Adult Learning Center – 91��Ƭ

From 91��Ƭ Student to Adult Learning Center Director

Michelle Lang — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:49:50 +0000

Cristhian Barcelos can relate to the students he serves as Director of the 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center. He was in their shoes in 2001 when he was a student taking English classes at 91��Ƭ. From there, he became a volunteer, a computer teacher and ultimately director.

In his current role, Barcelos oversees the Adult Learning Center, which offers educational programs to individuals who are 16 and older and out of the school system. Courses include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), Pre-High School Equivalency (HSE), HSE, Computers and Citizenship. Day, evening and Saturday classes are available for students.

In addition to the classes, the Adult Learning Center invites outside agencies to provide services for students, including vaccinations, eye exams and nutrition programs.

“Any and every program that we can get our hands on that is willing to come and do their services here, we coordinate that,” Barcelos said.

Adult education is important to Barcelos since he utilized those services when he came to the United States in 2001 from Uruguay. Although he knew some English when he arrived, he needed to become more proficient and heard about 91��Ƭ’s program. He enrolled and after he finished taking classes, he began volunteering at the end of 2002 because NCC’s mission statement resonated with him. He later became an instructor, teaching Microsoft Office to students, and eventually took over as director.

Barcelos’ favorite part of his job is watching students achieve their goals.

“You find those that need the help and are open to being helped and you see them moving through the different steps,” he said. “That makes my day.”

Barcelos’ commitment to the students and 91��Ƭ’s mission shines through.

“Cristhian is a passionate director who cares about the Adult Learning Center’s participants, its staff and the program’s results,” said 91��Ƭ Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter.

In addition to his work with the Adult Learning Center, Barcelos also serves as Executive Director of and as President of .

He has always had a busy work schedule. In his home country of Uruguay, Barcelos managed a modeling agency that required much more than a 40-hour workweek. He decided to leave that life behind and joined his father in the United States before moving into his own attic apartment after nine months.

Barcelos now owns a home in Belleville and enjoys working with his hands in his spare time. He likes to grow bonsai trees and creates intricate wood carvings, many depicting birds.

91��Ƭ Hosts Congressman Payne and Councilman Kelly for National Diabetes Month Roundtable

Michelle Lang — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:52:16 +0000

The 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center, 563 Orange St., Newark, served as the host site for the National Diabetes Month Roundtable presented by Congressman Donald M. Payne Jr. and Newark West Ward Councilman Dupré Kelly on Nov. 22. The discussion focused on diabetes care and how the Inflation Reduction Act helps reduce costs for seniors with diabetes.

Congressman Payne shared his experiences and challenges living with diabetes and encouraged everyone to take the advice of their medical professionals to manage the condition. He also talked about the high cost of insulin, particularly for those without insurance, sharing a story about how he accidentally left his insulin behind one time when he traveled to Washington, D.C. and was shocked at the high cost to pay out of pocket for a small vile.

Residents of 91��Ƭ Manor Senior attended the roundtable, including Sherman Gibbs who spoke during the event about his experiences as a diabetes patient.

The roundtable was conducted virtually via Zoom for a wider audience and included Dr. Johnnie A. Lee, internal medicine, and Dr. Katherine York, AARP New Jersey, as virtual speakers.

Adult Learning Center Student is Pursuing Her Dream

Michelle Lang — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:47:33 +0000

Claudelle Colin is a doctor and hopes to practice medicine in the United States. She moved to New Jersey from Haiti in April because of political instability in that country and is studying English at the 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center.

Colin has always been ambitious. After graduating from high school, she decided to study medicine in Cuba, which she did for seven years and became a doctor. She returned to Haiti and worked with sick people for nine years.

She has a passion for medicine and caring for the sick. Although it was difficult to leave her family, she ultimately decided to pursue medical education in Cuba.

“I decided to fulfill my dream because it was my biggest goal,” she said.

This year, she moved from her family again to improve her situation.

“I learned in life you have to have patience and not be afraid to start over,” she said.

Colin decided that she needed to learn English so that she can communicate effectively with others.

