The event brought together elected officials, community partners, and families at Tec Centro’s headquarters in south Reading.

Tec Centro Berks recently celebrated the graduation of 128 students who completed career training programs that provide pathways to family-sustaining employment.

The event brought together elected officials, community partners, and families to honor the achievements of these graduates and the impact Tec Centro continues to make in Berks County.

Graduates earned credentials in high-demand fields including certified nursing assistant (CNA), medical records and billing specialist, commercial driver’s license (CDL), pre-apprenticeship in general construction, culinary arts, and high school equivalency (HiSET).

More than 250 attendees gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the students. Distinguished guests included U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who shared brief remarks with the graduates, Reading Mayor Eddie Moran, State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, and Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera.

The event also featured a generous presentation from Visions Federal Credit Union, which donated $5,500 to support CNA graduates with the cost of their certification exam, helping to remove financial barriers as they transition into the healthcare workforce.

“This graduation is a reflection of what’s possible when opportunity meets determination,” said Violet Emory, executive director of Tec Centro Berks. “Each of our graduates has taken a bold step toward a brighter future, for themselves, their families, and their community. We are honored to be a part of their journey and grateful for the support of the elected officials and partners who believe in our mission.”

Tec Centro Berks, operated by the Berks Latino Workforce Development Corp., is a dynamic bilingual workforce center dedicated to advancing economic mobility and workforce equity in Berks County.

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Recently completed renovations at Tec Centro Berks, 450 S. Sixth St., including a fully equipped commercial kitchen and workshops for pre-apprentice and plumbing training classes.

A repurposed parochial school in south Reading was lauded recently by community leaders and state representatives as a center of transformation by helping scores of people overcome barriers to the workforce.

Tec Centro Berks, also known as the Berks Latino Workforce Development Corp., has occupied the former Saints Cyril & Methodius Parochial School, 450 S. Sixth St., since September 2021.

It launched its first allied health program — certified nurse aide — in conjunction with Reading Area Community College in 2022. Phlebotomy and medical billing specialist programs followed.

Tec Centro launched a culinary arts program last year despite not having a commercial kitchen at the time. Classes were held in the evening in the Daniel Torres Hispanic Center in Reading, which loaned the use of its kitchen.

The focus of future expansion has shifted to the trades, but those programs had to wait for renovation of the lower level of Tec Centro’s headquarters.

Tec Centro Berks and the Tec Centro Workforce Network marked a major milestone toward realizing its goals with an April 28 ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony unveiling its newly renovated training spaces.

The event celebrated the transformation of more than 7,100 square feet on the center’s lower level and first-floor auditorium into state-of-the-art classrooms, hands-on labs and a student lounge.

New features include a fully equipped commercial kitchen, plumbing and pre-apprenticeship (general construction) labs, and modernized administrative areas — resources that will support hundreds of students each year in acquiring the skills necessary for in-demand, family-sustaining careers.

“This investment is about much more than bricks and mortar,” said Carlos Graupera, CEO of Tec Centro Workforce Network. “It represents a commitment to the economic future of Berks County.

“When we provide individuals with the tools and training they need to succeed, we strengthen families, employers and the entire community.”

Tec Centro Workforce Network is a coalition of community advocates, public officials, philanthropic leaders and business professionals. The collective goal is to establish community-based bilingual workforce centers to serve disproportionately disadvantaged populations.

The Tec Centro network is made up of urban locations with a heavy concentration of Latino residents within Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. It seeks to work with people who face barriers related to bilingual education, skills training and job placement.

The movement to create bilingual community workforce centers began in Lancaster in 2014 when  the Spanish American Civic Association, or SACA, created a bilingual workforce development model, Tec Centro.

The ribbon-cutting in Reading included remarks from elected officials including: state Sen. Judy Schwank, a Wyomissing Democrat; state Sen. Scott Martin, a Lancaster County Republican; Reps. Manny Guzman and Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, both Reading Democrats; and community leaders.

The center honored John Weidenhammer and Karen Rightmire, two philanthropists whose early support helped turn Tec Centro Berks from concept to reality.

Rightmire was serving as president fo the Wyomissing Foundation in 2018 when it proposed the concept of a bilingual workforce training program in Berks. It led to the establishment of the Berks Latino Workforce Development modeled on the SACA-Tec Centro in Lancaster.

“This expansion is a testament to what’s possible when community, philanthropy and purpose come together,” said Violet Emory, executive director of Tec Centro Berks. “The spaces we dedicated today will create pathways for career success, economic mobility and generational change.”

Weidenhammer, founder and CEO of Weidenhammer Systems Corp., Wyomissing, was instrumental in overseeing the renovation project, Emory said. A plaque in his honor hangs above the entrance to the hallway at the bottom of the stairs.

