RapidBlog: Pathways to Prosperity, by Lindsay McHolme

Lindsay McHolme is the Community Literacy Liaison at the Literacy Center of West Michigan.  Over the past few years, she has been involved in improving literacy in the community as a Volunteer Tutor and Literacy Coordinator for the Literacy Center's Adult Tutoring Program.
 
As Community Literacy Liaison at the Literacy Center of West Michigan, Lindsay McHolme is involved in affecting improved literacy in Grand Rapids.  She writes about organizations that provide literacy in the community.


I recently sat in on a Pathways to Prosperity Advanced ESL class. Students from Mexico, Bhutan, Thailand and Burundi introduced themselves to me in proficient English. They explained that they had enrolled in the class to build the English skills needed for job advancement.

I found myself completely immersed in the discussion about littering as the students told anecdotes from their home countries. Later on in the lesson -- focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling -- I learned that a piece of paper biodegrades faster than an orange peel.  
 
Pathways to Prosperity is an initiative that makes training and education accessible for community members looking to obtain employment, and also places graduates into emerging "green" jobs. Participants learn the soft skills they need to reduce their personal carbon footprint and to contribute to a sustainable workplace.  

According to the federal definition of "green" jobs, employment at any organization that has a sustainability plan or that produces environmentally safe products qualifies for the Pathways model. Jobs in advanced battery manufacturing and energy efficient construction fit within the guidelines.

Grand Rapids Community College, the fiduciary of the $4 million federally funded grant that funds Pathways, partners with the Literacy Center to provide the training and education to Grand Rapids residents looking to learn more about the future of the workplace and sustainability in our community.  

The first step is an Awareness Session. During this orientation, participants learn about emerging jobs and available training opportunities.

Next, they are assessed and placed into appropriate courses. Classes like ESL and adult basic education help Pathways job seekers build skills and get up to speed for employment.  

"The idea is that they would go through a course and not only prepare for the National Career Readiness Certificate, but also learn about working in a green job," says Vera Grishkina, director of the Customized Workplace English Program at the Literacy Center.

To obtain the certificate, workers must pass ACT's WorkKeys testing, a basic skills assessment.  As the race for employment becomes more competitive, this certification is increasingly necessary.

Delores Mitchell, a Literacy Center client, started Pathways last January and is currently enrolled in Math, Locating Information -- where she learns how to analyze and draw conclusions from charts, graphs, and tables -- and Employability Skills classes.

Participants' individualized course schedules are based on their WorkKeys results, education and employment history. After their initial assessment, some go into beginning level reading classes.  Others take the Green Advantage class -- the Pathways capstone -- then move right into job placement.

"That's the beauty of this model," says John VanElst, GRCC program manager.  "We really look at individual needs."

Career coaches also help ensure each and every participant's unique needs are met.  They help participants pick classes needed to reach their employment goals. Coaches can also connect participants experiencing social or financial barriers to employment with local groups that specialize in increasing workforce participation and employment equity.

Pathways partners, the Women's Resource Center, ACSET and Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, assist in providing many of these services.

Mitchell works with Kenneth Williams-Buck, her Career Coach at the Literacy Center, to help her achieve her ultimate goal of following in her sister's footsteps and becoming a nurse aide.

"Kenny helped me getting back into classes to get my CNA," says Mitchell. "He helped me take the WorkKeys test. I have achieved a lot in this program."

Mitchell is just one of 500 Pathways participants. Program partners plan to enroll at least 500 or 600 more by December 2011.  

"The more resources we can throw into the community, the better off we will be," says VanElst. "We're asking people to grow and they are eating it up."

As a teacher, I am thrilled to see a program like Pathways that ensures individualized advocacy for each student. As a forward-looking community member, I am ecstatic that the program focuses on preparing workers for a more sustainable Grand Rapids.

The next round of Awareness Sessions will take place March 25 at Manpower and March 28 at the Grand Rapids Public Library. For more information about locations and times call the Literacy Center at (616) 459-5151 or visit the Pathways website.