The people I work with at the CRE

What is the CRE you ask?  It is the Centro de Recursos de Empleo.  In English it is the Employment Resource Center.  The larger organization here is AAMMSUD.  That is the Southern grouping of all the Employment Centers of Argentina that belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The centers are places where people looking for work or looking to improve their work or create their own business can come and get help, training and have access to the internet, newspapers,  and a trained staff.  AND  it's free!

My bosses are:

Ariel Chaparro on the left is the manager of all the CREs south  of Buenos Aires in AAMMSUD.  Here he is with  one of the students for the Career Workshop after her final interview.

Claudio Ciocia is the assistant manager of AAMMSUD.  He is the one we work with the most.

I feel very lucky to have these two men as bosses.  They are patient and kind and very knowledgeable about the area, the job market here and how to best help the people who come to the CRE.  They have become good friends and are always watching out for us!

This, of course, is my missionary companion, Karen Casos.  She is the greeter, receptionist and director of everything that happens if the front area of the Center.  She is amazing with the people that come in and the people that call to report job openings, or with questions about the CRE or often the people who want to talk to one of our bosses, like bishops and employment specialsts.

And this is me, Hermana Alexis Mayo.  I'm the instructor for the Career Workshop and now the Self Employment Workshop.  I also help people put together their resumes, or improve them and I am working on translating the Welfare Operations Manual that the Church has online in English.  With 24 sections, it is a long and tedious task.  I'm up to section 19, but there are still a lot of long sections and a proofread to get done before it will be ready for others.

Irene insisted that I needed my picture in this too, so she caught me right after lunch.

Here is Irene Fernanadez on the left and Gisele Soldano on the right.  They both come regularly to help at the CRE.

This is Amelia Orsini, She comes in for a day to help with the Career workshops.  She is a consultant to a Human Resource firm.  Her knowledge of the job market in Argentina and particularly Buenos Aires is formidable.  She takes time to go over the resumes with each person in the workshop, making suggestions for a stronger resume and giving contact information that will help the participants in the workshop.  Wonderful lady.

  Andres Monte de Oro works two days a week at reception and doing various other jobs in the CRE.  This is his fiancee, Rebecca.

Ignacio Cordoba is a very personable young man.  He also teaches the Career Workshop on occasion.  He is very helpful when someone has to miss one of the three or four day workshops.  He will help them one - on- one to catch up!

Carlos Daveri has a dynamic personality and knows a lot of jokes.  He  has strong opinions about every thing, is very patient with my Castellano (Spanish) and always has a smile for you.  You can't miss him in the CRE, just listen for the loud voice and the big arm motions..that would be Carlos!


Gustavo Cardoza is the newest volunteer.  He has a warm handshake and a very caring way with everyone he is around.


Ariel and Claudio are full-time, professional and paid workers for the Church.  The rest of us are all volunteers working in service for the Lord.  The volunteer staff changes monthly some stay and some move on to new jobs.  It's a great bunch to work with!

The really odd thing about working here is that you hope fervently that the people who come in, won't come back.  It' not that we don't want to see them.  It's just that if they don't come back it is because they have found work and that is the whole purpose of the Employment Resource Center is to provide a place where people can find work!