The elected representatives all expressed gratitude for the leadership and vision of those who shepherded the Tec Centro concept to fruition in several Pennsylvania cities.

“I know sometimes government gets a little bad rap,” Guzman said. “Sometimes, you know, you’ll see a lot of the craziness that happens either at the D.C. level or in the Harrisburg level where we work at.

“But sometimes, like this project and others, government actually works.”

Read the original article on The Reading Eagle.

Comcast also donated 80 new laptops to Tec Centro students.

Adela Rodriguez grew up in an analogue world.

“I’ve always had blue collar jobs,” Rodriguez said. “Just the thought of using Microsoft Office made me nervous.”

A new job as a part-time administrator made Rodriguez, of Reading, realize that her skillset needed an update.

Luckily, her employer was Tec Centro Berks, also known as Berks Latino Workforce Development, a nonprofit that offers no-cost career training and certifications to Berks County residents looking to build marketable skills and gain financial stability.

Rodriguez enrolled in Tec Centro’s digital literacy training program.

“Every time I learned something new, it felt like a personal victory,” Rodriguez said. “I earned my Office 365 certification…it meant I had overcome the fear, and proven to myself that I could still grow.”

Rodriguez is now a case manager overseeing several Tec Centro programs, where she supports people aiming to better their lives like she did.

When Rodriguez shared her story at Tec Centro in Reading, and was gifted a new laptop from Comcast, it felt like a full-circle moment.

She received a standing ovation from about 80 Tec Centro students attending the nonprofit’s Digital Opportunity Day event Tuesday, all of whom were also gifted new computers from Comcast.

The event was to announce a $30,000 donation from Comcast to help fund Tec Centro’s digital literacy programs.

“Providing connectivity is about more than internet access,” said Ricky Frazier Jr., senior vice president, Comcast Keystone Region. “It’s about fostering community, empowering communities, and creating new opportunities for growth and learning…In line with our mission, Tec Centro Berks is also making sure this community stays connected and future ready.”

The donation will help Tec Centro provide its basic and advanced 12-week computer courses to 150 students at no cost to them, Tec Centro said.

“At Tec Centro, we deeply believe in the power of technology,” said Violet Emory, executive director at Tec Centro. “That is why we’ve made digital literacy a core component of all our training programs. Because we know that whether someone is entering the workforce, or simply trying to navigate daily life, technology is essential.”

Emory thanked Comcast for helping Tec Centro students gain critical digital skills.

She noted that students in Tec Centro’s Certified Nursing Aid program receive 20 hours of digital literacy training in partnership with Reading Area Community College.

“Digital literacy is also a key component in all training programs offered at Tec Centro Berks, including English as a Second-Language, HiSET (high school diploma), Culinary Arts, and our Allied Health training program,” Emory told MediaNews Group.

Any Berks resident over age 18 can sign up for Tec Centro’s programs.

There are currently 110 people on the waitlist for Tec Centro’s standalone digital literacy courses, Emory said.

She noted that the construction of a new computer lab has helped Tec Centro expand the program and better serve students.

Ninety-two percent of jobs today require at least one digital skill, Broderick Johnson, executive vice president of public policy and executive vice president of digital opportunity, Comcast, said at the event.

“But nearly a third of the workers in the United States lack the ability to build those skills, so we’ve got to address this,” Johnson said.

Jobs requiring digital skills also offer economic advantages, with positions that require at least one digital skill paying an average of 23% more than those that require none, Johnson said.

“That’s why the work you all do here, and that we in Comcast are proud to partner with you on, is so critical,” Johnson said.

Johnson also mentioned several Comcast initiatives in Reading, such as an internet essentials program, which offers low-cost internet to qualifying households, including 18,000 homes in Reading, and the Lift Zone program, which offers free Wi-Fi at community centers in underserved areas.

He said there are 17 lift zones in Reading.

Jack Gombach, city managing director, representing Mayor Eddie Moran, and state Rep. Manny Guzman (D-127th Dist.) also thanked Comcast for its investments in Reading.

Guzman said he also relied on a public resource to build digital literacy — he said his first experiences with the internet were at the Reading Public Library decades ago.

“What was true then is true now,” Guzman said. “Internet connectivity is not a luxury anymore, but a straight-up necessity…This $30,000 grant is going to be able to help people across the community, whether it’s something like building a resume, job searching, or connecting to educational opportunities…This grant is going to open doors.”

He thanked Comcast for their help connecting people in the city and challenged them to keep it up.

