Seventy-five graduates were celebrated Thursday for their completion of Heartland Community College’s Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) program.
WEI was created in 2019 to give low-income families and the African-American community a boost in the job market. Specifically, participants earn short-term certificates for high-demand jobs and careers. Twenty certificate programs are offered in areas like manufacturing, business and health care.
“There’s inequities in the African-American community where they don’t have opportunities to go to trade schools, or they don’t know how to pay for college. So this is an opportunity to get them into those kinds of fields such as truck driving, for example,” said Tommy Johnson, a success navigator at Heartland for WEI.
Class length varies. A program may last as long as three semesters, but others are much shorter. The truck driving program lasts just four weeks.
Students in WEI also receive financial help regarding class materials. Heartland helps cover tuition costs, as well as fees for books and personal protective equipment. Child care is also provided for those who need it. Students get stipends to attend class as well — up to $2,400 a semester.
With its goal of helping people achieve success in the workforce, Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille said WEI makes great contributions to the community.
“WEI and other work-ready programs at Heartland benefit the entire community,” said Cornille. “Since 2022 WEI has brought in an economic impact of over $3,200,000 to McLean County. But most importantly this effort to break through the barriers that keep individuals from attaining education and workplace skills has changed lives for the better.”
