Taller San José St. Joseph's Workshop

About Us

Mission Statement

Taller San Jose is an innovative Santa Ana program that walks young people out of poverty by offering the hope of a productive and self-reliant future.

OFFERING HOPE

Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange in 1995, the program provides undereducated and unskilled young adults who have gotten off track in life with the job training and life skills necessary to find employment at a living wage.

In Spanish, a taller is a workshop, a place to build and repair things. “San Jose” is Spanish for St. Joseph, the patron of workers. At Taller San Jose, troubled young people work to both turn their lives around and develop job skills for a brighter future.

teaching responsibility

Taller San Jose provides short-term intensive paid training in construction, medical, and office careers to young adults, ages 18-28. Students are surrounded by mentoring, legal assistance, job coaching and job placement for two years, enabling them to establish a strong work ethic and progress in their careers. Students must be fluent in English, possess right-to-work documents, and pass a drug screening.

BUILDING FUTURES

Since 1995, Taller San Jose has moved 4,500 young adults out of poverty through job training that leads to permanent living-wage employment. Roughly 70% of students remain employed one year after graduation, and 92% with a criminal record will not return to jail.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES 

Since 1995, Taller San Jose has helped more than 4,500 high-risk young adults to restructure their lives, finish high school and develop marketable skills. The program has consistently reduced criminal recidivism and increased youth success at securing living wage employment with corresponding health benefits.

Long-term life changes for Taller San Jose graduates include:

• 220 youth receive hands-on training annually
• 74% of students find employment within 30 days of graduation
• Average wage: $10.98 per hour
• 80% of students remain employed one year after graduation
• 1 in 4 of graduates begin college or an apprenticeship
• 92% with a criminal record do not reoffend