“We recognize that there are pockets across the city of Reading that don’t have connectivity to the internet,” Guzman said. “We’ve done a lot of work, and Comcast has been a great partner, but we know we have a lot more work to do.”

Read the original article on The Reading Eagle.

A graduation ceremony was held fpr people who completed occupational training programs — from certified nurse aide to pastry to CDL — offered through Tec Centro Berks, also known as the Berks Latino Workforce Development Corp.

Tec Centro Berks, also known as the Berks County Latino Workforce Development Corp., held graduation ceremonies Friday for about 40 women and men who recently completed the requirements of its growing list of job-training and/or certification programs.

The ceremonies were held at Tec Centro’s home at 450 S. Sixth St. in Reading.

The graduates included participants in the pastry, certified nurse aid, medical records billing specialist and commercial driver’s license programs. Also, several people received their high school diplomas via a bilingual program offered by Tec Centro called HiSET.

Tec Centro also has a phlebotomist class, but there were no graduates because the most recent class was canceled due to the lack of availability of an instructor.

The allied health programs are conducted in partnership with Reading Area Community College. The medical billing specialist is one of the most recently added programs.

The Tec Centro model provides no-tuition bilingual adult basic education and occupational training in careers that are in high demand in the communities.

There are waiting lists for all of the programs, said Violet Emory, Berks Tec Centro executive director.

An overarching goal of the programs is for students to obtain a specific certification or licensure, a stamp on their diplomas that tells a prospective employer that they have the skills to do the job, Emory said.

The CDL program, one of the newest additions, is an example. Tec Centro contracts with Optimist CDL Coaching School, Wernersville, for the instruction.

Every student who completed the program was able to get their CDL license except one who wasn’t able to take the exam due to an emergency, Emory said.

“We have really motivated students,” Emory said.

Another CDL class begins in two weeks.

The pastry program is part of the culinary arts programs. The classes have been meeting evenings in the kitchen of Daniel Torres Hispanic Center since the program was launched about a year ago.

Michael Toledo, Hispanic Center president, who offered use of the organization’s kitchen to Tec Centro, was one of the guest speakers along with representatives from the RACC allied health program.

“We’re fortunate that our local legislators and government leaders really believe in the work that we’re doing here,” Emory said.

Read the original article on The Reading Eagle.

Head of Tec Centro Berks discusses importance of accessible and affordable workforce training.

Nearly 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses are making a significant impact on the U.S. economy, contributing more than $800 billion annually, according to recent data from the National Urban League and Unidos US. These businesses also play a crucial role in providing employment opportunities, with approximately 3 million workers employed by Hispanic-owned enterprises.

The remarkable growth and success of Hispanic-owned businesses highlight the importance of accessible and affordable workforce training.

According to Citigroup, the impact of systemic barriers in Black and Hispanic communities has resulted in losses of more than $16 trillion in the U.S. economy over the last 20 years due to income disparities and wage gaps. By investing in regional workforce training programs, we can address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and underemployment that persist in our communities.

Workforce Development Month and Hispanic Heritage Month are great reminders of the critical need for more opportunities for skilled training, especially in Pennsylvania’s third-class cities, which have a high percentage of Hispanic residents.

In Pennsylvania, 11.9% of Hispanics are unemployed. And those numbers are even higher in counties with third-class cities. Compare this with the 5.4% unemployment rate for whites. The problem is amplified by the fact that 28.35% of Hispanics in Pennsylvania don’t have a high school diploma, making it even more difficult to obtain family-sustaining jobs that offer livable wages and related benefits.

The Tec Centro Workforce Network is making strides in addressing this issue head-on. Founded in 2023, it already has established locations in Berks, Lancaster (home to two centers), Lebanon, and York counties, with another soon to be added in Dauphin. Each of the six locations is a self-governed 501(c)3 organization with its own local board.

Tec Centro Berks specifically provides no tuition cost, bilingual adult basic education and workforce training in careers that are in high demand in the local community, including fields such as allied health, culinary arts, and digital literacy. These career opportunities offer full-time employment that provides family-sustaining wages and benefits.

Adult learners typically pay a nominal processing fee for their program, while the actual cost — often totaling thousands of dollars — is subsidized by the center through a combination of charitable contributions, government grants, the Neighborhood Assistance program and philanthropy.

Most importantly, Tec Centro’s doors are open to everyone regardless of race, education, income or any other factor. The demographics of people served vary from location to location but primarily include diverse cultures, bilingual and non-English speakers who are commonly unemployed or underemployed and living at or below the poverty line.