“English helps me to listen more easily when people are talking with me and around me,” she said.

Learning English is Colin’s first step toward practicing medicine again.

“My plan for the future is to take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination and work here as a doctor,” she said.

Family is very important to Colin. Most of her relatives live in Haiti, including her parents and one of her sisters. Another sister lives in Chicago. Although there is physical distance between them, they are still close and supportive.

“The most important people in my life are my family,” Colin said. “My family supports me in all things in life.”

The 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center serves students who are 16 years old and older and out of the school system. It provides a comprehensive array of day, evening and Saturday educational programs to prepare students for a vocational or college education. Courses include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Citizenship, Computers, Adult Basic Education (ABE), Pre-High School Equivalency (HSE) and HSE. The Adult Learning Center is located at 563 Orange St., Newark. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please call 973-558-5536 for additional information.

Afghan Immigrant Learns English at Adult Learning Center

Michelle Lang — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 15:32:28 +0000

Samiullah Mosafer is a 20-year-old student from Afghanistan. He emigrated to the United States with his family in late 2021 after violence erupted in his home country.

Mosafer’s native language is Pashto. Now that he is in the United States, he says it is important to learn English to achieve his goals of completing his education and starting a small business.

“Without English, my life will be hard here,” Mosafer said. “If I do not know English, I will be faced with a lot of problems, like I can’t get a job easily, I can’t understand anyone. I can’t do anything as well here, because it is English everywhere.”

Mosafer completed the Level 2 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course at the 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center in the spring. He improved his English skills.

He is happy to have his family’s support. He has six brothers and two sisters.

“The most important people in my life are my family members,” he said. “I am nothing without them, and I love them very much. They are supporting me in everything.”

Coping with COVID-19: How 91��Ƭ is Helping During the Pandemic

Michelle Lang — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 16:23:47 +0000

The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many aspects of life for people and businesses around the world. 91��Ƭ has had to make adjustments to its operations, but it has continued to provide vital services during the pandemic, keeping in mind and taking steps to ensure the safety of employees, residents and clients.

“NCC has risen to the challenges brought on by COVID-19. Even during a global pandemic, our dedicated staff members have embodied our mission, finding ways to safely provide essential services to our residents and clients in the community at a time of great need,” said NCC CEO Richard Rohrman. “I want to especially thank our teams at Extended Care, Security and Housing who have been continuously working to help our seniors and disabled residents through this crisis. As we move forward in a new normal, we will continue to make adjustments to our operations as necessary, always keeping in mind the health and safety of our employees and those we serve.”

Members of NCC’s Board of Directors have remained involved during the pandemic.

“As a Board, and working very closely with the Management Team at 91��Ƭ, we have witnessed the enormous toll COVID-19 is taking on our residents, employees and the community at large,” said NCC Board Chairman Dr. A. Zachary Yamba. “With dedication and compassion, the leadership team at NCC rose to the occasion to minimize and contain the spread of this deadly virus and to ensure that lives were saved and livelihood was protected.”

Before action was taken by government officials in New Jersey, NCC leadership created a task force made up of department directors and senior leaders to discuss and create plans for each department’s response to the virus. When it became clear that COVID-19 was going to impact the state and NCC’s footprint, those plans were put into practice.

“Our early action made an impact,” said NCC Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter.

Hand sanitizer stations were installed in all NCC buildings and increased cleaning protocols were put in place in early March. NCC’s Environmental Services Department has maintained cleaning and sanitizing protocols throughout the pandemic, at times with fewer staff members.

Across the board, NCC has leveraged remote activity. Meetings moved to remote means to limit in-person contact. Many employees who were able to perform their duties off-site did so at least part of the time.

Each of NCC’s departments has made changes in response to the pandemic. The following provides highlights from these different areas.

Extended Care Administrator Veronica Onwunaka, right, checks the temperature of an employee before she starts her shift. Screenings were enacted at the skilled nursing facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Fred Hunter.

