WFD Manager Makes an Impact
Crystal Ramirez and her family in San Diego
With a passion to support her community, Crystal Ramirez joined BSP in 2015 as an AmeriCorps VISTA, which is an anti-poverty program designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift communities out of poverty.
Instrumental in developing programs for statewide initiatives, Crystal Ramirez is currently BSP’s Southern California Workforce Development Manager, a role where she oversees workforce programming for the organization throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.
“BSP’s Workforce Development programming is different from other educational programs, as it deals with already employed workers, upskilling them so they can advance in their industry and have a better quality of life for themselves and their families,” said Crystal.
Before her role as BSP’s Southern California Workforce Development Manager, Crystal was the San Diego Program Coordinator with the vision of expanding services for the underrepresented communities throughout the area.
Green Janitor Education Program graduation, San Diego
With an interest in advancing her community from an early age, Crystal grew up in Los Angeles guided by her parents who were immigrants from Mexico. As a first-generation college graduate, she has always had a lens for advocacy work and obtained her bachelor's degree in U.S. History and Latin American Studies from the University of San Francisco in 2006.
Her innovative spirit has piloted and launched a variety of BSP programming over the years and she’s forged positive and lasting relationships with the business and property service worker communities.
“The workers and families in our programs are always giving – in their hearts, through the food they cook, and in their community. They give what they can. The families are always showing how grateful they are for you helping them. I appreciate that part of my work,” she said.
Crystal has both coordinated and taught numerous Workforce Development programs for BSP, including:
Property service workers and BSP staff members
With her wide-ranging expertise in Workforce Development programs, Crystal would like the public to better understand janitors, saying: “They love their job, what they do, and they have pride in their work. This all ties into BSP’s mission of dignity and respect.”
“A lot of times, people may look down on janitors. Though many people may not know that in their home countries, many janitors have degrees and are very educated people. In the U.S., their certificates don’t transfer over and thus they are not given opportunities for career advancement. I am grateful to be a part of an organization that gives janitors opportunities for success.”
California Workforce Development Board
These programs are made possible through the generous support of the California Workforce Development Board.
California and the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) are committed to a High Road vision for the state’s workforce development system, emphasizing job quality, worker voice, equity, and environmental sustainability. This approach supports workers, job-seekers, and industries while strengthening the state’s workforce.
The objectives of the High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) initiative are to increase access to good jobs, create pathways for job growth, meet regional industry needs and center worker voice.