Tec Centro is critical to helping local employers meet their workforce demands, which helps to sustain their businesses and contributes productively to the economic vitality of the region. And while locations are ramping up their programs as fast as possible, the waiting list far outpaces our ability to meet demand. Across all locations, there are over 2,200 individuals currently on our waitlist, and more than $8M is needed to fund this waitlist.

I urge our communities, leaders and lawmakers to recognize the strong connection between workforce development and celebrating Hispanic heritage. Diversity must be appreciated, celebrated and elevated, and this includes our growing Hispanic population. We must recognize the growing need for adequate and accessible workforce training to provide our multicultural and marginalized communities with greater opportunities for living-wage employment.

The two go hand-in-hand. A strong, healthy community comes from a strong, healthy workforce, and vice versa.

The Tec Centro Workforce Network has created a valuable blueprint for how communities can effectively come together to support a skilled workforce. But to grow this movement within our existing locations and into additional cities and states, it will require a collaborative effort of public and private partnerships and funding.

Whether you are a business owner, community leader, elected official, or someone who stands to benefit from workforce training services, you have the power to be an advocate. Make your voice heard, share your ideas, and be an active part of finding more solutions for workforce training in our commonwealth. The future of our community and economy depends on it.

Violet Emory is the executive director of Tec Centro Berks, which is one of six locations within the Tec Centro Workforce Network serving five counties including Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York.

Read the original article on The Reading Eagle.

A local network is helping to solve a long-standing issue impacting businesses and communities.

Now more than ever, accessible, and affordable workforce training is the cornerstone of addressing poverty, unemployment, and underemployment in our communities. With National Skilled Trades Day coming up on Wednesday, it’s a great reminder to recognize the critical need for creating more opportunities for skilled training, especially in Pennsylvania’s third-class cities.

According to the U.S. Census, Black and Hispanic populations are growing significantly across the Central Pennsylvania region. Between 2010 and 2020, Dauphin County saw a 66% increase in Hispanic and 5% increase in Black populations, followed by Lebanon with 63% and 12%, York with 61% and 15%, Berks with 42% and 9% and Lancaster with 36% and 17%, respectively. Collectively, this accounts for hundreds of thousands of people who also account for a disproportionately high level of unemployment and underemployment, most commonly linked to a lack of education and skilled training.

In Pennsylvania, more than a quarter of Hispanics and Blacks are living in poverty, with 11.9% of Hispanics and 13.7% of Blacks unemployed. And those numbers are even higher in counties with third-class cities. Compare this with the 5.4% unemployment rate for whites. The problem is amplified by the fact that 28.35% of Hispanics and 13.7% of Blacks in Pennsylvania don’t have a high school diploma, making it even more difficult to obtain family sustaining jobs that offer livable wages and related benefits.

The Tec Centro Workforce Network is making strides in addressing this issue head on. Founded in 2023, it has established locations in Berks, Lancaster (home to two centers), Lebanon and York Counties, with another soon to be added to Dauphin. Each location is a self-governed 501(c)3 organization with its own local board.

The Tec Centro model provides no tuition cost, bilingual adult basic education and occupational training in careers that are in high demand in their communities. These career opportunities are full-time employment that provide family-sustaining wages and benefits. The adult learner on average pays about $100 for their program while the true cost, often in the thousands of dollars, is underwritten by the center through a combination of charitable dollars, government grants and support, Neighborhood Assistance program and philanthropy.

Most importantly, Tec Centro’s doors are open to everyone regardless of race, education, income or any other factor. The demographics of people served vary from location to location but primarily include diverse cultures, and bilingual and non-English speakers who are unemployed or underemployed and living at or below the poverty line.

Tec Centro is critical to helping local employers meet their workforce demands, which helps to sustain their businesses and contributes productively to the economic vitality of the region. And while locations are ramping up their programs as quickly as possible, the waitlist far outpaces our ability to meet demand. Across all locations, there are more than 2,200 individuals on our waitlist, and more than $8 million is needed to fund this waitlist.

So as the nation takes a day to recognize the value of skilled trades, the solution to this growing problem will take much more than a single day, or single initiative to evoke meaningful change.

The Tec Centro Workforce Network has created a valuable blueprint for how communities can effectively come together to support a skilled workforce. But to grow this movement within our existing locations and into additional cities and states, it will require a collaborative effort of public and private partnerships and funding.

Whether you are a business owner, community leader, elected official or someone who stands to benefit from workforce training services, you have the power to be an advocate. Make your voice heard, share your ideas and be an active part of finding more solutions for workforce training in our commonwealth. The future of our community and economy depends on it.

Violet Emory is executive eirector of Tec Centro Berks, which is one of six locations within the Tec Centro Workforce Network, which serves five central Pennsylvania counties.

Read the original article on The Reading Eagle.