Article published Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Monroe County program offers basic education for jobless By MARK REITER BLADE STAFF WRITER
MONROE - The doors to opportunity and a better life could be opening soon for Nellie Shaw, one of Michigan's many victims of the auto industry's downsizing.
Mrs. Shaw, 53, is enrolled in basic education classes at the newly launched Monroe County Learning Bank Network, preparing herself to take GED tests.
Since losing her job at a Dundee auto parts manufacturing plant last year, the grandmother of eight has had no luck in finding a job. She said dropping out of high school years ago is holding her back.
Temporary employment services have told her that she could get a job if she had her high school equivalency degree.
"That's what they keep telling me, that it is keeping me from getting a job," she said.
For four days a week, Mrs. Shaw attends basic education classes at the Arthur Lesow Community Center in Monroe's Orchard East neighborhood.
The program, funded with federal stimulus dollars, is designed to expand opportunities for county residents to get their basic education skills, closing barriers to getting post secondary education and training.
Classes are temporarily being taught at the community center and will move to its permanent headquarters at the nearby former MBT bank branch in about six weeks after renovations are completed.
The bank branch at 1102 East Front St., which was shuttered several years ago, was offered to the Monroe County Community College to house the program.
H. Douglas Chaffin, MBT president and chief executive officer, was among community leaders who spoke last week at a ceremony to announce the launching of the network.
"We did not want to abandon this neighborhood," said Mr. Chaffin, whose bank is a partner in the network.
David Nixon, president of Monroe County Community College, said the higher education opportunities that are available through the program can enrich residents' lives.
The college, which is overseeing the grant funding, is one of 12 groups that is partnering in the network.
Mr. Nixon said the Learning Bank Network is the first step in the opportunity for people to transition into skilled careers and college.
Funding for the program was announced in January. However, the $300,000 No Worker Left Behind Adult Learning Demonstration grant was slashed in May as part of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget reductions.
But the state Department of Energy, Labor, and Growth's Bureau of Workforce Transformation used American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to launch the network, which has about 22 students.
Classes are also being held at Bedford Public Schools' Adult Education program.
The college hired Vuncia Council to be the coordinator of the program. Mrs. Council held a similar position at a faith-based community outreach center in Cincinnati before locating to Toledo with her husband and family.
Mrs. Council said the program will be able to handle another 20 additional students when classes move into the former bank building.
"It will allow us to have our own space. The building will be set up to have more of a classroom style instruction," she said.
Julie Cochran, who is a mother of five children, ages 5 to 12, enrolled in late September when the Learning Bank Network began classes.
Mrs. Council describes her as one of the most dedicated students.
Mrs. Cochran, 27, works two jobs to help support her family, but still manages to find time for the classes. She said that her instructor believes she is ready to take some of the five tests that she must pass to obtain her GED.
She said she regrets dropping out of school as a teenager.
"I need my education," she said. "I want to show my kids there is a whole new world out there. You need an education to get a job."
Carole Nolan, who teaches the GED (General Educational Development) preparation classes at the network, said her students range from teenagers who recently left school to a man in his 60s.
She said that some of the students have encouraged other family members and friends to join the program.
"I am so proud to work and live in a community that cares so much about its disenfranchised residents," she said. Permanent Link
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