Wallace-Selma Graduates Get "Ready to Work"

SELMA, Al – “Anything I can do to better myself and better my future, I’m going to do it,” said Lawrence Simmons, an electrician laid off from Bush Hog, Inc.  Simmons recently graduated from the Ready-To-Work program at Wallace Community College – Selma (WCCS).

Simmons and 42 other Ready-to-Work graduates were honored at a special recognition ceremony this week. WCCS, using funds and systems provided by the WAEM Regional Initiative, augmented Alabama’s Ready-To-Work program to give Simmons and his fellow graduates their best chance to find employment. WCCS added the Modern, Multi-Skill, Manufacturing (M3) Credential and the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) to create a unique, stackable credential training program for participants.  Participants also had the option to receive entrepreneurship training during the intensive seven-week program. 

“It was very enlightening,” said Brindle Gordon. “This has prepared me for the workforce and has given me the confidence to continue on.”  Gordon received an M3 Production Level I Credential, a CRC Bronze Credential, and an Entrepreneurship certificate.  Laid off from her manufacturing job, Gordon learned real life manufacturing skills from the Amatrol Anytime Anywhere e-Learning System used in the M3 training.  “Even though I was in manufacturing, the Amatrol modules were very educational,” she said. “They really added to my knowledge.” 

Another M3 graduate, Natasha Williams, did not have a manufacturing background when she entered the program.  A former cashier at WalMart, Williams said the Amatrol Anytime Anywhere e-learning System was a little tricky at first.  “After a few tries, I got the hang of it,” she said. “The online modules made it easy to learn.”  Williams was also complementary of the Entrepreneurship course.  “The Entrepreneurship course gave me confidence and showed me I have more skills than I thought I had.”

The WCCS Ready-to-Work program provides basic work skills as the foundation to support the credential programs.   “The students also learn communications, teamwork, team-building, work ethics, and job acquisition skills,” said Alice Logan, Workforce Director at WCCS. 

In all, participants were awarded 33 Ready-to-Work certificates, 31 CRC Credentials, 14 M3 Production Level I Credentials, 10 M3 Production Level II credentials, and nine Entrepreneur certificates.