Northeast partners with Tyson Foods to provide education programming to company’s team members/ English & Spanish Version

Mohamed Warsame, Northeast Community College adjunct instructor, (right) congratulates Tyson Fresh Meats teammate Carmen Pinto in Dakota City for her achievements as part of Tyson’s Upward Academy as Emily Duncan, director of adult education at Northeast looks on. Pinto is one of 600 teammates enrolled in Upward Academy, a workforce education program developed by Tyson Foods with a focus on reducing the social impact of social challenges for its front-line team members by providing free and accessible classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), high school equivalency, U.S. citizenship and other essential life and workplace skills such as digital and financial literacy. (Courtesy Northeast Community College)

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DAKOTA CITY, NE – One of northeast Nebraska’s largest employers has teamed up with Northeast Community College to provide educational opportunities to its workforce. Tyson Foods has brought its Upward Academy program to its fresh meats beef plant in Dakota City, Nebraska.

In just two months of operation, the program has been changing the lives of the company’s teammates and their families.

Upward Academy is a workforce education program developed by Tyson Foods with a focus on reducing the social impact of social challenges for its front-line team members by providing free and accessible classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), high school equivalency, U.S. citizenship and other essential life and workplace skills such as digital and financial literacy. Dakota City is the 40th plant where the company has expanded Upward Academy.

Northeast’s Adult Education Department is working with Tyson in providing instructors to teach classes, which are all held in the Tyson Dakota City facility, allowing team members to participate before or after their shifts in familiar surroundings. Three large rooms are being utilized to offer the programs. Classes are a part of the team members’ benefits package.

At a recent recognition ceremony at the Tyson plant, it was reported that 250 teammates enrolled in the program completed 4,791 instructional hours by attending class three times a week in two hour intervals, however, some students elected to stay for extra sessions. The classes are taught by five Northeast adjunct instructors, Ana Davalos, Melissa Kabali, Dusti Pacheco, Maria Rundquist and Mohamed Warsame.

“This is an accomplishment … a very impressive accomplishment,” said Dan Heffernan, vice president of human resources at Tyson, at the recognition event. “What you have done is phenomenal. It takes a commitment and we are committed to you to make it happen.”

“At Tyson Foods, we are committed to empowering our team members to grow and prosper, and Upward Academy is an innovative example of that commitment,” said Steve Stouffer, group president, Tyson Foods. “We have seen Upward Academy elevate the quality of life for hundreds of our team members and are excited to be launching the program at our Dakota City plant. This is just one of a number of strong programs we offer to benefit team members in our business as well as in their community.”

Approximately 600 of Tyson’s 4,500 team members at the Dakota City plant have enrolled in programs offered through the Upward Academy. As the Tyson workforce is made up of people from all walks of life, the program is open to more than just immigrants; it is offered to assist people regardless of their personal backgrounds.

Also at the recent ceremony, one student was recognized for completing his battery of GED® tests and will receive his diploma. The student has enrolled in welding and auto mechanic courses at Northeast Community College in South Sioux City.

Four students completed more than 60 hours of instruction during the last quarter in the Upward Academy program and 65 students received recognition for achieving consistent attendance and measurable skills gains. This is achieved by moving up one or more levels on post-tests that are given by instructors after the student completes 40 or more hours.

Also during the last quarter, four Tyson students achieved their goal of becoming citizens of the United States by utilizing Northeast’s civics courses offered through the Adult Education Department. Students studied with Davalos in preparation for their interview questions and written exams that were conducted in Lincoln.

“What you are doing is amazing,” said Emily Duncan director of adult education at Northeast. “(Tyson employees in Dakota City) have pretty much doubled the size of the program from last year to this year.”

She encouraged participants to spread the word that the program is available to fellow employees.

“Our goal is to serve more and more people.”

John Blaylock, Northeast executive vice president, said the College is proud to partner with Tyson Foods in the endeavor.

“Tyson’s visionary leadership to provide training to its teammates demonstrates its commitment to its employees and their desire to improve their skills to be a better employee for the organization,” he said. “The Northeast Community College adult education program has provided the foundation for so many students in our region as they look to improve their language and basic skills. It has truly been a pleasure for Northeast to come along side of Tyson to create the Upward Academy in Dakota City.”

As of the end of 2018, the Upward Academy program had been launched at several of Tyson’s plants across the country. The program in Dakota City is the company’s largest to date.

