New Skills, New Beginnings

April 5, 2008

In June 2003, Benton Harbor, Michigan, exploded in conflict. Residents of the town of 11,180 watched as a dozen houses went up in flames.

Founded in 1891, Benton Harbor and the neighboring town of St. Joseph enjoyed strong growth until the 1960s, when Benton Harbor lost jobs while St. Joseph flourished. Benton Harbor's decline continued and the perceived inequities in opportunities and fair treatment created an explosive situation, erupting in riots in 1966 and again in 2003.

Creating Opportunities Through Education

Benton Harbor needed education and job placement programs for its many residents without adequate skills; fewer than five percent of residents have a bachelor's degree and unemployment stands at over 16 percent. Michigan Works!, the state of Michigan's workforce development organization, identified Heartland Alliance as the right partner to bring effective programs and solutions to Benton Harbor and its residents.

"We wanted help in providing basic vocational and employment behavioral skills," said Todd Gustafson, an executive director of Michigan Works! "Heartland Alliance is the best partner to work with local individuals who have barriers to successfully entering the workforce."

In July 2007, Heartland Alliance opened the doors of The Opportunity Center in Benton Harbor.

'They Gave Me a Chance'

For Tena Hackey, The Opportunity Center provided the training and educational know-how that she needed to be successful.

"The Opportunity Center actually helped me get a job," Hackey says of her experience. "Other programs will promise you a lot of things, but these folks came through. They gave me a chance."

The program builds off Heartland Alliance's strong record in employment services. Heartland Alliance maintains highly effective job readiness programs in the Chicago area, resulting in hundreds of successful job placements each year for people who have faced obstacles finding steady work. It is this expertise that Heartland Alliance has brought to Benton Harbor.

"Our staff goes above and beyond to assist Benton Harbor residents with their education and career goals," says Barbara Bell, associate director of business operations at The Opportunity Center. "Heartland Alliance professionals are committed to providing a well organized and compassionate learning environment for each student."

Local expertise further solidifies Heartland Alliance's programming strength. Rose Hunt Redd, Heartland Alliance's director of Michigan services, leads the charge, bringing decades of experience working on employment and community development issues throughout Michigan.

"Thanks to Rose and her team, Heartland Alliance is connected to this community in so many ways," said Candice Elders, director of community relations at Michigan Works!

Setting a New Standard in Workforce Development

Heartland Alliance actively recruits local employers, encouraging them to provide internships and steady work to The Opportunity Center graduates. The high school equivalency exam preparation and culinary training programs, two staples in The Opportunity Center's programs, mirror programs that have been successful in Chicago.

"We work with adults, we respect them, and we're not trying to change them," says Nicole Slater, vocational literacy instructor. "It's an approach that matters deeply to participants, many of whom may have previously been dismissed or judged for their backgrounds. The impact? Participants gain not only hard skills and tools, but also the less tangible benefits, like encouragement and compassion."

Tena Hackey was among the first graduates of The Opportunity Center's culinary arts program last August. Within two weeks she was working at Tims Too restaurant in St. Joseph, Michigan. Tims Too kitchen manager Thomas Watson says Ms. Hackey "set a standard that would be hard to beat. She's one of the top candidates I've ever had. I'd definitely hire more people from The Opportunity Center."

Subscribe to RSS