The Spokane Area Workforce Development Council is working with Spokane Community College to deliver career readiness training to people with limited English language skills.

The Integrated - Digital English Acceleration (I-DEA) grant was awarded to Washington's community and technical colleges by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help English language learners improve digital, career and college readiness skills. The three-year project has a goal of serving 1,600 low-level English as a second language (ESL) learners throughout the state.

WDC Workforce Coordinator Patricia Robinson helps teach the class once a week at SCC's Hillyard Center where she uses visuals and technology to guide students. Together with SCC instructors she works on the biggest skills they need to be successful, including language, job skills and money management.

"The goal is for each student to walk out of here with an application, a résumé and knowledge of how to successfully interview," said Robinson. 

As our economy continues to rebound, our businesses need the many talents that our diverse workforce brings. Many people have advanced training but need the language skills to be able to put them to work in Spokane. This program will help connect more people to jobs and contribute to our economic growth.