The Community Education Newsletter |
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Success Story: Where are they now? |
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Lancaster County STEM Alliance recently hosted the Workforce 2030 Summit to highlight strategies and practices to help employers, K-12 education, higher education and community members create a world-class workforce by 2030. Keynote speakers discussed empowering students, creating meaningful career pathways centered on equity and access, and fostering welcoming workplaces where all can thrive.
The summit included a panel of young people to gain their perspectives on work, life, Lancaster, and local employers. IU13 Community Education alumni Watum Nganju was chosen for the panel and shared his experiences as a refugee from Uganda who came to the US and enrolled in classes to earn his GED and complete direct care provider training.
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Watum Nganju pictured (left) and Bob Krasne (right). |
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Watum Nganju pictured (holding microphone). |
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Watum now works as a patient care assistant with the goal of becoming a registered nurse. When asked why he chose the medical profession, Watum shared that he always wanted to help people but that profession and the necessary training were out of reach for him in his native country. Since coming to the US, Watum is grateful to have so many career opportunities and that his current employer, Penn Medicine, will cover tuition costs for his future training.
Moderator Bob Krasne, Chairman and CEO of Steinman Communications, asked panel members to discuss the impact of COVID on their lives and career preparation. Watum explained that he was enrolled in IU13 high school equivalency classes at the start of COVID and walked to classes, a significant distance, daily. When classes were offered virtually, he found it easier to attend and earned his GED during that time.
Watum shared, “At the beginning it felt nervous for me to speak in front of new people, but I would like to thank the organizers of 2030 Summit because to a student like me it is a great opportunity.”
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Tim Talk
IU13 Community Education Program Director
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Yikes! According to a recent National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) fact sheet, “One in five adults have trouble reading communications from their children’s teachers. One in three adults have difficulty creating a household budget. One in four adults have trouble navigating websites and using digital tools at work. And among immigrants, only half are proficient in English.” Adult Education programs are essential in providing educational opportunities for adults who need to improve their skills to enter training programs and/or obtain meaningful employment. Let’s use the opportunity of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, September 18 to 24, to advocate for adult education with elected officials, support adult education agencies through volunteerism and donations, and encourage employers to invest in adult education services for the workforce. For more information about National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, visit: NCL site.
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IU13’s Refugee Center is pleased to announce that it was awarded $23,000 through IU13’s Research and Development Fund. This fund will allow us to work with local businesses and new Americans to develop services that aid both employers and English Learner employees as they work together to achieve personal and organizational goals. Local employers recognize that hiring refugees and immigrants is essential, and newcomers are eager to work for companies that value them. IU13 Community Education has partnered with local companies throughout Lancaster and Lebanon counties to design a service package for employers. These services include English as a Second Languages (ESL) classes, cultural navigation services, and professional development for employers on recruiting, hiring, and retaining English learners. Funds will help pay for 1:1 service interviews with employers and new Americans, marketing and promotional materials, time for service package development, and training for staff. |
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Community Education welcomes our newest facilitator, Tara Pohlkotte. She will be working specifically with our Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA/TANF) Youth Program in Lebanon. This program helps job seekers access the employment, education, training, and supportive services they need to succeed. |
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Get excited!
Over the next several months, IU13’s Lancaster classes will be moving from Brightside and Liberty Place (formerly CareerLink) to Burle Business Park. This transition serves to better house all our Lancaster-based adult education daytime and evening students, build community, and create opportunities for employers and training providers to interact with students.
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Administrative Support Professional is a free 7-week workforce preparation class that:
- Helps develop skills used in administrative support professions.
- Meets online via Zoom Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
- Starts September 19th, 2022.
Free High School Equivalency and English as a Second Language (ESL)classes:
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Start September 6th and September 12th respectively
- Are offered daytime and evening to meet the needs of busy students
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IU13 Community Education provides a wide variety of daytime and evening educational and supportive services to adults in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties.
Click on the links below or call us at 717-606-1708 for more information.
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Interested in supporting IU13 Community Education? Your donation helps students purchase bus passes so they can attend school, pay for the HSE test, or buy shoes for a new job. Please donate today!
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English as a Second Language
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GED | HiSET test prep classes
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Must be a United States Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) to enroll in classes
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ESL or HSE classes for parents of children between birth-3rd grade
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ESL classes with civics instruction and placement into job training programs
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Workforce Preparation Classes |
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Administrative Support Professional
Direct Care Provider
Teacher Assistant (Special Education)
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Services and Supports Include:
Paid Internships, Assistance in Seeking Employment, Training for Certification, Supportive Services, and more!
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**Youth must meet income and eligibility requirements.
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Bilingual cultural navigators connect children and adults with social, educational, and medical services in the community
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*IU13 Community Education classes and services provided directly by IU13 staff are free with limited exceptions. Additional services/tests provided by our partner providers may have costs. Please contact us with any questions. |
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Contact Information:
For more information about Community Education visit our website at:
Lancaster: 717-606-1708
Lebanon: 717-450-1525
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