by Annie Waldman, Aliyya Swaby and Anna Clark, with additional reporting by Nicole Santa Cruz

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Alexandra Williams wanted to change careers from a low-paying job as a nurse assistant. Her brother works in robotics, and she knew she could earn more money and advance her career faster in the high-demand field of robotics. She secured a scholarship through the state of Michigan for a robotics technician program at Oakland Community College. But then she hit a roadblock: she failed the qualifying entrance test to enroll in the program. Her math skills were too low. “If you don’t use that math, you lose it,” she explained.

But Alexandra, 32 years old, was determined. Oakland Literacy Council zeroed in on the specific math skills she needed relevant to a career in robotics and provided her with one-on-one tutoring as well as an online curriculum. “Oakland Literacy helped me to quickly build the specific math skills I needed,” she said.

Alexandra enrolled in the 16-week robotics program, graduated, and quickly had three job offers as a robotics technician. She accepted an offer from FANUC Robotics in Rochester Hills and begins in January. During the interview, she was asked about her math skills, and she felt confident she had the skills for the job. “I’m really excited,” she said. “This is a career I can grow to love. The world will be running off robots in the future.”

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan recognized the need for a full-time student coordinator to keep 300+ adult learners on track

Thanks to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, student coordinator Amanda Powe (right) can meet with Teresa (left) to review her progress.

Just like for young children and teenagers, the road to learning for adults isn’t always a straight line.

“Our adults are often juggling many work and family responsibilities,” says student coordinator Amanda Powe. “They come in expecting so much of themselves but often have learning, emotional, and practical barriers to overcome. COVID-19 only added new curves.”

Thankfully, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan recognized the critical need for more individual student support. Last year, the foundation awarded a $42,000 grant to Oakland Literacy Council to make the student coordinator a full-time position for the 2021-2022 program year. The grant also included technology for student communication and instruction.

“The effects of the pandemic on adult education, digital literacy, and access to technology have been significant,” says Ric DeVore, president, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. “We are pleased to collaborate with Oakland Literacy Council as they provide individualized staff and technology support to adult learners impacted by COVID-19. This program is helping our community to recover and thrive, and we look forward to the impact it will have in our region.”

“Now I am able to build an individual learning plan with each student,” says Amanda. “I make sure they know I am here for them if anything comes up and will do all I can to help them achieve their goals.”

OLC graduate Zaw and his tutor and friend, Tom Barnes, celebrated Zaw’s accomplishments at the graduation ceremony on July 12th at Kirk in the Hills. (No, they were not “twinning” on purpose!)

Tutor  Tom Barnes, came to OLC looking to add new dimensions to his life following retirement.

Tom recalls he was asking himself, “What do I really want to do and how do I want to help the world?”

Recent Oakland Literacy Council graduate Zaw came to OLC with many goals for learning English, including communicating with coworkers and customers better.

“At my job, I’m alone, so I do not speak much. My department coworkers just say ‘hi’ and not too much else,” says Zaw.

Zaw’s drive to learn and Tom’s drive has been a perfect match for learning and friendship.

Five years ago, Zaw immigrated with his family from Myammar, a country and people now suffering following the recent military coup. In the U.S., Zaw faces a different kind of challenge: learning English while working 50 hours a week as a sushi chef and caring for wife, Le Le,  and young son. Zaw and LeLe (also an OLC graduate!) are expecting their second child soon.

Zaw also wanted to improve his English to be able to travel around the U.S. with his family to see places like Niagara Falls. In addition, he wants to be able to go to doctor’s appointments on his own. These appointments require a lot of English communication.

Learning English with Tom has helped Zaw become more confident in speaking English. He can also listen to English and convert what he wants to say from Burmese into English faster than before.

Tom Barnes was a dedicated engineer at Ford for 36 years, enjoying his work and his traveling throughout his career. After retiring at the end of 2020, Tom considered how he would spend his newfound time.

He says that, even though as an engineer he leans toward math, he always thought he wanted to help people read.

“I remember one of the books I read when I was a little kid was about Tom Seaver, the pitcher, in 1969. And having the Guiness Book of World Records and the almanac. [Reading] takes you places; it takes you anywhere.”

Tom feels that through tutoring Zaw he has had his eyes opened and grown more empathetic from seeing how the challenges others face and how he can impact their lives. Tom respects and values Zaw as a friend.

“Zaw’s been the same person the whole time I’ve known him…very dedicated, honest, very reliable…,” says Tom. “He is a fine person.”

Zaw and Tom no longer meet for tutoring, but their friendship continues. They talk regularly and recently played tennis together. Coincidently, they even dressed alike at the OLC graduation in July!

Zaw’s need to learn English brought Tom and Zaw together. Their relationship has made an impact on their lives that is well beyond words.

— With special thanks to Jackson Latek, recent Eastern Michigan University graduate, for helping us tell Zaw and Tom’s story

Oakland Literacy Council graduate Asuncion is grateful for “having a person who taught only me.”

Recent OLC graduate Asuncion was a process engineer in Mexico. Now she’s ready to resume her profession in the U.S.

Once Asuncion began meeting with a tutor, her reading skills grew quickly but she struggled with listening. In 2021, she even asked for a two-month break from tutoring when she became frustrated after a disappointing test result.

However, with the help of tutor Michele Dragisity, Asuncion persevered and she graduated in March! Asuncion currently works at Marshall’s retail store but is now taking steps to find a job as a production/manufacturing supervisor or process engineer.

Asuncion shared her experience:

“When I arrived in to USA, my friends told me that OLC could help me learn English, they would provide me a tutor to practice, and they told me that OLC was one of the best institutions for adults to learn English, that is why I decided to enter OLC. 

OLC was the best school for me because from the beginning they gave me a tutor, it was wonderful for me, with the fact of having a person who taught me only me, this gave me the confidence and certainty that I could do it without fear of people make fun of me for making mistakes, That’s how they helped me learn not only English but also American culture and customs.

My goal is to develop myself in the work environment as an engineer, of course I have the knowledge, but I want to prove to myself that I can work as an engineer in a foreign country and with a different language.”

Asuncion has updated her resume and is beginning her job search. OLC has connected Asuncion with the Troy Michigan Works! office where she can get assistance connecting with employers. Congratulations, Asuncion and Michele!