SARASOTA, Fla. — When Maria Nopal isn’t working at Goodwill, she’s working just as hard in the classroom.
Goodwill Manasota is working with Manatee Literacy Council instructors to offer virtual ESOL classes for its employees on the clock, at no cost to them.
What You Need To Know
- Goodwill Manasota employees are being offered virtual ESOL classes on the clock
- Classes began on December 7
- 1 in 5 residents in Manatee County read, write or do basic math under a third grade level
- The program aims to empower employees
Classes launched December 7.
Students from three Goodwill locations across the county hop on a virtual Zoom call each week to learn.
“There’s over 43 million adults in the U.S. that read, write or do basic math under a third grade level and that would include 1 in 5 residents here in Manatee County,” said Manatee Literary Council executive director Michelle Desveaux McLean.
About 10 percent of Goodwill Manasota’s workforce don’t speak English as their first language.
The hope is to empower them through this opportunity.
“They can get more opportunities, not just within Goodwill, but outside of Goodwill. They can improve themselves in their personal lives and also their professional lives,” said Goodwill GoodPartner Coach Yolanda Garcia.
Through every note taken and every word spoken, Nopal says it’s an opportunity she’s certainly not taking for granted.
“If you try hard and keep studying and learning, you can progress in life,” she said.
