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Grant helps Rock County residents fill their skills

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Marc Perry

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Margaret Leavy helps Blackhawk Technical College Student Government Treasurer John Sors go through some questions about the school constitution at the BTC Student Government Office.

JANESVILLE — Three years ago, Margaret Leavy was unemployed with only a high school education.

Today, the 43-year-old Beloit woman has an associate degree in medical administration, she just finished a one-year phlebotomy course, and she plans to enroll in advanced coding courses.

It’s all because of a $20,000 M&I Foundation Grant to Community Action to help fund its Skills Enhancement Program.

“It means the world to me and has opened up so many other opportunities I didn’t know about,’’ said Leavy.

The program gave her financial help to pay for tuition, books, uniforms and child care. It also taught her how to interview for a job, create a resume and cover letter and research potential employers.

The Skills Enhancement Program started in 2005. It helps men and women in Rock and Walworth counties with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Participants must be working at least 20 hour a week, said Marc Perry, Community Action director of planning and development.

“The more funding we have, the more people we can help. It’s making sure people can earn a living wage, which is so important. Like Lisa (Furseth, executive director of Community Action) says: ‘Nobody ever got out of poverty without a job,’” Perry said.

To date, 18 people have graduated from the program. Another 44 adults are enrolled, Perry said.

“It’s a long-term investment to fill whatever gaps that 20 hours a week doesn’t pay for,’’ he said.

The grant money will allow up to another 20 adults, including dislocated workers, to enter the program and learn skills so they can better provide for their families, said Mary Willmer Sheedy, market president of M&I Bank.

“M&I Bank is committed to making our communities a better place to live and work,’’ she said.

Leavy said she never would have been able to improve her education without the Skills Enhancement Program.

“It’s changing my life, so I’m not so dependent on government and it’s giving me the opportunity to go out and have a full-time job to be able to take care of myself,’’ she said.

Because finding a job is difficult in the down economy, Leavy plans to continue her schooling.

“It will keep me up-to-date on new procedures as far as being marketable,’’ she said.

Leavy works part-time as governor of the Blackhawk Technical College Student Government Association and applies for jobs at area hospital and clinics.

She’s completed studies in coding, medical transcription, medical billing and medical insurance claims and is confident she’ll find a job soon.

Her goal is full-time work that offers medical insurance, 401(k), paid vacation and profit sharing.

“I’m qualified for the job and looking for the whole package,’’ she said.

“It’s such an awesome program that is so well-rounded and a stepping stool to be able to stand up and take care of yourself,” she said. “The sky is the limit for me because they’ve helped provide a foundation I can build on.’’