Chrysalis began as a food and clothing distribution center in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood. However, the organization quickly came to the realization that while we were doing necessary work, it was having a short-term impact. Instead of alleviating basic needs for only a few days, we wished to help people improve their quality of life and make significant long-term changes. Thus, a focus on employment became the foundation for all of Chrysalis’ programs. We added our transitional jobs program in 1991, and since then, we have developed our program to address an evolving workplace, incorporate new technologies, and respond to client feedback; however, the core of our program – to help people get ready for, find, and retain employment – has remained the same. With a growing need for our services, Chrysalis has also expanded our reach. We now have centers in Downtown Los Angeles, Orange County, the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica and the Inland Empire. As we have made connections with new communities, we have also been able to create more job opportunities for clients across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. We have grown our infrastructure to support our expanded services, including full teams of staff working in volunteer management, development and communications, external relations, finance, human resources, data, IT, and facilities.
We help people find jobs! At Chrysalis, we strive to assist individuals in empowering themselves, setting employment goals, navigating barriers, connecting to additional services, and advancing their skills – all aimed at preparing for, obtaining, and retaining a job. Whether a client comes in with specific ambitions in mind or has never considered what their professional journey might look like, staff and volunteers provide them with individualized support during every phase of their job search. We offer numerous resources, including case management, a job-readiness curriculum, resume preparation, practice interviews, and access to computers, professional attire, transitional employment, and job-retention support.
