Story 6: Overcoming obstacles to climb the career ladder

Jenny entered Community Action's Transitional Living Program (TLP) in Walworth County after staying at Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless in Darien. While a typical stay at the shelter is 90 days, Jenny and her six-year-old daughter had only been at Twin Oaks for a month before an opening was available in TLP.

Jenny experienced significant barriers to employment: she lacked reliable child care and transportation. She worked hard to overcome those barriers, and secured a job. When she left the program about a year later, Jenny was able to secure a higher-paying job and ultimately landed a permanent full-time position near Milwaukee.

Thanks to the new job, Jenny was able to find stable housing as well as child care for her daughter. They moved to the Milwaukee area to shorten her commute. Her case manager will stay in touch with Jenny to monitor her success and provide any referrals she may need.

              

Story 5: From part-time to provider

Tammy is a woman in her late 30s with three young children under the age of five. She provides for her children and her husband, who is on disability and unable to work. 

Tammy entered Community Action's Skills Enhancement program to improve her job prospects. She had been working 25 hours a week at $7.25 an hour. Struggling to make ends meet, Tammy wanted to enter training for a career that would not only increase her wages, but allow continuous upward mobility. While she entered the program with a high level of motivation, she also understood the sacrifices she would have to make while attending classes, working and caring for her family.

Working with her case manager, Tammy decided to enroll at Blackhawk Technical College to train to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Her case manager guided her through course selection, purchasing textbooks and uniforms. Tammy's commitment showed as she excelled in her classes. While taking her classes, she was offered a job as a dietary aide at a local hospital. Once she completed the initial CNA training, Tammy decided to enroll in the advanced course, which would ultimately allow her to become a CNA at a hospital. 

The Skills Enhancement program again assisted Tammy with her tuition and books. Once she passed the advanced course, Tammy passed the competency exam. Shortly after passing the National Nurse Aide Assessment exam, Tammy was offered a position with a local hospital as a CNA in the surgical unit. 

She gladly accepted the position, and is now earning $12.00 an hour, working about 35 hours a week. Since her entry into the Skills Enhancement program, she is now working in an in-demand field with a bright outlook on upward mobility. Her hourly wage increase and increase in working hours, translates to an annual increase of $11,460. 

With help from Community Action's Skills Enhancement program, Tammy has met her goals and continues to strive for success in both her personal and professional life.

Story 4: An Unexpected Valentine's Day at Twin Oaks

One February 14^th, residents and staff faced with an unexpected emergency situation at Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless. As they sat down for a Valentine’s Day dinner prepared by one of the residents, the group heard a faint beeping sound. Dan, the staff member on duty, immediately searched the building, and soon discovered the beeping was an alarm sounding from the basement mechanical room. During his investigation of the building he also found flooding and smelled gas.

Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless in Darien, WI

Quickly, Dan shut down the gas valves leading to all buildings, and went into evacuation mode. He directed everyone in the building to a safe zone in the community kitchen, where guests could be protected from the cold weather. He then called 911 to report the incident.

Over the next couple of hours, without the benefit of heat or electricity and working only by flashlight, Dan worked with emergency responders, staying in constant contact with the shelter manager and other key staff.  Dan worked with the Red Cross to arranged an overnight shelter, meals and transportation for all of the residents.

Community Action's buildings and grounds coordinator moved immediately into disaster recovery mode. He worked diligently into the evening to contact plumbers, electricians and furnace repair contractors.  Water was pumped from the basement, repairs to mechanical equipment were completed before noon, and residents were back by 2:00 p.m.

Local businesses and organizations also responded quickly to the crisis. The problem wouldn't have been solved so quickly without collaboration from the Red Cross, Darien Fire & Rescue, WI. Gas & Electric, Walworth County Sheriff’s Department, Agsun Electric, and Logterman Heating and Cooling.

The apparent dedication and selflessness displayed throughout the situation to ensure the safety of others speaks volumes about these people and our organization. Acts of heroism such as this certainly make us thankful for everyday heroes without capes within our community.

Story 3: Community Sharing Garden

From a Community Action employee:

One warm afternoon, I was driving past our community sharing garden in Beloit's Merrill neighborhood when I spotted a two-year-old child dressed only in a diaper standing in the garden. His chest was covered in a red this liquid.

Raspberry beds in the sharing garden

I pulled over because I was worried about the situation. As I approached the child, his seven and nine year old sisters walked out of the raspberry patch, each with both hands full of berries. 

They gave some berries to their little brother, and all of them took a couple of minutes to eat. The older sisters re-entered the patch to find more while the shirtless child covered in raspberry juice waited for more. 

Story 2: Beloit native leads Community Action

Cecilia Dever started as executive director Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties in January 2015, after serving as deputy director for roughly one year. She describes how she identifies with the agency's mission of providing access and opportunities:

It is a privilege and an honor for me to step into my new role as Executive Director with Community Action.  I grew up in this community and had many obstacles to face as a child living in a single household family with a mother working multiple jobs to put food on our table.  I learned at a young age to value and appreciate the generosity and good will of others.  I learned to grab on to opportunity and to always strive for better.  I am grateful that there were individuals in my life from the community who believed in me and helped me to see potential in myself.  That is what we do at Community Action.  We believe in the potential of each and every person who walks through our door.  We offer opportunity and resources to provide individuals a pathway out of poverty.  

Cecilia looks forward to expanding services in the Walworth County area, particularly the Skills Enhancement job training program, Work n Wheels low-interest car loans and Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless.

Story 1: From shy student to confident employee

Carlos D. enrolled in the Workforce Investment Act's (WIA) In-School Youth Program while earning his high school diploma through the Beloit Fresh Start Program. Carlos was a quiet and shy young man who was determined to finish school and find a job to help support his mother, father and siblings.

Carlos works in the Community Sharing Garden.

As Carlos began to  achieve the small goals he set for himself, his case managers could see his confidence begin to grow. Carlos' leadership abilities began to flourish during a group trip to Lake Geneva Canopy Tours. He tackled teamwork obstacles with confidence and shared his ideas with enthusiasm. During the high ropes course, Carlos overcame his fear of heights and truly pushed himself. He never complained or said he couldn't do it.

Carlos wasn't sure he was ready to attend college after graduation, so he worked with Nicole, his WIA case manager, to find work experience to help him further his career. Nicole referred Carlos to the Staples Fulfillment Center in Beloit. He interviewed there and they accepted him for the work experience. 

Carlos again kept to himself at first during work experience, taking it as an opportunity to learn and show he was a motivated employee. He hoped to earn his way to become a Staples employee after he completed work experience. His diligence and work ethic impressed his co-workers and supervisors. He applied for a position with Staples and was hired. He now makes more than $11.00 an hour and receives benefits.

He is in the follow-up phase of the WIA program and still attends leadership trips, sharing his success with other students enrolled in the WIA program. 

"Carlos was a joy to work with and a model for current WIA participants," says Nicole. "I can't wait to see what the future holds for him."