Lorain County Community Action Agency

Success Stories

The LCCAA 2007 Client Success Story is Malekia Ford and the GED/Family Learning Center. Malekia Ford, a young woman from Lorain, left school in 2005. She worked the jobs available to her without a high school diploma—waitressing and braiding hair—to support herself. While she worked, she made use of Lorain County Community Action Agency’s (LCCAA) GED/Family Learning Center to prepare to take her GED test. She passed the test in July 2007. Ms. Ford chose LCCAA’s program because it allowed her to come to the center between working her two jobs. Supported by Community Services Block Grant monies, the program was available to her at no cost. Instruction was provided in group and one-on-one sessions at a pace designed to meet her individual needs. Ms. Ford was also able to take pre-tests to gauge her progress.

Nancy Ann Smith, LCCAA’s GED instructor explains, “That is how our program works. We offer the tools and the flexible structure, and our students bring their determination to succeed. The help we offer recognizes individual circumstances and allows our students to manage their time and progress.” The program sees about 16 county residents obtain their GED each year.

Of the program, Ms. Ford relates, “I selected LCCAA’s program based on a list of referrals, and I really liked it. The teacher is good. I would highly recommend the Family Learning Center.”

Obtaining a GED, or General Equivalency Diploma, improves skills, increases earning potential, builds confidence and offers entry to further educational opportunities. “Malekia is a great example of that,” shares Smith. “Upon completion of her GED, she immediately enrolled in a local cosmetology school. She knew she wanted to take her life-long talent and passion for braiding and styling hair and make it her career.

She’s doing great in school, and I am not surprised. Malekia’s proof that family situations and set backs do not have to define your future.”

Registering for the program is as simple as showing up at the center located in downtown Lorain at 506 Broadway on the third floor. The GED/Family Learning Center hours include evening hours on Monday and Wednesday. For more information, call Nancy Ann Smith at (440) 204-3125 or email Nancy at nasmith@lccaa.net. Look for pictures of LCCAA’s 2007-2008 annual GED commencement ceremony on the agency’s website at www.lccaa.net starting in June 2008.

Believe it or not, this is a grandmother on the East Side of Lorain with two of her grandchildren. Pictured between the grandchildren is the new gas meter supplied by the Emergency Home Repair Program.

LCCAA Emergency Home Repair Program provided much needed assistance to Mrs. Antoinette Hembree when the gas company stopped service because of several interior and exterior gas leaks.

Mrs. Hembree stated, “I was in need of emergency assistance with my gas leaks and LCCAA was there to help me and I really appreciate all they have done for me.”

Mrs. Dorothy Oden of Lorain sits comfortably in her living room, thanks to the help from the Home Weatherization Assistance Program.

She says she feels less drafts since the LCCAA HWAP Crew insulated her home. She states, “Everybody was real nice.”

Rose Blakely, a single adult woman with grown children, works long hours as a housekeeper at the local hospital. A resident of Lorain, Rose has a home, but has difficulty keeping up with the routine maintenance and doing other kinds of renovation on her meager compensation. LCCAA and its collaborative partners were able to help!

The Housing, Energy and Emergency Services programs came to Rose's aid and replaced her furnace and hot water tank with new energy efficient models, insulated and dry walled the attic, worked on air infiltration and provided venting, reducing the level of carbon monoxide in he rhome, replaced her roof, voluntarily built new basement steps and provided compact fluorescent light bulbs.

It is expected that Rose will have a dramatic reduction in energy consumption, with as much as a 40% reduction in energy costs! She is ecstatic! Rose states, "I have no idea how I could have done these repairs without Community Action. They have been a godsend!"

Here we have Mrs. Goddard of Avon Lake and Jeremy Emerine, an LCCAA HWAP Technician. Mrs. Goddard says, “I have found that my home stays cooler with the insulation.”

She says she was pleasantly surprised how well mannered the HWAP crew was and how well they cleaned up afterwards. She would recommend the LCCAA HWAP program to anyone who would ask her.

Mrs. Portiello of South Lorain stands in front of her newly painted home thanks to the LCCAA Emergency Home Repair Program. This is a job in progress as you can see from the garage in the back of the house. Next to Mrs. Portiello is Samuel H. Hitchens Jr., Energy Conservation and Emergency Services Coordinator.

A new roof was put on a Sheffield Township home thanks to the Emergency Home Repair Program through LCCAA.

The home of Mr. McIntyre has a new porch thanks to LCCAA’s Emergency Home Repair Program. Mr. McIntyre contacted LCCAA after he was told his old porch was in violation of city code.

Santiago Lopez received a refrigerator through LCCAA’s Ohio Partners in Affordable Energy (OPAE).

Lila Jackson, of Elyria ,standing in front of her new home. Lila utilized the Down Payment Assistance Program at LCCAA to become a first time home owner.

A family receiving food from LCCAA’s Emergency Food Pantry located in Lorain .

 Mrs. Steven enjoying her newly insulated home thanks to LCCAA’s HWAP Program.

Hernan Lopez, LCCAA HWAP Technician insulating the home of Mrs. Steven on the East side of Lorain.  The LCCAA Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) Crew working on Mrs. Steven’s home on the East side of Lorain.  HWAP Crew member, Ishmael Rodriguez working on insulating a home in Lorain.