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility
To help reduce the risk of infection to residents and staff members of the skilled nursing facility, Extended Care has taken several steps. Visitation was suspended and the building was closed to the public in March. Screening of staff members was put in place, including temperature checks before the start of every shift. Staff members were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) to use when caring for residents. Plexiglass was installed at the reception desk to serve as a barrier. A specialized environmental professional group that used EPA approved disinfectants sterilized the entire building, from the basement to the fourth floor. Each floor was cleared for several hours during the disinfecting. In addition to the deep cleaning, staff members continually clean the facility with government-approved cleaning products.

All residents and staff members were tested for COVID-19. Residents who tested positive were isolated and staff members found to have the virus were removed from duty and not permitted to return until they received a doctor’s clearance. Retesting was completed in late May and isolation protocols remain in place for those with positive test results.

As an additional precaution, the facility designated a washing machine to launder linens and personal clothing for residents who were identified as COVID-19 positive.

Hunter said Extended Care staff members deserve recognition for their commitment to the residents.

“We have a dedicated group of folks working at Extended Care in all areas, from laundry to nurses to security,” he said. “They’re doing a fine job. I’m proud of them.”

Extended Care received a donation of face shields and ear savers from SOMA NJ 3D Printers Alliance in May, which staff members put to good use when attending to residents’ needs.

Plexiglass has been installed at Security stations, including the one at Harmony House. Photo courtesy of John Wade.

Security
Members of the NCC Security Department have continued to provide services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of staff and residents. They wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and take other preventative measures to keep them as safe as possible. In addition to their traditional duties, Security personnel make sure everyone at their post wears the proper PPE and adheres to social distancing guidelines. For increased safety, Security staff members have minimal direct interaction with the general resident population.

Plexiglass has been installed at Security stations throughout the network to protect staff members from other individuals’ coughs and sneezes.

Members of Security have also assisted with the execution of COVID-19 testing at NCC senior buildings.

Environmental Services
NCC’s Environmental Services Department has managed emergency work orders for NCC residences and cleaned common areas and the grounds throughout the pandemic. Personnel installed hand sanitizer stations in all NCC buildings and plexiglass coverings at security posts. The department was also tasked with handling procurement of PPE for all departments except Extended Care.

Associates Resident Services Coordinator Desiree Crespo hands a hot meal to a resident. Photo courtesy of Resident Services.

Resident Services
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Resident Services has continued to provide support for NCC residents. Resident Services Coordinators conduct phone wellness checks on residents twice per day. The calls range from five to 40 minutes and provide residents with a listening ear. Coordinators have managed more than 1,500 cases per month during the pandemic. In addition to the wellness checks, they provide rental payment and rental assistance reminders; assist tenants filing for unemployment; provide families with baby food, diapers and clothing as needed; help residents complete their census forms by phone or internet; assist residents who don’t normally file tax returns apply for stimulus checks; make routine hospital calls after admission to keep track of residents’ health and wellbeing; call in necessary prescriptions; teleconference with residents to assist with doctor calls after residents experience symptoms possibly related to COVID-19; and share resources related to COVID-19 with residents, including referrals to mental health services when needed.

The Emergency Food Pantry has remained in operation throughout the pandemic, providing food to the community on its regular schedule, opening the first business day after the 15th of each month. Food is also provided to the community on the first Tuesday of each month. During the pandemic, the Emergency Food Pantry has served more than 500 clients per month including seniors, adults and children. From March to April, the food pantry fed 1,069 clients. The number of individuals in need of assistance is expected to increase with a high unemployment rate.

Resident Services Coordinators have facilitated the distribution of meals to residents in NCC’s senior buildings, which have been provided by the City of Newark. They also ensure residents receive food commodities donated by food banks and others.

“The meals are sorted and delivered daily by the Resident Services Coordinators. They do a fantastic and tireless job in assuring that all who want a meal will receive a meal,” said Hector Torres, Director of Property Management. “Our Resident Services Coordinators have been true heroes from day one of this pandemic. I applaud them and their relentless efforts to make sure our residents are at least provided a meal or food during this crisis.”

For more photos of Resident Services in action, click here.

