Literacy council offers English classes to warehouse employees

WENATCHEE — Not everyone has time to work, spend time with family and go to school to learn a new language. But learning to speak English is an important thing if you want to get ahead in the United States.

So the Wenatchee Valley Literacy Council and Stemilt Growers came up with a creative idea: Why not offer English classes at work? The Literacy Council started a three-month pilot English class for Spanish speakers at the Stemilt fruit-packing warehouse Feb. 18. Sixteen employees are taking the twice-a-week, 90-minute class.

"It's very important," said Juan Maxinez, who paused from his studies in the class on a recent Monday. Maxinez said he's picked up some broken English over the years but has never taken a class. A Stemilt employee for three years, he said he likes his job but that English will help him improve his position. "I want better."

Louise Verellen, the Literacy Council director, said this is the first time the nonprofit, volunteer organization has taken its services to a business location. The council offered a course in an orchard once before, she said.

Courtney Mathison, wife of Stemilt President West Mathison and the company's director of corporate social responsibility, came up with corporate money to make donations to the organization and to create an incentive for employees who stick with the class. Students who attend at least 23 of the 27 classes get a gift card to one of several local stores.

The employees are not paid for time in class, but the class is held in a conference room right after their shift to make it convenient.