The lab is one of ten new Adult Learning Labs in the city, but is the only one in southwest Detroit, located at 4214 Vernor, across from Clark Park.

The lab offers:

• GED preparation
• English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction
• Adult Basic Education (ABE) for students testing below 9th grade in reading and/or math
• Educational support for those entering college who need remedial help
• One-on-one tutoring for math, reading and writing
• Academic and career counseling
• Workplace skills preparation
• Referrals to Wraparound services
• Financial literacy monthly workshops
• Instruction and resources for Detroit GreenWorks Solutions trainees

These services are free for eligible participants. Clients must be at least 19 years old, low-income and unemployed or underemployed. Eligible adults do not need to reside in Detroit to enroll in the lab.

The goal of the lab is tied to workforce development. By enhancing their skills, learners will be more likely to secure work, be successful in job training programs, and advance in the workplace.

There are 20 computer stations in the lab for learners to work on their lessons, with staff instructors and volunteers offering tutoring and assistance. The lab expects to serve about 250 people a year.

Each adult who participates in the lab will be initially tested to assess his or her skills. Based on this assessment, an individualized learning plan will be created for the participant to follow.

The lab will open 40 hours a week, including some Saturdays and evenings. See the current schedule for the Adult Learning Lab. The lab has an open access policy, enabling students to complete the program on their own time.

To learn more about the Adult Learning Lab, please email Tim McGorey or call him at 313-451-8056. 

  
   Results

• The Lab expects to serve about 250 people a year
• It is expected that many of the learners will be participants in Detroit GreenWorks Solutions, the green jobs training program for southwest Detroit residents
• The lab is funded through a three-year grant of $100,000 a year from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG)
• Funding is also provided through a $10,000 grant from Charter One Foundation and a $10,000 grant from First Independence Bank

The lab is a program of the Center for Working Families (CWF) based at Southwest Solutions’ Housing Opportunity Center. The mission of CWF is to help low-income families reach financial stability, access income supports, develop educational and employment opportunities, build wealth, and move up the economic ladder.

“The new lab is part of a comprehensive approach to help families and the community become more economically stable and prosperous,” says Linda West, who directs the CWF. “Learners at the lab will be referred to other programs and services to address their other needs and improve their chances of success.”

Many partners are working with Southwest Solutions to provide services and support for the lab. These include Henry Ford Community College, The Greening of Detroit, WARM Training Center, DELEG, City of Detroit, Detroit Workforce Development Department, Detroit Public Schools, Detroit Public Library, and other community organizations and academic institutions.