots of sib-lings, nieces and nephews. My
family is very close, we share, fight anddisagree but when we need to get togeth-
er and get something done; we all cometogether as one. Life growing up washard, because my dad was the onlyone working and providing for thefamily. But I think that’s where I gotstronger and I learned that life is noteasy and that you need to be all youcan be in order to have a successful fu-ture.
Francesca Tamannalon
Photos by Louis J. Paulino/For CME
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The Center for Mi-cronesian Empower-ment (CME) has of-fices in Tamuning —
in Suite 151 of the TamuningPlaza Hotel Annex Building,located behind Blockbustervideo store.
The telephone number is671-969-3750 and officehours are Mondaysthrough Saturdaysfrom 9:00 a.m. to6:00 p.m.
CME is governedby an activeBoard of Di-rectors whoinclude localbusiness andeducational leaders, formerFSM Governors, and Microne-sian diplomats assigned toGuam.
The Board of Directors isguided by the simple belief thatevery person deserves a chancein life.
The Center has 3 primary ob-jectives:
l To assist in the assimila-tion of resident Micronesians
into the Guam business and is-land community.
CME does this by offeringits’own job placement trainingprograms on weekends and atno cost to participants. All ap-plicants must pass through ascreening process before en-rollment is offered. Each course
runs 30 hours and class-es are held over five
consecutive Fridaysor Saturdays, withclasses from 10 amto 12 noon, 1 to 3
pm, and 3:30 to 5:30pm each ofthe five days.
l To pro-vide specificjob training
programs in several differentwork areas for both residentMicronesians and newly-ar-rived Micronesians.
CME works together withthe GCA Trades Academy andGuam Community College onthese various programs.
l To guarantee employmentto those who graduate fromCME training programs.
What is CME?
Mike G. Santos/For Center for Micronesian Empowerment
Success: Family and friends congratulate the graduates after the Chuuk Group 1 Graduation.
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Pohnpei graduates
It has been nearly a year since GuamCommunity College hosted a spe-cial graduation. Kosraens from theCenter for Micronesian Empower-
ment (CME) received their certificationfrom GCATrades Academy on a balmyApril 24, in a small, white auditorium.
Despite the room’s bleak surround-ings, nothing dampened the excitementin the atmosphere as 28 students were fi-nally awarded the document they cameto Guam to earn. As the prospectivegraduates slowly filed into the room,their family members couldn’t hold backtheir proud applause and more than afew smiles.
“You made it, boys,” says MikeGhiglione, director for the (CME).“Congratulations.”
The CME partnered with the acade-my to help the Federated States of Mi-cronesia benefit from the militarybuildup. Aworker with a certification inconstruction is highly prized throughoutthe Pacific and beyond. This group ofmen is the CME’s first group from Kos-rae to graduate from the academy’s coreclasses.
From the first day these graduates ar-rived on Guam, the CME has made surethey were taken care of. The smallestdetail was not overlooked. The CMEarranged for the graduates’ lodging and
cultural assimilation while Trades gavethem their education.
That piece of paperThe ceremony itself was simple — a
reflection of the men being celebrated.With dignitaries and education officialspresent, the students received their cer-tification with a handshake and a widesmile for their families.
“Today is a very, very special day forme,” says Kun Jack Kun, one of theKosrae graduates. Kun also spoke tohis fellow students of their achievementduring the ceremony. “I’ve been withthese boys for 111 days. … I’m very,very proud today, of myself and my fel-low students.”
GCA Trades Academy has made areputation for itself as being an educa-tion facility that focuses on qualitylearning experiences and timely con-struction certifications.
“You gotta make a commitment tobe (at class),” says Jeffrey Aliksa, an-other graduate from Kosrae. “It’s allhard work … It proves to (Kosrae) thatwe can do it. And we did it. I’m proudof (us).”
By Janice MillerCME
Kosrae movementT r a d e s g r a d u a t e s f i r s t C M E g r o u p
Inaugural group: The Center for Micronesian Empowerment’s first trainee groupfrom Kosrae graduation ceremony. The group of have passed GCA Trades Acade-
my’s core program, as well as the CME cultural assimilation program.
Photos by Bert Duarte for Trades
Celebration: The First Graduating class of the CME pro-gram led by, Kun Jack Kun proceeds to enter a multipurpose
room at GCC for the start of their graduation.
First group: Kun Jack Kun, spokesman for the class,spoke before Kosrae dignitaries and education officials,family, friends about the importance of participating inthe CME program. From left, the honored guests seat-
ed, front, are: Bert Johnston, GCA Trades Academy ed-ucation director; Jay Merril, CME board member; PaulHadik, director of education for the State of Kosrae;
Federated States of Micronesia Consul General GersonJackson. Graduation took place at GCC.
recognized
Above: Pohnpeian graduates ofthe Center for Micronesian Em-powerment (CME) point to them-selves as they are being recog-
nized during their graduation cere-mony at the Ypao Beach Park.
Left: Pohnpeian graduates waitduring their graduation ceremonyat the Ypao Beach Park Oct. 17.
Above: John Ehsa, Governor of Pohnpei,speaks during the Pohnpeian graduation cere-
mony held at Ypao Beach Park.Right: Class President Selestine Ada speaksduring the Center for Micronesian Empower-ment (CME) Pohnpeian graduation ceremony
held at the Ypao Beach Park Oct. 17.
