The adult education department at Allen Community College is looking to give people the “soft skills” they need to get back into the workforce.
Empower U! is a three-week, 12-class course meant to aid people who are looking to improve their interpersonal skills. While not limited to those who are looking for work, Adult Education Director Julia Martin said the class will look at resumes, interviewing skills and workplace etiquette.
Adult Education Instructor Karen Culver said the program was actually born out of Allen County’s Drug Court. District Court Judge Daniel Creitz came to ACC at the end of 2012, asking them to organize an educational portion of the Drug Court — which aims to help drug offenders out of addiction, while avoiding jail time.
“We thought this was something that could benefit the community at large,” Culver said.
She and Martin “tweaked” the course to be more community-oriented. Beginning Sept. 9, ACC will be offering Empower U! to anyone in the community, 18 or older.
“I want to focus on the ‘soft skills’ for the workforce,” Culver said. “What is it that employers are looking for?”
The classes will help with job searches, hands-on activities and will bring in speakers to aid in the students’ progress. They will also help each student complete their ACT WorkKeys Certification (a workplace rating system used to help place people in the workforce).
Martin said organizations have already been responding to the idea of starting the Empower U! classes.
“They light up when we say what we are doing out here,” Martin said.
Culver said too many people in the community lack not only the qualifications, but also the basic skills to communicate and work with employers. She said the course will help them build a resume and learn techniques.
“It’s also about empowering them to do their own exploration with their own careers,” Culver said.
While much of the class is career-oriented, both Culver and Martin agreed that it is not limited to job seekers. Much of the class is geared toward overall wellness and quality of life.
The cost of the class is $25, which covers the ACT WorkKeys Certificate (normally $18) and materials for the course. For more information, contact ACC Adult Education by calling (620)-365-5116 ext. 250.
