Many of the millions of Americans who are still out of work also lack the basic reading, writing and math skills needed to find a job. To bridge that gap, LISC is bringing new training programs to its Financial Opportunity Centers (FOC) across the country. A story from Issue Media Group explains how Tawnee McCluskey of Chicago got help to become a welding supervisor so she can now support her family.
The excerpt below is from:
"Want to get people back to work? Fill the basic skills gap"
by Lee Chilcote, Issue Media Group
Tawnee McCluskey was arrested for distributing meth in Michigan City, Indiana when she was 22 years old. A struggling addict with a five-month-old son, she’d become caught up in a 40-person drug ring to feed her habit. She was charged with a felony and spent three years in prison.
When she got out of prison, she struggled to find a job and pay the bills. "It was overwhelming, and I had a lot of anxiety [when I was first applying for jobs]," says McCluskey. "The first time you’re walking out, it's like you're saying [to employers], 'Hi, I'm a felon.'"
Things began to turn around, however, when she found out about Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), a nonprofit that offers job training and workforce development programs.
McCluskey enrolled in classes at JARC, honing her welding skills, working on job readiness and developing her resume. JARC provided income support so she could afford to buy bus passes and move into an apartment. Financial coaches cleaned up her tainted credit score.
Today, the 27-year-old is a welding supervisor at Dudek and Bock, a Chicago spring manufacturer. "My success shows that there are people out there who make mistakes, but they can come back from them and do well in the community," says McCluskey. Continued[+]...