A partnership between Oakland Literacy Council and Oakland80 is putting Eleonore Bell and adults like her on the path toward economic prosperity by lifting their foundational literacy skills and helping them earn credentials sought by employers.
Eleonore currently holds an entry-level role in the health care industry as a nurse assistant, but she knows her wages will grow by at least 50 percent if she can become a licensed practical nurse and even more if she fulfills her dream of opening a senior memory care business one day. “I have to work overtime now to pay my bills,” she says. “As a single mom, it’s not easy.”
But making her dream a reality meant that Eleonore, a native French speaker who immigrated from Cameroon, needed to improve her English skills and navigate the landscape of nurse training programs. That’s where Oakland Literacy Council and Oakland80 stepped in.
Oakland80 is Oakland County’s initiative to help 80 percent of adult residents obtain a degree or credential beyond high school—a necessity to secure family-sustaining wages in Oakland County. Oakland80 navigator Anelia Petrov, who works part-time out of Oakland Literacy Council, referred Eleonore to OLC for English language instruction and helped Eleonore evaluate nursing programs and complete applications for college acceptance, financial aid, and scholarships.
Pauline Schultz, Eleonore’s ESL tutor, says Eleonore is a perfect example of OLC’s mission of preparing learners for a successful and productive life in America. “Eleonore studied 12 hours a week to prepare for her nursing school entrance exam, including in-person English tutoring at OLC and online ESL courses,” Pauline said. “Her tutoring was individualized to focus on reading, vocabulary and grammar to prepare for her college entrance exam. Healthcare topics were integrated into her English lessons to match her professional goals.”
Eleonore will begin pre-nursing classes at Macomb Community College in June. With the U.S., including Michigan, projected to experience a severe shortage of registered nurses as baby boomers age, Eleonore is preparing to meet the demand.
She described her experience with OLC and Oakland80 as finding a warm and welcoming second family. “My dream is to finish nursing school and open a home for senior memory care,” she says. “My ultimate goal is to achieve American citizenship, with the guidance and support of my friends at OLC and Oakland80.”
