3 minute read
Q&A with the BBB of Delaware's Jon Bell
Last year, the Delaware Department of Labor launched a workforce training program called Elevate Delaware to help Delawareans upskill. The program provides up to $10,000 to individuals for approved noncredit certificate programs provided by the Delaware Workforce Development Board guidance of eligible programs. Jon Bell, director of business relations at the Better Business Bureau Serving Delaware (BBB of Delaware), jumped at the opportunity to learn a skill he’s always felt would be vital to his position—Spanish.
How was the process to apply to participate in Elevate Delaware?
With any program like this, you expect a fair bit of paperwork. And there was. But the Department of Labor has fantastic people in place that helped guide me through the necessary forms, background information, and employment details they needed to onboard me into the program—so that made it relatively painless. The program itself is also very accommodating about the type of training supported, where you can take it, and how it’s scheduled—and that made the program very accessible.
After gaining approval from the Department of Labor, you enrolled in courses at the University of Delaware to begin learning Spanish. Now that you’re six months in to learning the language, how is it going?
¡Muy bien! The University of Delaware has great professors and some very useful resources for motivated learners.
Scheduling has been a challenge, since language classes aren’t offered at times that are always convenient for working adults. However, BBB of Delaware has worked with me to build a flexible schedule to accommodate both virtual and in-person learning. Studying a new language doesn’t happen overnight, but the Elevate Delaware program has allowed for three semesters of Spanish (including in and out of class resources), and that’s given me a great jumping off point.
Why was it so important to you to become proficient in Spanish? How does this help both the BBB of Delaware and your accredited businesses?
There is a significant population of Delaware’s consumers and small businesses who do business in Spanish, or for whom Spanish is their first language. For a nonprofit like BBB, having the ability to communicate locally in Spanish—even inexpertly at first!— helps us more effectively engage with the Delaware business community to help build an ethical marketplace for everyone.
Would you recommend Elevate Delaware to others?
Absolutely! Whether it’s language learning, trade skills, specific industry training, or some other business need, Elevate Delaware can open the door to an improved business skillset for employers in Delaware. The learner still has work to develop the skill, of course, but by funding some or all of the training, the Elevate Delaware program presents an opportunity I hope more people in the state utilize!
¿Tiene algún plan de vacaciones donde se puede hablar español?
¡Por supuesto! Podré ir a varios lugares con más confianza ahora. Mientras todavía no hablo perfectamente después de solo seis meses, quiero usar lo que he aprendido. ¡Me gusta mucho la idea de un lugar cálido, quizás México esté en mi futuro!
