Fighting Unemployment

Fighting Unemployment: Madison Area Technical College officially opened up its Adult Learning Center Wednesday.
Reporter: Barclay Pollak
WMTV/Channel 15 News

Posted Wednesday, March 17, 2010 --- 9:30 p.m.

In 2008 Florenzo Cribbs lost his job. The Madison man went from making $1,200 a week as a carpenter's apprentice to making less than $300.

With no money and a large family he needed cash fast.

Cribss says, " I had to find a job that paid me maximum pay and quickly. It's not something that would take year's to get paid. "

Florenzo ended up at Madison Area Technical College's Center for Adult Learning.

Right now he's learning about welding. Next month he hopes to rejoin the work force.

Cribbs isn't the only person hoping that some good will come from these halls after Wednesday's dismal unemployment numbers, so are some public officials.

Roberta Gassman, the Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development says, " We know that we are on a path to what we call a tortoise recovery: slow but steady."

The center offers dislocated workers help on two fronts. First, in the classroom.

If workers need to brush up on math or their computer skills there are classes for that.

Or they can do what Cribbs did and jump into an apprenticeship like welding.

Either way school officials know they'll have plenty of people turning to them for help.

Nancy Woodward the center's Director says, " In 2009 there were over 5,000 dislocated workers in just our area and many of those individuals identified that they need to and would like to go back to school to get some additional training."

Additional training that will hopefully keep a steady check coming in for Cribbs so he can pursue his other passion, community service.

If you are a dislocated worker and you meet certain criteria...you can take classes at the Center for Adult Learning for free.