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The Latino Academy of Workforce Development (LAWD) is a culturally competent, bilingual adult education, training and employment program of Vera Court Neighborhood Center, Inc. (VCNC). VCNC’s mission is to offer growth and enrichment opportunities to neighborhood residents that reflect the changing needs, strengths and diversity of the ‘Vera Court’ community. In the past fourteen years that community has grown to include much of Madison’s Northside, Southside communities as VCNC has operated the Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center (BLW) since 2004, and the Latino community throughout Dane County as LAWD and VCNC have responded to the tremendous need for Spanish language vocational training and employment services with strong investment from students, families, and community leaders.
The Latino Academy of Workforce Development’s primary goal is to create of a safe, culturally competent space that empowers Latino adults to succeed and integrate into the economic and educational systems of Dane County. LAWD’s unique ‘education through community’ approach works closely with students, responds to the community’s education and employment needs quickly, and creates pathways to improved education and employment for the Latino community. This approach has demonstrated tremendous results within the initiative’s first four years, growing from a small offering of language and job skills classes initially, to a community of over 800 learners participating in, job skills training, GED and pre-GED classes, language courses, computer classes, business and employment development. As an emergent leader in bilingual training and education, LAWD is a vital resource both for its students and the broader Madison community’s effort to create economic opportunity for all of its members.
The Latino Academy of Workforce Development’s primary goal is to create of a safe, culturally competent space that empowers Latino adults to succeed and integrate into the economic and educational systems of Dane County. LAWD’s unique ‘education through community’ approach works closely with students, responds to the community’s education and employment needs quickly, and creates pathways to improved education and employment for the Latino community. This approach has demonstrated tremendous results within the initiative’s first four years, growing from a small offering of language and job skills classes initially, to a community of over 800 learners participating in, job skills training, GED and pre-GED classes, language courses, computer classes, business and employment development. As an emergent leader in bilingual training and education, LAWD is a vital resource both for its students and the broader Madison community’s effort to create economic opportunity for all of its members.