Property Management
NCC residents were informed about COVID-19 through flyers, building intercoms, website updates and follow-up telephone calls. Residents were given ways to reach out to their Property Managers and Management offices to provide for minimal physical contact and when Newark instituted the shelter-in-place order, all physical contact was eliminated. To ensure residents have the most up to date information, the Property Management Department provides flyers and posters and makes follow-up phone calls with updates about changing protocols and food distributions.

Property Managers continue to be at buildings daily and address the recertification process for residents as best as possible with physical limitations. The residents have been cooperative and understanding during the pandemic.

COVID-19 testing for residents and staff members at NCC senior buildings began in May. services were coordinated with Sunrise Diagnostics and the City of Newark. All residents and staff members in the buildings receiving testing were given the opportunity to be tested in the Community Room. A doctor was on site for testing. Social distancing guidelines were adhered to for the testing and residents waited outside for their turn to be swabbed. Anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 had their primary care physician notified.

“There are many people to thank and give appreciation to as we move forward to assure that NCC is doing all it can to make sure our residents are looked out for,” Torres said. “The true meaning of community is reflected during times such as we are experiencing and our employees are true warriors and heroes each and every day.”

Family Resource Success Center
The Family Resource Success Center has remained available throughout the pandemic to ensure that vulnerable, low-income families and individuals can remain in their homes and have access to resources and benefits during and beyond the crisis. The center offers guidance and support to ensure residents are connected to critical local and national resources, and social outlets to maintain their economic and mental health to lessen the impact of the pandemic.

“As the hub for NCC services, we are connecting residents to a range of strategies and activities. We will continue to support communities in an effort to address needs during this public health crisis, and respond to future needs,” said Family Resource Center Director Joann Williams-Swiney. “We hope to leave our communities better prepared and secured for future emergencies and crises.”

The Family Resource Success Center connects individuals to the myriad of services provided by NCC, as well as outside entities. During the pandemic, the center has referred clients and provided the following services: online training programs available through 91��Ƭ Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI); senior services; health care services for seniors, the disabled and uninsured; housing resources through NCC and specialized housing for those with HIV, the homeless and veterans; counseling services; benefits screenings; energy assistance; prescription assistance; free tax prep, which continues since the tax deadline was pushed back to July 15; detox placements; food referrals; rental assistance programs; financial literacy programs; furniture referrals; and legal services.

Harmony House
Harmony House, NCC’s transitional housing facility for homeless families, has been open for regular services throughout the pandemic and is accepting new referrals. The staff has provided 854 case management hours in eight weeks. Food is also distributed to families through collaboration with the City of Newark and other supporters. Family counseling is available through Family Service Bureau for all families.

Family Service Bureau (FSB)
Family Service Bureau (FSB), a licensed outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment center, has continued to operate during the pandemic with remote services. FSB provided 1,200 sessions in eight weeks with a combination of telehealth and telemedicine.��

In addition to servicing community clients, the facility has worked with NCC employees as part of the Employee Assistance Program to provide free support during these difficult times. Mental health and substance abuse services are also available to senior residents and Harmony House families.

In addition, FSB is providing free COVID-19 crisis counseling services to families, individuals and youth living in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. Services are available through the Disaster and Terrorism Branch of the State of New Jersey and are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 973-272-7488 or email FSBNJHH@newcommunity.org to utilize the services.

91��Ƭ Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI)
NCCTI was forced to suspend all on-campus classes because of the pandemic. To adjust to the new normal, the school made preparations and began offering three online programs. Clinical Medical Assistant and Patient Care Technician programs began online May 11 and the online Automotive Technician program starts June 8.

“We were able to adjust and offer online learning to ensure we are continuing the pipeline of skilled and trained workers in health care and automotive,” said NCCTI Director Rodney Brutton. “We were able to change our delivery in a matter of weeks and meet our enrollment goals. And the quality has not been jeopardized or diluted.”

Brutton is thankful for NCC’s IT and Finance departments for their assistance making sure online students had the tools and resources necessary to participate in the programs. He also said the Communications Department was instrumental in promoting the online programs, which helped recruit the desired number of students.

The Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) continued its operations during the pandemic, offering financial coaching, job readiness and retention support remotely. The FOC also continues to conduct financial literacy workshops remotely and shares information about topics and online events.

Work for the Newark 2020 initiative also continues during the pandemic. As a community hub, NCCTI personnel participate in weekly conference calls with representatives from other organizations involved in Newark 2020, including Ironbound Community Corporation, Urban League of Essex County, La Casa de Don Pedro and the Newark Alliance, which heads the initiative.

“We are still engaging Newark 2020 clients to assess their education level and work experience and connect them to current job openings within the Newark 2020 employer network,” Brutton said.

Personnel also took an active role in recruiting job seekers for a new virtual career coaching series called Level Up Now!, which is an initiative through the City of Newark and Ironbound Community Corporation for Newark 2020. Sessions began April 29 and continue weekly through June 17. The series includes virtual and essential job opportunities, employer partner facilitators, training on the virtual workplace, remote task delivery, the building power of digital profiles, resume enhancement, virtual interviewing techniques and connections to career coaches.

Adult Learning Center
In-person classes had to be suspended in March because of the pandemic, but the Adult Learning Center moved its classes online April 20 for its last session of the fiscal year. All services are being offered through Google Classroom and Google Meets at their regularly scheduled times. Students were able to pick up their books from the center, which now has office hours of Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While Adult Learning Center Director Cristhian Barcelos said the transition was a challenge since it had to be done quickly and using technology staff members weren’t necessarily familiar with, he said it has been successful and has enabled students to continue their education.

“Our instructors and students have demonstrated an immense capacity to adapt and overcome the challenges that we are facing, especially in the middle of a pandemic and financial crisis,” Barcelos said. “We do not know what awaits for us in the future, but we are working very hard to be prepared for anything that comes our way.”

Early Learning Centers
Both Community Hills Early Learning Center (CHELC) and Harmony House Early Learning Center (HHELC) closed their doors in March because of the pandemic. But just because students and teachers couldn’t come together in the classroom doesn’t mean the learning stopped. Staff members at both centers have continued communicating with families and teaching children through virtual means like Zoom and ClassDojo. Parents share photos and video clips of their children engaged in learning activities. NCC personnel have also reached out to families to provide support through email, WhatsApp and text messages.

HHELC students participated in the Week of the Young Child remotely this year. Throughout the week, they made their own music objects; explored food and cooking; built structures using blocks, wood or legos; and created artwork.

CHELC staff members participate in weekly conference calls to stay updated and discuss how they are dealing with their new normal. Spanish speaking teachers provide remote learning in Spanish for families who primarily speak that language.

Newark Public Schools provided ShopRite gift cards for families at both CHELC and HHELC to help them during this difficult time. Center directors arranged for a family representative to pick up the gift cards.

For photos of CHELC and HHELC families, click here.

Youth Services
Youth Services has provided remote learning to children in the Family Friendly program and the after-school program at the NCC Neighborhood Center. In addition, mentoring services through the Teen Empowerment Network (T.E.N.) program is continuing remotely and assisting high school seniors in preparing for college.

Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families (SAIF)
Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families (SAIF) has been operating remotely off-site. Staff members have provided 639 outreach efforts with a total of 240 case management hours.

91��Ƭ Federal Credit Union
The 91��Ƭ Federal Credit Union has remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours changed slightly and are currently Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

91��Ƭ Coronavirus Update

Michelle Lang — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:09:13 +0000

We at 91��Ƭ recognize the seriousness of the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic. We also recognize that we provide critical services to members of the community. Because of the needs of our residents and clients, we will continue to operate the programs and services we can during these challenging times.

