Community Impact Hero
Chester County OIC
Sponsored by The Chester County Hospital

The Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) lives its mission of providing adult literacy that leads to employment. Under the leadership and care of executive director Joyce Chester, the nonprofit organization serves a diverse and needy population. Nearly 60 volunteers, two interns from West Chester University, and 24 staff members have helped 700 program participants this past year. The organization effectively supports literacy through numerous practically oriented programs, including: “English as a Second Language” classes, “Lifelong Learning Literacy” for developmentally disabled adults, classes to help students pass the high-school equivalency General Educational Development (GED) exam, “Preparing for Independence” vocational counseling, “Adult Basic Education” to help adults of all ages maintain literacy, nursing-assistant and office-technology courses, customized on-site job training to enhance employment skills, and the “I CAN” (Independent Career Action Network) series of job-readiness and academic-remediation workshops for out-of-school youth ages 16-24. The results speak for themselves. A sampling: An I CAN graduate -- who entered the program as an unmotivated 19-year-old -- returned for a visit this year as an articulate, well-dressed and employed 22-year-old. He also brought along a friend who was looking for help. An immigrant who graduated from OIC’s Certified Nurse Assistant program continued her education to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and is now studying to become a Registered Nurse. Last year, 80% of OIC program graduates either obtained jobs or moved up to better positions. Those 2007 graduates are now generating approximately $8 million in our local economy. We award CCOIC our 2008 Community Impact Hero Award in recognition of its ongoing, significant impact on our economy and of the life-changing difference it is making for individuals throughout Chester County.