 CTC Success
 Stories
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If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Jane Addams
Resource Corporation
4432 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
773.728.9769
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Catalina Vlamakis
Education Promoter
Catalina Vlamakis wasn't looking for computer classes when she discovered JARC. An active learner and teacher, Catalina was looking for English conversation classes. Yet, when she discovered JARC's free computer classes, she felt the opportunity was too good to pass up. In her position as a housekeeping supervisor, she used computers frequently, yet never received comprehensive training in the programs that she used constantly. She reserved a spot in the Community Technology Center (CTC) program and pursued her interests in spreadsheets and databases.
Since her initial contact with JARC, Catalina has completed Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Basic computer classes. She completed JARC's first Advanced Excel workshop in Spring 2008 and enjoyed learning the new material presented there. She reports that some of the functions available to Access and Excel users were completely unknown to her until she began studying at JARC.
Catalina has always had a strong interest in serving others. She helps her family study English, and she hopes to do the same for members of the community. When JARC invited her to teach in the CTC, she was happy to accept the invitation. So far, Catalina has assisted in PowerPoint and Excel courses at JARC. She has felt challenged in these classrooms, yet her disciplined approach to teaching has been met with much praise from her students, who often express gratitude for her patience and dedication. For Catalina, the highest reward is simply "knowing that I've helped someone else," an impact she is able to witness as her students' skills increase.
In the future, Catalina hopes to continue learning and teaching. She would like to learn more advanced computer skills, but also hopes to expand her teaching portfolio to include other subjects. She hopes to assist individuals preparing for the Citizenship Exam, and also to use her English skills to teach ESL students. In teaching, Catalina has found work which is deeply rewarding and clearly beneficial - not only to her family and her community, but also to herself. She has improved her life and the lives of others through the programs at JARC. We look forward to her presence here in the future.
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"Staying Competitive"
Michele Miller, a resident of Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, was drawn to JARC by its accessibility to her neighborhood. As job seeker in search of the right skills to build a successful career as an Administrative Assistant, Miller is no stranger to the need for computer proficiency in the job market. She's taken test after test on her computer skills at staffing agencies, and in January, she enrolled in Access and Excel classes at JARC to improve her capability.
In the current job market, she said, "if you're not confident" about using MS Office, "then you have a problem."
Michele has been an energetic student at JARC. Having finished Excel and Access classes in February, plus JARC's QuickBooks Workshop in January, she enrolled in PowerPoint, Advanced Access, and Internet classes in March, while also working on her resume in JARC's weekly Job Club sessions. She plans to attend QuickBooks classes here, too. She has been an enthusiastic promoter of JARC's classes, volunteering to distribute flyers to her neighbors, to area churches, businesses, and to her friends who are currently employed as Administrative Assistants.
Michele is enthusiastic about JARC because of the quality of its programs. She describes the CTC program as "responsive and organized," with courses that "flow in sequence," comprising a "complete [and] comprehensive package" of MS Office skills, addressing not only the procedures needed to operate the programs, but the "reasoning process" necessary for independent problem-solving. In addition, Miller mentioned that the instructors and staff conduct classes in a "professional manner," permitting her to explore the programs in a supportive environment.
In the future, Miller sees herself in a full-time position as an Administrative Assistant. Her words of advice to future CTC students, including those she recruits, are to "read the material and answer the questions [at the end of the lessons.]" She might have added that an excellent attendance record, such as her own, certainly helps the learning process.
JARC is fortunate to work with a motivated student such as Michele. We expect to see her progress toward her goal of finding a job, where her motivation and skills will surely shine.
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"Punctuality and Persistence"
James (Jim) C. Moore is a CNC Operator, a graduate of the Careers in Manufacturing Program (CMP), a financial education student, and one of the CTC's most recent success stories. His involvement with JARC began in November, 2006, when he enrolled in the Introduction to Computers class. He wanted to bounce back from unemployment. A motivated learner, Jim hoped to use JARC's computer training as a gateway to a new career in computer programming. As one of the CTC's most dedicated students, Jim was always on time for class, and he often spent his afternoons in Open Lab practicing with course materials. With his skills increasing almost visibly each week, Jim finished one class after another, obtaining Basic Skills, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint certificates by May, 2007. An actively engaged learner, Jim credits punctuality, persistence, and a goal-oriented mindset for his progress. To those who know Jim, these habits are his signature. One instructor recalls Jim returning to class just one week after receiving a major surgical procedure. "I kept going through the pain," Jim said.
Jim sought employment services from JARC in January 2007. Megan Spellman, Job Coach, informed him of JARC's CMP training. Following a springtime job search which turned up few promising leads, Jim enrolled in CMP. This cycle of CMP was a "Fast Track for CNC Operators" where he learned to program, set-up and operate CNC milling and turning machines. He also prepared for the NIMS CNC Milling Level 1 credential. Additionally, Jim's CMP curriculum included computer skills, workplace readiness and financial education. He pursued extracurricular enrichment in each area. He had near perfect attendance during the program - an echo of his record in the CTC.
During his time at JARC, Jim went from living in a local community shelter to his own private apartment, where his computer certificates are on display. He also secured a job at a local manufacturing company, where he is working as a CNC operator. Although Jim has achieved some of his goals, he insists that his journey is far from over. Over time, he hopes to continue his computer education in pursuit of advanced programming skills. He intends to remain involved with JARC, both as a financial education student and as a volunteer in the CTC or the Adult Learners Program. With his eyes set characteristically on the prize, Jim does not intend to slow down.
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Human Development