Reading and Beyond - Fresno, California

Richard M.

I've been with these people for over a year. I'm on my 4th couselor and every one of them has been outstanding. Up until recently they have been the missing piece that has made going to college possible, But recently, and at the moment of truth, right when I have a great job hanging in the balance, it appears that a new program manager has tied the hands of my awesome counselor, and is making superfluous demands and repeatedly denies my requests for the funds necessary to get the potential employer what they have been asking me for. Up until this point, my requests have been funded immediately for books, gas, etc. But suddenly there is this stringent reuirement for "supporting documents" which, gas for example, are impossible to produce. So I've been stuck withjout transportation and that job... lost it as the direct result of this program manager stalling and denying. Prior to this, there was not a single denial or request for "supporting documuents". All bad.

Simoni L.

This place is awesome with experiences advocates who actually care. If you put in the effort they will help you with anything you need to get ahead economically. Job training advice and tech/trade ideas. Thank you Sandra for all the hard work you do for the Central Valley!

Like K.

This has to do with their telemarketing arm concerning outreach towards Cal-Fresh recipients. The callers do not tell you everything about the training assistance programs up-front: that it is a lottery system which randomly assigns you into one of 3 groups of varying types of services, all of which do not specify any actual programs.

To get you to come into their office, they falsely lead you to believe that you will receive $1000 tuition assistance by making you sign over your SS# to participate in government sponsored surveys and third-party data collectors.

Be forewarned: if you choose to sign up for their so-called "study", you effectively will be giving up your right to privacy and will allow survey takers and data collectors to call you; to come to your door at your residence; and file away personal & financial data and information unrelated to your direct personal career growth or work-training advocacy. They also do not guarantee the confidentiality of said data.

Think twice before you sign! The lottery system in which they enroll you in is not a guarantee that you will receive any services relating to career development or, for this matter, the fictitious $1000 tuition money that they wave in front of you. In fact it could work against you!

To append further: physical office was run-down, unkempt and processor(s) was unknowledgeable of programs, aggressive, and rude.

Louis L.

I dont know how I would have paid for the FCC nursing program without Reading and Beyond's help. They are truly a God send during a time when I really needed help paying for school.

Karen S.

Reading, and beyond has helped change mine and my families life forever breaking generational curses. I am now a license in-home childcare provider.

Bernarda G. (.

This is for the Preschool :They are great teachers very understanding and interact with the kids alot my sons speech has developed immensely compared to when he first started.

Erika C.

I love the fact that the organization focuses on helping the whole family, it has a variety of programs that offer support and help to adults and children in a family.

Antonio R.

I was in the lobby waiting for my friend bothering nobody and on my laptop when I was told to leave because I wasn't allowed to sit wait in there.