Vera Court’s Latino Academy for Workforce Development
Community Skill Building
Community Skill Building
“They are people who are both learners and also volunteer to give back to the community,” Carranza said. “That is extremely
important. As you know, I am on the board of United Way. We emphasize so much volunteerism. I wish more of the United Way board
could be here to see how this community supports each other, how they volunteer their time to make life better for their community and
their friends and community members. That is extremely important. Those are the things that I want to recognize. They are also
examples for me. And that is what I wanted to convey to them.”
Equally proud was Juan Carlos Reyes, coordinator of LAWD, to see the first class graduate, which received its instruction at the
Vera Court Neighborhood Center and Bridge-Lake Point-Waunona Neighborhood Center. The graduates received either eight weeks in
computer instruction, one day training in ServSafe, a restaurant safety and health certification or one day training in forklift training. All
of the training was designed to assist the graduates in obtaining employment or to matriculate to higher levels of responsibility in the
organizations they work for.
“When you get your ServSafe certificate, you can become a manager in a restaurant or own your own business,” Reyes said. “We
had 22 students who completed the course in one day. It was taught in Spanish. They received the books three weeks before the
class. They studied the book and then in just one day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they studied and then took the exam.”
“The forklift is just one day too,” Reyes continued. “We do that in Spanish with the authorization of OSHA. We offer that course to
all of the people who don’t speak English and already know how to drive a forklift. So we reinforce the safety instruction in that course.
Some of them are already working in warehouses and some of them are looking for a job.”
The computer training allowed the students to either develop basic computer skills or to enhance the skills they already have and
to learn how to design websites. “The computer training helps them retain or get a job. Some of them are working cleaning or working
in hotels or factories. Now they know how to work with a computer. Some of them are getting better jobs in the factories and other
places they are working in.”
With the growth of the Latino community in recent decades and the strong ethic of self-improvement that permeates the Latino
community, it appears that this graduating class of the Latino Academy for Workforce Development will be the first of many to come.
important. As you know, I am on the board of United Way. We emphasize so much volunteerism. I wish more of the United Way board
could be here to see how this community supports each other, how they volunteer their time to make life better for their community and
their friends and community members. That is extremely important. Those are the things that I want to recognize. They are also
examples for me. And that is what I wanted to convey to them.”
Equally proud was Juan Carlos Reyes, coordinator of LAWD, to see the first class graduate, which received its instruction at the
Vera Court Neighborhood Center and Bridge-Lake Point-Waunona Neighborhood Center. The graduates received either eight weeks in
computer instruction, one day training in ServSafe, a restaurant safety and health certification or one day training in forklift training. All
of the training was designed to assist the graduates in obtaining employment or to matriculate to higher levels of responsibility in the
organizations they work for.
“When you get your ServSafe certificate, you can become a manager in a restaurant or own your own business,” Reyes said. “We
had 22 students who completed the course in one day. It was taught in Spanish. They received the books three weeks before the
class. They studied the book and then in just one day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they studied and then took the exam.”
“The forklift is just one day too,” Reyes continued. “We do that in Spanish with the authorization of OSHA. We offer that course to
all of the people who don’t speak English and already know how to drive a forklift. So we reinforce the safety instruction in that course.
Some of them are already working in warehouses and some of them are looking for a job.”
The computer training allowed the students to either develop basic computer skills or to enhance the skills they already have and
to learn how to design websites. “The computer training helps them retain or get a job. Some of them are working cleaning or working
in hotels or factories. Now they know how to work with a computer. Some of them are getting better jobs in the factories and other
places they are working in.”
With the growth of the Latino community in recent decades and the strong ethic of self-improvement that permeates the Latino
community, it appears that this graduating class of the Latino Academy for Workforce Development will be the first of many to come.
By Jonathan Gramling
As he looks over the crowd filling the shelter at
Rennebom Park on July 17, Sal Carranza, a system academic
planner for UW System, beamed with pride. Approximately
170 people had just been given their certification for
computer, ServSafe and forklift operation by the Latino
Academy for Workforce Development (LAWD), a program of
the Vera Court Neighborhood Center.
Carranza had just given his keynote address and
witnessed the graduates step to the fore one by one to
receive applause from the audience. “This kind of event is
important to recognize those who are graduating for the
example that they give to the rest of the community,” Carranza
emphasized. “Learning is important. Educating and training
themselves and continuing to acquire new skills are
important. It gives our community a lot of pride to see people
who in spite of all of the hard work that they have to do every
day with 2-3 jobs and families to take care of and other
responsibilities, they come to this kind of training because
they believe that education is the most important thing that
they can do to create opportunities for themselves and their
families. They also create a great example for their own
children to believe ‘Yes, my parents are doing this. It is
important.’”
On some levels, the training program was an example of
community skill building. Many of those who came forward to
be recognized for their volunteerism in the program had just
been awarded training certificates.
As he looks over the crowd filling the shelter at
Rennebom Park on July 17, Sal Carranza, a system academic
planner for UW System, beamed with pride. Approximately
170 people had just been given their certification for
computer, ServSafe and forklift operation by the Latino
Academy for Workforce Development (LAWD), a program of
the Vera Court Neighborhood Center.
Carranza had just given his keynote address and
witnessed the graduates step to the fore one by one to
receive applause from the audience. “This kind of event is
important to recognize those who are graduating for the
example that they give to the rest of the community,” Carranza
emphasized. “Learning is important. Educating and training
themselves and continuing to acquire new skills are
important. It gives our community a lot of pride to see people
who in spite of all of the hard work that they have to do every
day with 2-3 jobs and families to take care of and other
responsibilities, they come to this kind of training because
they believe that education is the most important thing that
they can do to create opportunities for themselves and their
families. They also create a great example for their own
children to believe ‘Yes, my parents are doing this. It is
important.’”
On some levels, the training program was an example of
community skill building. Many of those who came forward to
be recognized for their volunteerism in the program had just
been awarded training certificates.