Education and Workforce Development Center

Program Overview

All classes and trainings are held at The Salvation Army Greater Birmingham Area Command Center of Hope in the Education Workforce Development Center (E&WDC) located at 2015 26th Ave N. Birmingham, AL 35234

Education:

GED

GED and High School Diploma Option preparation is offered in partnership with Jefferson State Community College. The class meets Monday – Thursday 9:00am-1:00pm. A valid state of Alabama ID is preferred. The GED Ready Test (Pre-test) and the GED Test are free of charge through the “See for Free" program. Upon completion of the GED, each participant will receive a GED certificate and a free 3-hour class at Jefferson State Community College (books and fees not included). GED participants must master skills Reading in Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math before taking the GED test. The participants focus on one subject at a time and test on that subject when the GED Ready (Pretest) indicates “likely to pass". The High School Diploma Option is for those participants who failed the high school exit exam or lack a minimum of credits toward achieving their high school diploma. A participant can achieve a high school diploma through the GED class or through the Ready to Work program.

Literacy Remediation

Literacy Remediation is presented in partnership with the Literacy Council of Central Alabama. Literacy Remediation is currently presented in a virtual format where participants meet at the E&WDC for their Zoom session with the tutor. Individuals possessing their own devices are welcome to use them from their location, or at E&WDC, provided the staff is aware. Upon completion of the participant's assessment with the Literacy Council's tutor, he/she will be assigned a 1-hour session date and time, usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 1:00pm -3:00pm.

Work Readiness:

Workfaith Birmingham

In this 2-week job readiness program participants will create a resume, as well as templates for a cover letter and thank your letter; formulate a “30-second commercial" to effectively answer that dreaded interview question, “Tell me a little about yourself?"; become familiar with 21st century job search techniques; brush up on interview skills and participate in mock interviews designed to ensure the participant conveys his message effectively to an employer. Participants must be work ready – be able to present a valid state ID and Social Security Card and have no pending court cases that will interfere with employment and be able to pass a drug screen.

Alabama Career Essentials (ACE)

In this FREE training course designed by the Alabama Community College System to provide Alabamians with relevant, cutting-edge, and industry-driven employability skills training to better prepare individuals for the Alabama workforce. The main goal of the new ACE course is to ensure current and future workers are equipped with the skills necessary to enter the 21st-century Alabama workforce. Participants will learn skills in the following areas:

Computer Literacy

Effective Communication

Employment Preparation

Math for Work

Resolving Problems in the Workplace

Healthy Workplace Environments

Financial Literacy

Workplace Etiquette

Workplace Safety

The new ACE curriculum is based on the most current ACCCP and Technical Advisory Committee's five most in-demand career clusters. The course will be delivered online, hybrid, and in-person and can be customized to meet the training and educational needs of business and industry.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

Mr. S came to the Education and Workforce Development Center in October 2022. He expressed interest in participating in a job readiness program but was hampered by the toll several past strokes had taken on his vision and on his ability to read. It was determined that Mr. S was ineligible for participation in the job readiness program due to his low vision and low reading level. It was recommended that he participate in Literacy Remediation presented virtually in partnership with the Literacy Council of Central Alabama. Mr. S agreed and was assessed and began individual sessions with the Literacy Remediation tutor. As she worked with Mr. S, the literacy remediation tutor discovered some ways to help Mr. S be more successful in his reading:

·He could see the material easier if the television was used as a monitor instead of the computer
· If she shifted the material to the right side of the page/screen Mr. S could read more easily without “dropped" words on the left side of the page/screen
· Turning the lights off reduced the glare on the screen an made reading easier

Mr. S came faithfully for Literacy Remediation every Tuesday and Thursday. As the weeks passed and he became more confident in his reading ability, he expressed an interest in attending GED classes. Mr. S was enrolled in GED. Prior to his enrollment in the GED class, the instructor was made aware of Mr. S's unique situation and the techniques the literacy remediation tutor found helpful, so he could use the techniques as well. Mr. S reads from the television and submits his answers on the computer. Steps are also being taken to secure assistance for Mr. S through the Accommodations Office at Jefferson State Community College. He does not need the testing accommodations now, but he will need them when he is ready to take the GED test. Mr. S is consistent in attending GED classes and is diligent in his work. He is using the AZTEC computer learning program. This program has four “Classrooms". Mr. S completed his first “Classroom" this week and has moved on to the next one. It may not seem like much to someone with two good eyes but considering his limitations this is quite an accomplishment to be celebrated with Mr. S.