Last month a group of a dozen graduate students from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management visited the Literacy Connects campus to connect with our Women RISE interns. The visit was only a small part of several events around Tucson, all part of the Eller College of Management’s Spring Community Outreach.
The University of Arizona graduate students interviewed interns in Literacy Connects’ job-readiness program, Women RISE, and then offered feedback and tips on how to succeed in screening and phone interviews. “It was a high energy event and the conversations, in English, were remarkable!” said Ersilia Loustaunau, Program Coordinator for Literacy Connects’ English Language Acquisition for Adults (ELAA).
The Women RISE program at Literacy Connects is a job-readiness internship for refugee and immigrant women, made possible by a generous three year grant from the Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona. According to Jennifer Stanowski, Director of the English Language Acquisition for Adults Program, who oversees the program, Women RISE offers a unique combination of services that sets it apart from many other job training programs: “Many programs focus on either language development OR job-related skills and experience. In Women RISE, we provide both, along with individual career navigation and a strong network of personal and professional connections. You can see women growing in their skills and confidence day by day!”