An English as a Second Language class is held at the Tyson Fresh Meats’ beef plant in Dakota City. The class is part of Tyson’s Upward Academy program, which is operated with assistance from Northeast Community College. (Courtesy Northeast Community College)

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SPANISH VERSION

Northeast se asocia con Tyson Foods para proporcionar
programación educativa a los miembros del equipo de la empresa

DAKOTA CITY, NE – Uno de los empleadores más grandes del noreste de Nebraska se ha asociado con Northeast Community College para brindar oportunidades educativas a su fuerza laboral. Tyson Foods ha llevado su programa Upward Academy a su planta de carne fresca de carne en Dakota City, Nebraska.
En solo dos meses de operación, el programa ha estado cambiando las vidas de los compañeros de la empresa y sus familias.
Upward Academy es un programa de educación de la fuerza laboral desarrollado por Tyson Foods con un enfoque en la reducción del impacto social de los desafíos sociales para los miembros de su equipo de primera línea al brindar clases gratuitas y accesibles de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL), equivalente en escuela preparatoria, EE. UU. ciudadanía y otras habilidades esenciales para la vida y el lugar de trabajo, como la educación digital y financiera. Dakota City es la 40ª planta donde la compañía ha expandido Upward Academy.
El Departamento de Educación de Adultos de Northeast está trabajando con Tyson para proporcionar instructores que enseñen clases, que se llevan a cabo en las instalaciones de Tyson Dakota City, permitiendo a los miembros del equipo participar antes o después de sus cambios en el entorno familiar. Tres salas grandes están siendo utilizadas para ofrecer los programas. Las clases son parte del paquete de beneficios de los miembros del equipo.
En una ceremonia de reconocimiento reciente en la planta de Tyson, se informó que 250 compañeros de equipo inscritos en el programa completaron 4,791 horas de instrucción asistiendo a clase tres veces por semana en intervalos de dos horas, sin embargo, algunos estudiantes eligieron quedarse para sesiones adicionales. Las clases son impartidas por cinco instructores adjuntos del Northeast, Ana Dávalos, Melissa Kabali, Dusti Pacheco, Maria Rundquist y Mohamed Warsame.
“Este es un logro … un logro muy impresionante”, dijo Dan Heffernan, vicepresidente de recursos humanos de Tyson, en el evento de reconocimiento. “Lo que has hecho es fenomenal. Se requiere un compromiso y estamos comprometidos con usted para que esto suceda “.
“En Tyson Foods, estamos comprometidos a capacitar a los miembros de nuestro equipo para que crezcan y prosperen, y Upward Academy es un ejemplo innovador de ese compromiso”, dijo Steve Stouffer, presidente del grupo, Tyson Foods. “Hemos visto a Upward Academy elevar la calidad de vida de cientos de miembros de nuestro equipo y estamos entusiasmados de lanzar el programa en nuestra planta de Dakota City. Este es solo uno de los muchos programas sólidos que ofrecemos para beneficiar a los miembros del equipo en nuestro negocio y en su comunidad “.
Aproximadamente 600 de los 4,500 miembros del equipo de Tyson en la planta de Dakota City se han inscrito en los programas ofrecidos a través de Upward Academy. Como la fuerza laboral de Tyson está formada por personas de todos los ámbitos de la vida, el programa está abierto a más que solo inmigrantes; Se ofrece para ayudar a las personas independientemente de sus antecedentes personales.
También en la ceremonia reciente, un estudiante fue reconocido por completar sus exámenes de GED® y recibirá su diploma. El estudiante se ha inscrito en cursos de soldadura y mecánica automotriz en Northeast Community College en South Sioux City.
Cuatro estudiantes completaron más de 60 horas de instrucción durante el último trimestre en el programa Upward Academy y 65 estudiantes recibieron reconocimiento por lograr una asistencia constante y un aumento de habilidades medibles. Esto se logra al subir uno o más niveles en las pruebas posteriores que los instructores administran una vez que el estudiante completa 40 horas o más.
También durante el último trimestre, cuatro estudiantes de Tyson lograron su objetivo de convertirse en ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos mediante la utilización de los cursos de educación cívica del noreste a través del Departamento de Educación de Adultos. Los estudiantes estudiaron con Davalos en preparación para sus preguntas de entrevista y exámenes escritos que se realizaron en Lincoln.
“Lo que estás haciendo es increíble”, dijo Emily Duncan, directora de educación de adultos en Northeast. “(Los empleados de Tyson en Dakota City) casi han duplicado el tamaño del programa desde el año pasado hasta este año”.
Ella alentó a los participantes a difundir que el programa está disponible para los compañeros de trabajo.
“Nuestro objetivo es servir a más y más personas”.
John Blaylock, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Northeast, dijo que el Colegio se enorgullece de asociarse con Tyson Foods en este esfuerzo.
“El liderazgo visionario de Tyson para brindar capacitación a sus compañeros de equipo demuestra su compromiso con sus empleados y su deseo de mejorar sus habilidades para ser un mejor empleado para la organización”, dijo. “El programa de educación para adultos de Northeast Community College ha brindado la base para tantos estudiantes en nuestra región a medida que buscan mejorar su lenguaje y sus habilidades básicas. “Realmente ha sido un placer para el noreste venir junto a Tyson para crear la Academia Upward en Dakota City”.
A finales de 2018, el programa Upward Academy se había lanzado en varias de las plantas de Tyson en todo el país. El programa en Dakota City es el más grande de la compañía hasta la fecha.