Impressions of the Pájaro Valley
413 Union Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
831.786.8649

Owner: Novenka Radish

En Español.

“This business has been here for three years now. It all started in the spring of 1999, when a group of high school students did a research project for the City of Watsonville to attract new businesses to the area. This was so successful that we had to go another step forward with the outstanding work of the students. So we opened this store in conjunction with a class I teach the students on job training and skills. The class and store are sponsored by the Regional Occupational Program (ROP), and we are grateful to the City for assistance with the rent. Nonetheless, the students run and own the store, and I am the supervisor.

The students wanted to open a store that would sell locally-made products, so they met with different local factory owners and set up business relationships with them. The students do all of the work here in running the store, and this is a great work experience for them that they’ve usually never had before. They do not get paid, but they get academic credits toward a scholarship for college once they graduate from Watsonville High School and continue their education. The first year we opened the store, we were able to put $5, 000 toward the scholarship fund. The second year, we made $8,000 for the fund, and we have an $11,000 goal for this year.

This year I have forty-four students participating in the program, and all of them are either juniors or seniors in high school. Students from past years come back to visit me still and they all tell me how great this opportunity was for them, how it gave them really good skills and was a great learning experience for them. I have been successful in placing them in full-time or part-time jobs here in the community. Last year, I placed sixteen students in jobs, and this year I’ve placed eight so far.

I love my job. I love to see these kids succeed and get the support they need. I am so pleased with my kids and to be able to work with them as I do. I learn something new from them every day. I am so happy to give them the extra little push, motivation and confidence they need, that they may never have gotten before.”