Meadville, PA - December 2006

Consider for a moment what your life would be like without the ability to read. Signs, a child’s report card, work instructions and even the directions on the medicine bottle that your doctor prescribed for you are all beyond your comprehension. Imagine the frustration, embarrassment and overwhelming feelings of helplessness that the individual and employer must endure. These feelings are a reality for one in five U.S. adults who lack the basic skills necessary to function in society, according to the latest U.S. Census. Furthermore, according to the National Institute for Literacy, businesses lose more than $60 million annually because of skills deficiencies in the workplace.

One success story in the fight against skills deficiencies is Lucy Young. Lucy is a single mom who works a full-time, third-shift job at Tech Molded Plastics L.P., Meadville, PA to earn a living for herself and her four-year old daughter, Karen. Lucy’s motivation to improve her life skills started at home but became paramount in the workplace. With the support of her family, friends and employer, she began attending Family Literacy classes at the Crawford County READ Program in Meadville, PA, a free, community based program funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Adult Basic Literacy Education.

Like many employers, Tech Molded Plastics, L.P. uses skills testing as part of its hiring practices. Minimum standards of reading and math are required by many employers to ensure that workplace safety standards are enforced and job performance matches expectations. Tech produces extremely high quality precision molded plastics that require an attention to detail. But like many employers nationwide, Tech has realized that passing up intelligent, hardworking, and ambitious applicants because of deficient skills does not further its company policy of investing in people or continuously improving at all levels. So the company encourages and invests in qualified, motivated individuals that show the potential to be positive role models.

Since beginning classes seven months ago, Lucy Young has received instruction in math, reading, and English. Family skills such as reading to her daughter, Karen, and preparing meals together have been a requirement in Lucy’s program. She attends tutoring sessions for three hours, three days a week while working as a plastics press operator. These sessions appear to be paying off for Lucy. Her testing levels have increased significantly and she has the ability to reach a potential that a few months ago would not have been possible.

“I would not have been able to do this without the support of my co-workers. They have supported me when I felt like quitting and helped me study. It hasn’t been easy and there have been a lot of time I felt like giving up, but it has been a very positive experience for me and I would definitely do it again,” said Lucy Young.

Jared Serra, Lucy’s Supervisor had this to say, “Lucy has always been a hard worker and a tremendous help to her co-workers. I could see a difference immediately after Lucy had started the READ Program. She was asking more questions about her responsibilities and had an improved understanding of her work instructions. Her work performance and confidence has enhanced considerably over the past months. I am proud to have Lucy as a part of our team.”

In today’s global marketplace, international competition has grown intense making input and creative thinking a necessity at all levels of an organization. Many believe that meeting these challenges makes workforce literacy a necessity. Despite the problems that illiteracy can cause, few employees seek out the free, easily accessible community service. Success stories like Lucy’s are a step in the right direction of helping to create a future workforce of motivated individuals that improve a company’s competitive advantage through literacy.

While Lucy Young and Tech Molded Plastics, L.P. have taken advantage of community programs such as the READ program, many large multi-national corporations are increasingly looking inward for solutions and starting tutoring and basic skills programs within their own organizations. However the cost to implementing such internal programs can be prohibitive, making community programs a more attractive option.

Improvements in job morale, employee retention, productivity and loyalty are just a few of the many benefits awaiting companies willing to invest time and effort into workplace literacy. Lucy Young and Tech have taken the first steps through recognizing skills deficiencies and going to the READ program for help. All aspects of Lucy’s life have been positively influenced through her training. Reading a book to her daughter Karen is no longer a difficult task, but a blessing that they now enjoy everyday together.

For more information, visit the Crawford County READ Program at http://readprogram.net/default.aspx.