|
It’s been a long haul for many Money’s Foods workers since January 10, 2005 when the mushroom plant in Fennville, Michigan closed their doors. The workers were primarily native Spanish speakers and required remedial education in English as Second Language (ESL) training. The Allegan County Michigan Works! staff worked closely with Fennville Public Schools as they provided ESL classes for over a year to many Fennville and Pullman residents. The Allegan County Michigan Works! took the lead role in developing several occupational training programs for the dislocated workers left without skills for suitable employment.
“After the first year of ESL training came to an end, 20 dislocated workers transitioned from purely ESL classes to Pre-Occupational Training,” explains Nora Balgoyen-Williams, Allegan County Michigan Works Manager.
Included in these classes was an ESL for Pre-Nursing Assistant class through KVCC developed specifically by the Allegan County Michigan Works, Fennville Public Schools and KVCC staff. All of the individuals who successfully completed the Pre-CENA training, are now beginning the second half of their training by attending the CENA classes two nights a week at the Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center in Allegan. They will also be attending a study class two nights a week at Fennville Public Schools.
Other individuals selected to attend the National Career Readiness Certificate program offered by Thompson M-TEC at Fennville High School. The students in this program will continue working toward completing their certificate while also securing other occupational training such as Welding, CDL-A, Plumbing, Residential Construction, and Blueberry Scouting.
“The goal for all our clients is to gain suitable employment by May 2007”, explains Balgoyen-Williams. “They have worked hard at learning English and an occupational skill. Our goal is to help them sustain themselves financially in order to remain in the area, keep their kids in our local school system, and continue contributing to our local economy.”
Area Educational Service Agency
310 Thomas Street
Allegan MI 49010
Midge Stamas
269.673.2161
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fax: 269.673.2361 Nora Balgoyen-Williams
269.686.5079
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Front Row, Left to Right: Maximino Becerra, Amador Martinez, Rogelio Nunez, Francisco Sanchez-Nunez
Back Row, Left to Right: Gary Willey, Eusebio Sustaita, Gerardo Orozco
(missing from picture: Armando Alvarez, Santos Alvarez, Aureliano Silva) Concepcion Benavidez, Dora Gonzales, Martina Armijo, Elena Armijo and Juana DeLeon.
(missing from picture: Sonia Alvarez, Maria DeLeon, Rosa Orozco, Teresa Quiroz and Maria del Carmen-Silva)
|