NCC has created a task force to address the effects of the COVID-19 virus and has already taken the following steps to reduce the chance of spreading the virus:

Distributed bulletins for best practices to reduce the spread of germs.
Suspended visitation to Extended Care and its cafeteria.
Suspended visitation to all senior residential buildings.
Closed Community Hills Early Learning Center and Harmony House Early Learning Center until further notice.
Suspended on-campus classroom activity at 91��Ƭ Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI) until further notice.
Closed NCC Adult Learning Center until further notice.
Limited close contact between employees and residents.
Limited the use of the Community Rooms in all residential buildings.
Limited the number of events at St. Joseph’s Plaza.
Authorized the installation of wall hand sanitizers in all NCC buildings.
Reinforced��and refined��our existing Food Services practices to help lessen the spread of the virus and ensure that our food remains healthy and safe for all to enjoy.

As we get more information and constantly monitor this situation, we will continue to take further action.

Considering the nature of our work and the well-being of our employees, we encourage all staff members to take the following proactive steps to minimize the potential spread of the virus:

Practice social distancing by maintaining a six-foot radius around others.
Avoid large groups.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Avoid touching your face and mouth with hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home if you are sick.

Below are some helpful resources with information to help you stay healthy:

We will continue to take precautions and will make changes as necessary. During this challenging time, we remain committed to fulfilling our mission: to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement. Know that we will weather this storm together.

Sincerely,

Richard Rohrman
Chief Executive Officer
91��Ƭ

Teen Attends Adult Learning Center To Help Reach Career Goals

Michelle Lang — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:51:19 +0000

Maa Efia Nyarkoa Ampiaw may only be 19, but she knows the career she wants. She has always been interested in cars and wants to become an auto mechanic.

Ampiaw grew up in Ghana and is the youngest in her family. Her mother moved to the United States before her. She stayed behind, living with her grandmother and siblings. She came to the United States from Ghana in August 2017 to further her education. She currently lives in Newark with her mother and grandfather. She said her siblings plan to make the move to the United States as well, but not right now.

Ampiaw was an honor roll student at Seven Great Princes Academy High School in Ghana, where she studied business and English. She also played soccer.

Even though Ampiaw took English classes at her high school in Ghana, she felt she needed additional help with the language after moving to the United States. Her uncle’s friend introduced her to 91��Ƭ and she enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class at the Adult Learning Center.

Because of her past experience, she enrolled in the Level 2 class, taught by Anthony Forte. He said she is a wonderful young person to have in class.

“She’s very steadfast,” Forte said. “She sits in front of class and helps me out.”

Ampiaw enjoyed the ESOL class.

“Everybody contributes and makes class lively,” she said. “We help each other in class. It makes class interesting.”

She also was glad to have Forte as her instructor.

“He’s a very nice person,” Ampiaw said. “He teaches so you understand. You really understand what he’s teaching.”

Since completing the ESOL class, Ampiaw has started taking Adult Basic Education courses at the Adult Learning Center to prepare to take the High School Equivalency Test.

She’s keeping up her car skills while she continues her education. Her grandfather has a car that she works on in her spare time.

“I look and I can fix some things by myself,” she said.

With a strong foundation, Ampiaw has a bright future ahead of her.

“Her diligence, dedication, intelligence and wit indicate success in fulfilling her goal — to study automotive engineering,” Forte said.

Adult Learning Center Student And Volunteer Hopes Accounting Job Is In Her Future

Michelle Lang — Tue, 01 May 2018 14:29:31 +0000

Gloria Orjuela emigrated from Colombia to Canada and then to the United States. She has taken classes at the 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center and serves as a volunteer there.

When Gloria Orjuela left Colombia with her husband and daughter, she didn’t know she would end up in New Jersey. The trio emigrated to Canada and became a family of four there before moving again to the United States.

In Colombia, Orjuela earned a bachelor’s degree and had 12 years of experience in accounting. She also took English classes in her native country to help with the transition from Colombia to Canada. Once she moved to Calgary, Canada, she entered a government program that provided training and work placement. She became a financial accountant for a company there.

Six years after moving to Canada, her husband was offered a job in his field of electrical engineering in the United States. The couple made the decision to move once again and start a new chapter. Orjuela’s husband moved first and she followed 10 months later with their two daughters. The family currently resides in Bloomfield.

