CSF Students Makeover Helps Lives

April 17, 2012 - PRLog -- Media Contact:
Kelly Armstrong
Advanced Image Consulting Professor
E-Mail: imagemaker86@hotmail.com

News Release by
Hallina Pohyar
Advance Image Consulting
City College Student

CCSF STUDENTS GIVE KAMALA HARRIS’ PROGRAM FASHION MAKEOVERS

Students change lives with class assignment.

San Francisco, CA— Advanced Image Consulting students from City College of San Francisco (CCSF), help participants in a Goodwill Industries program, “Back on Track,”(BOT)1 developed by Attorney General Kamala Harris when she was District Attorney for San Francisco.  Under the guidance of Instructor Kelly Armstrong and the Goodwill Criminal Justice Staff Specialists, Sonia Worley, and Joanna Hernandez, Manager of Criminal Justice and Reentry, students are paired up with a client for an image makeover to assist them in landing a job resulting in the reduction of the recidivism rate.

The overall goal of the makeover is to help the participants project a polished image, and to give them a sense of self-worth, pride and accomplishment. The image makeover prepares the participants to dress for court appearances, interviews and social settings.

Makeovers are all about transformation and these makeovers more so than most.  This mutually beneficial relationship provides the students a unique opportunity to hone their skills as image consultants, and helps the participants learn to put their best foot forward and feel confident at job interviews and in social settings as the BOT program allows them to re-enter society after a brush with the law.  "In one sense, fashion can be so superficial and selfish, so it feels great to be a part of a program that gives back by making a difference in rebuilding somebody's life," says V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi, a CCSF student. “We can see our work making a life-changing impact.”

The makeover consists of five important elements: personal image assessment, hair and makeup consultation, body analysis, color analysis and a shopping trip. During the body analysis, the student will take body measurements of the participants  to discover their specific body type. This information will be used to help the participant learn to dress in clothes that will be flattering to their specific body shape.

The color analysis, also known as personal color or seasonal analysis, is the process of finding colors of clothing and makeup to match a person's skin complexion, eye color, and hair color. Participants will learn to dress in colors that will complement their natural coloring and make them look young and healthy.

Once the participant’s fashion personality, body type and personal color palate are determined they are escorted on a shopping trip to purchase three separate looks: casual, business and eveningwear.  The shopping trip is generously funded by the District Attorney’s Office with a $100 gift certificate to Goodwill for each participant.

CCSF students have roughly two months to complete the makeover on the participants, which ends in an informal fashion show where the participants model their new looks.  This year’s makeover fashion show will take place on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. at Goodwill Industries located at 1500 Mission Street in San Francisco.

Fashion 45B, Advanced Image Consulting prepares students to become image consultants, either working independently or for a retailer. It incorporates the techniques of color, wardrobe selection, figure analysis and business development. For more information contact Diane Green in the Fashion Merchandising Department (415) 239-3588.

City College of San Francisco (CCSF): City College of San Francisco offers an affordable opportunity to earn associate degrees, prepare for transfer, and pursue career and technical education. City College also offers distance learning and free noncredit courses in many fields.

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Goodwill: Goodwill Industries International enhances the dignity and quality of life of individuals, families and communities by eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work.

1Back on Track (BOT): BOT, was founded in 2005 by now Attorney General Kamala Harris in partnership with Goodwill Industries and other community agencies, is a strict year and half reintegration program.  The program provides numerous benefits such as educational opportunities, job training and placement, as well as life skills workshops for young ex-offenders.  As part of the program, participants must also perform 220 hours of community service and demonstrate concrete achievements in education, employment and personal improvement.  These young adults have pled guilty to first time low-level felony charges and would otherwise face incarceration if not enrolled in this program. Recidivism among participants is less than 10% and the program costs society a fraction of the price of adjudicating a case and incarcerating an individual.  

News Release by
Victoria Lau
Advance Image Consulting
City College Student

STUDENTS HELP KAMALA HARRIS’ GOODWILL BACK ON TRACK PROGRAM
BY CHANGING LIVES ONE MAKEOVER AT A TIME

Class assignment helps participants get a fresh start on life.

San Francisco, CA- What if you had the chance to change someone’s life with one fabulous outfit? That is exactly what a group of students from City College of San Francisco will attempt to do this spring.

Students from the Advanced Image Consulting class at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) have partnered with Goodwill Industries’ Back on Track (BOT) program to provide makeover services to first time felony offenders.  Started in 2005 by now Attorney General Kamala Harris, this 12-18 month long program aims to prevent the young participants from re-committing crimes by providing them with tools for overall self-improvement as well as job readiness skills. The end goal is to create outfits that will be suitable for the participants to wear to their court appearances and future job interviews.

In March, each student was paired with a BOT participant to provide a comprehensive image makeover.  In the eight week program, the student’s services include: an initial client interview, color analysis, body analysis, fashion personality assessment, as well as shopping and purchasing final looks from Goodwill stores. The program will conclude with a presentation about the makeover project to the Goodwill staff on Monday, May 14th, 2012 at the Goodwill Industries on 1500 Mission Street in San Francisco at 6:00 P.M.

While the BOT participants get a second chance at improving their lives, the CCSF students also go through a change themselves. This project allows the students to receive real life work experience in the image consulting industry, but more importantly, it is a way for them to give back to the community. “I’m so excited to see what the students will put together. Year after year, it amazes me to see the transformations that happen with not only the BOT participants, but with my students also,” says Kelly Armstrong, instructor for the Advanced Image Consulting course at CCSF.

The Advanced Image Consulting course at CCSF prepares students to become image consultants. In addition to the final makeover project for BOT, students also work hard all semester long with projects that include conducting a client closet analysis, developing a business marketing plan, writing an effective press release as well as learning techniques of how to operate a business.

If you would like more information about the Advanced Image Consulting course or the Image Consulting Certificate Program at CCSF, please contact Diane Green in the Fashion Merchandising Department or email her at drgreen@ccsf.edu.
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(The above news release are two winning submissions in competition following Communications Lecture by Jackie Wright of Wright Enterprises (www.wrightnow.biz) for Kelly Armstrong, Advance Image Consulting Professor at City College of San Francisco.)

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Wright Enterprises, is a full- service public relations firm serving the corporate, non-profit and government sectors. From crisis communications to commercial production to issues management, Wright Enterprises helps clients perfect strategic messages.