TRANSITIONAL HELP — Cameron Bond, director of corrections education and workplace literacy at Eastern Ohio Aspire, works with individuals in the Eastern Ohio Correction Center as part of the workplace literacy course. -- Contributed

WINTERSVILLE – The Eastern Ohio Aspire program provides tools to help those in the corrections system meet awaiting challenges following their release. A workplace literacy class is being held at the correction center to transition its students into going out into the workforce and becoming productive citizens.

Aspire has launched new initiatives since leaving Eastern Gateway Community College, moving forward under the Jefferson County Educational Service Center. The adult education program offers a variety of services that goes beyond helping people attain high-school equivalency diplomas.

Funded by an Aspire grant through the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Eastern Ohio Aspire assists with high school equivalency diplomas and offers services for English speakers of other languages, integrated education and training, correctional education, distance learning and workplace and family literacy. The program covers Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Carroll, Columbiana and Mahoning counties.

Aspire began the class soon after joining the ESC in July. Cameron Bond, director of corrections education and workplace literacy, works primarily in the Wintersville-based Eastern Ohio Correction Center, providing treatment and counseling for men as they prepare to re-enter society. Workplace literacy is proving a valuable addition, according to Bond.

“I try to give them a lot of updates about how work has changed since they may have been at work,” he said. “The overall dynamic of the workplace and workforce has essentially changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.”

People re-entering the workforce will find more technology in use than before the pandemic, along with other expectations, he explained. Workplace literacy is also being provided in the women’s EOCC at Lisbon, led by instructor and career navigator Hazel Martin. Aspire is increasing its presence in Mahoning County’s correction services, as well.

“They shared with me that working with the interview skills and learning how to actually speak in an interview was a big help,” Martin said. “Most of the girls seem to really enjoy themselves and learn a lot. I teach a lot of grammar, so that when they have jobs, they can communicate properly with their employers and other employees. We work on practicing for interviews — the do’s and dont’s — in the workplace.”

Martin includes lessons in keeping to a schedule and managing time. Bond emphasized the importance of employment following release, saying it provides structured, beneficial uses for an individual’s time, and motivates them to invest in society. Workplace literacy equips them to make the most of their opportunities. He said each class builds a group of active, critical thinkers who can solve problems and communicate with a variety of people.

Bond’s classes have approximately 12 participants, having taught around 50 individuals at the Wintersville EOCC, with 30 having graduated successfully.

In Lisbon, the first of 10 students has completed the class, and another class of 10 is currently taking part. Classes last for eight weeks. Topics include the differences between hard and soft skills, and the value of soft skills in the working world. Bond said his students look at the habits of successful people.

“These are all the problem-solvers in the world, so these are people that have an immense amount of empathy and know how to, for the most part, understand another person’s feelings in order to get a problem solved.”

The course improves decision-making, Bond said, noting some may have bad habits from being in confrontational situations while in the corrections system. This class teaches better coping strategies when dealing with such issues. Bond is invested in his students’ success. He has come to know them on a personal level and is continually updating his curriculum to meet the needs of blue-collar workers, including improving digital literacy and imparting skills to navigate technology. The workplace literacy course has already produced results.

“If they’ve shown signs of changed behavior, changed ways of thinking, that’s always a success for me,” Bond said. He mentioned one man who completed the course and left with the skills to help him toward his goal of becoming a licensed barber.

“Once he left EOCC, immediately he began working, giving back to his community and providing a service,” Bond recalled.

Martin said several of the women who graduated her class have found employment. Attendees of Bond’s class said it has improved their people skills, which will serve them well going forward.

Eric, who plans to look into the military following his release, learned about maintaining open communication and how to prepare for interviews and present himself.

“We’ve learned very valuable things,” he said. “How to do resumes and just be an overall good worker.” He commends the Aspire program. “You definitely gain a lot of knowledge,” he said. “There’s always something new to learn.”