Photo Provided Cameron Bonds, 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, which helps people in corrections successfully transition into the workforce after release.

WINTERSVILLE — The Eastern Ohio Aspire program is providing new tools to help people in the corrections system meet the challenges that await them after release.

They benefit from a workplace literacy class as they transition into the workforce and become productive citizens.

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

Funded by the 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 workforce literacy class soon after joining JCESC this past July. Director of Corrections Education and Workplace Literacy Cameron Bonds works primarily in the Wintersville-based Eastern Ohio Correction Center, which provides treatment and counseling for men as they prepare to re-enter society from the correctional system. Workplace literacy is proving a valuable addition.

“I also 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.

Workplace literacy is also provided in the women’s EOCC at Lisbon, Ohio, under instructor and career navigator Hazel Martin. Aspire is increasing its presence in Mahoning County’s correction services.

“They shared with me that working with the interview skills and learning how to actually speak in an interview was a big help,” she said.

“Most of the girls seem to really enjoy themselves and learn a lot,” she said. “I teach a lot of grammar so that when they have jobs they can communicate properly with their employers and other employees. We also work on practicing for interviews, dos and don’ts in the workplace.”

Martin includes lessons in keeping to a schedule and managing their time.

Bonds emphasized the importance of employment after release. Employment 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 cohorts of about a dozen each. He is teaching or has taught 50 at the Wintersville EOCC, with 30 successfully graduated. In Lisbon, the first cohort of 10 students have completed the class and another cohort of more than 10 is ongoing.

Classes are eight weeks. Topics include the difference between “hard” and “soft” skills and the value of soft skills in the working world. Bonds 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 also improves decision-making. Bonds said some may have acculturated bad habits during confrontational situations while in the corrections system. The class teaches better coping strategies.

Bonds is invested in his students’ success, and since starting the class he has come to know them on a personal level. He is continually updating his curriculum, most recently to meet the needs of blue-collar workers such as improving digital literacy and imparting skills to navigate technology.

He has also been helping experienced blue-collar workers in the corrections system explore options to transition to jobs such as consulting or operating a business where they can share their expertise.

Bonds incorporates the Growing Rural Independence Together (GRIT) program for career assessments to measure individuals’ aptitudes and suggest fields they may be qualified for.

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,” Bonds 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.”

Martin also said several of the women who graduated her class have since found employment.

Attendees of Bonds’ class said it has improved their people skills, which will serve them well going forward.

Eric, who plans to look into the military after 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.”

Christian plans to go into welding. He also saw benefits in Aspire.

“It’s definitely beneficial to people who don’t know how to do resumes, the proper wearing of (personal protective equipment),” he said. “Learning communication has helped me prepare.”

Bonds has been with Aspire when the program was still offered through EGCC. He discovered a love for teaching and tutoring and said Aspire will carry on its mission under JCESC. He added the Aspire staff’s investment in student success truly sets them apart.

“They know and feel as if everybody in which I’m working with in the program genuinely cares about my success and wants to help me achieve whatever goal and reach the finish line.”

Bonds said adults interested in pursuing their education will be impressed by Aspire’s variety. Also on offer are courses in general remediation in subjects such as math and language.

“Sign up for Aspire whichever way in which you need us,” he said. “The Aspire program is very well-rounded in the services it provides.” Eastern Ohio Aspire can be reached at aspire@jcesc.org. The web page is https://www.jcesc.k12.oh.us/EasternOhioASPIRE.aspx. A portal application can be found at https://studentportal.literacypro.com/oh/providers/369/.