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l What is CME’s local trainingprogram?
The program is designed primarilyfor Micronesian residents of Guam whoare unemployed and looking for full-time work. It is a 30-hour job placementtraining program.
l Who can jointhe program?
A n y o n ewho passesthe assess-ment test.
l Whatd o e sthe as-s e s s -m e n tt e s tconsist of?
Some basic mathand reading exercises,and a 10-minute per-sonal interview.
l When are class-es?
Classes are held allday Friday or all daySaturday for 6 hourseach day (10 am to 12noon, 1 pm to 3 pm,and 3:30 to 5:30).
Six hours each dayfor five consecutive Fri-days or 6 hours eachday for five consecutive Saturdays.
l How much does the trainingprogram cost?
Nothing. The program is free.l Who are the teachers?The teachers are experts in job place-
ment and cultural assimilation and havetaught these classes before.
l How many students are in eachclass?
15 to 20.l What kinds of things are taught
in the program?The classes consist of lectures, group
assignments, and many role-plays.Teachers believe in “learning by doing.”Students learn how to go through an in-terview, how to find the best jobs, how
to handle telephone interviews.Each student has a profession-al resume prepared for themand assistance is provided ingetting all necessary work doc-umentation.
l What do I have to do tograduate from the program?
Attend all classes, complete allhomework assignments, actively par-ticipate in each class, pass all tests.
l How do I get started?Pick up the telephone and call 969 –
3750 and ask for an “assessment inter-view.”
Local training program
Photos courtesy of CME
Schedule of upcoming 30-hour jobplacement training programs:Class 11-01:Friday, April 1Friday, April 8Friday, April 15Friday, April 22Friday, April 29
Class 11-02:Saturday, April 2Saturday, April 9Saturday, April 16Saturday, April 23Saturday, April 30
Class 11-03:Friday, May 27Friday, June 3Friday, June 10Friday, June 17Friday, June 24
Class 11-04:Saturday, May 29Saturday, June 4Saturday, June 11Saturday, June 18Saturday, June 25
(All classes on above days are from10 am to 12 noon, 1 pm to 3 pm,3:30 to 5:30.)
The Center for Micronesian Empow-erment (CME) salutes previoussponsors of our 30-hour trainingprograms — a BIG “Thank You”goes out to IP&E (formerly ShellOil), Bechtel Foundation and Union76.We are grateful for your support !
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On Wednesday October20th, 2010 The Center ForMicronesian Empowermentalong with Hita I Marianasand the Micronesian CenterFor A Sustainable Futurehosted “The Untapped Po-tential of the Marianas andMicronesian Workforce”conference.
The conference broughttogether leadership fromthroughout the region to dis-cuss the positive implicationsthe buildup will have on em-ployment throughout the re-gion.
The conference providedan opportunity to have anopen dialogue among theleaders of the region’s pri-vate and public sectors abouthow the buildup provides aregional opportunity for work-force development.
Training programs, jobs,and the development of awide array of careers will all be madepossible by the buildup. Several offi-cials from the Department of Defenseand the Federal Government were alsoon hand to provide comment and in-formation of their role in the transfor-mation of the region and its impact onworkforce development.
The timing of the conference comeson the heels of the signing of theRecord of Decision on Sept. 21, 2010.
The Record of Decision triggeredthe start of the $20 Billion economic in-fusion created by the buildup. A pro-gram so vast it will transform the Mar-ianas into the hub of U.S. defense
forces in Asia. Already there is nearly $1.5 billion
in projects underway or soon to be un-derway. This means that the militarybuildup will enter a new phase, onethat will dramatically impact theeconomies and communities of all ofthe Micronesian islands.
Already people from theFreely Associated States andthe Commonwealth of theNorthern Mariana Islandshave begun the migration tothe Marianas to find work.And this is the reason whyCME decided to host the con-ference. It is extremely im-portant for CME to work withthe community to bring themessage about the enormousopportunities home to the peo-ple of the region.
It is CME’s mission to re-duce the reliance on foreignlabor. But it is also importantto remember that the local andregional workforce must beproperly motivated and trainedin order to take full advantageof workforce development op-
portunities that lay ahead forall the people of the region.
As a result of the conferenceCME will be growing into therole of a central contact point
for the entire region. The goal of the organization will be
to provide a central contact point forqualified workers of the region to pre-pare for and become employed as a re-sult of the buildup.
CME symposiumfocuses in on untapped potential
Plans: Bryan Wood, director of Marine Corps Pacific Division, Plans, Policies and Opera-tions Department, speaks at a conference held by Center for Micronesian Empowerment onOct. 20. The conference entitled "The Untapped Potential of the Marianas and Micronesian
Workforce," was held at the Guam Marriot Resort & Spa.
Retired Marine Maj. Gen. David Bice, executive director of Joint Guam ProgramOffice
Anthony Babauta, assistant secretary of the Interior
Photos courtesy of CME and Pacific Daily News files
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VIP visits to CMEClockwise from top: Pohnpei governor
John Ehsa speaks during the graduationof Pohnpei Group 1; Chuuk Gov. Wes-ley Simina and his wife meet with a lo-cal educator, Nilda Constantino; PeterPraher, U.S. Ambassador to FSM poses
with Chuuk Group 1.
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