Once the move was complete, Orjuela went to the library to find adult education programs to improve her English and work toward getting a job in the United States. She found Literacy Volunteers of America and started an ESL program. She also participated in the Language Exchange program at the Bloomfield Library, which involves English-speakers who want to learn Spanish and Spanish-speakers who want to learn English. It was there she connected with Cristhian Barcelos, who serves as the executive director of LVA and the director of the 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center.

Orjuela enrolled in the GED class through the Adult Learning Center. Her goal is to get what she needs to work in accounting again.

“I want to improve my English and be able to know the style of education the United States has. With that, take the GED test and go to college and have other opportunities in my career,” she said.

Her experience at the Adult Learning Center was very positive.

“My teacher was so amazing. She was really professional,” Orjuela said. “She was not only teaching subjects, but she was teaching me how to have great emotional intelligence.”

Sometimes there are low expectations with community programs, but Orjuela said the Adult Learning Center offers quality education and she would recommend it.

“If you want to achieve more, be able to work as a team and help others, this is a fantastic opportunity,” she said.

Not only was she a student, but Orjuela also volunteers at the Adult Learning Center, doing general office work like answering phones, data entry and making labels. For her, it’s important to volunteer.

“You show your performance of work and you help people who need your help,” she said.

Barcelos is happy to have Orjuela as a volunteer. He said she’s always helping people, whether she’s doing office work, proctoring and timing exams or helping students who have fallen behind. He called her dependable, helpful and responsible.

“Everything she does is great,” he said. “She’s wonderful to have.”

Orjuela’s ultimate goal is to work in accounting again, but for now she wants to find a job, perhaps in finance. She is a Canadian citizen and is able to work in the United States through NAFTA.

She lives in Bloomfield with her husband and two daughters, ages 12 and 6.

She works hard at volunteering and learning as much as she can each day with the hopes of achieving her goals.

“The key to success is to do your best every single day,” she said.

Former Architect Starts Over, Studies English At NCC

Michelle Lang — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 12:07:04 +0000

Monica Arauz successfully completed the second level of English as a Second Language at the 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center in December.

Monica Arauz is a mother on a mission.

Her goal is to ensure that her 17-year-old son has a future filled with opportunities. That’s why she came to the United States about two-and-a-half years ago, leaving behind her former life in Ecuador.

Arauz and her son, Andres, moved in with her older brother in Hillside. It wasn’t long before she began searching on the Internet for English language classes.

“When I came I didn’t understand anything,” she said.

She found information online about 91��Ƭ’s Adult Learning Center and signed up for the September class. After completing an initial assessment test, Arauz was placed in English for Speakers of Other Languages Level 2.

Back in Ecuador, Arauz attended Central University and took English to fulfill her foreign language requirement.

“Monica is a serious, methodical and disciplined student whose talent and compassionate outlook indicate meaningful achievement and success in the future,” Anthony Forte, ESOL instructor at the Adult Learning Center, said.

After spending a few years studying architecture at the university, Arauz worked in the capital city of Quito where she worked on restoring monuments and architectural conservation.

For now, she works nights as a cleaner at Newark Liberty International Airport. During the day, she attended ESOL classes, which finished in December. Now, she’s looking for additional English language classes at local community colleges to expand her skills.

She credited Forte and the Adult Learning Center with helping her to strengthen her grammar.

“I think you have good teachers,” she said.

NCC Shares The Wealth, Gifts On Three Kings Day

Michelle Lang — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:00:12 +0000

It was a celebration fit for a king. During the holiday season, 91��Ƭ Adult Learning Center held a celebration in honor of Three Kings Day on January 7. The event at the Adult Learning Center featured family-friendly activities, snacks and gifts for every child. The festivities commemorated the biblical story of three wise men who saw a star over Bethlehem and followed it to where baby Jesus lay in a manger overseen by Joseph and Mary. The wise men presented Jesus with precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Adult Learning Center is located at 563 Orange St. in Newark and offers classes and workshops such as English for Speakers of Other Languages, citizenship, computer basics, GED, health screenings, mammograms and more. For more information, call 973-558-5536.�� Photos courtesy of Cristhian Barcelos.