WHEEL Plus: Expansion of Worksite Held Employee English Learning (WHEEL) Program

December 20, 2011

The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the expansion of the Worksite Held Employee English Learning (WHEEL) program to WHEEL Plus. This enhancement is made possible through collaboration with Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County (CAP Sonoma) and partial funding from First 5 Sonoma County.

Initially conceived as a customizable curriculum of English language classes for employees, the original WHEEL program was quickly supplemented with a financial literacy component and assistance in learning how to better communicate with schools. WHEEL Plus is the logical expansion of this program, and will add an extended family literacy class to increase the participation of parents in the education of their young children. It will also serve as an information hub for resources available to low income, English language learner families, and seek the introduction of family friendly policies and practices at participating businesses.

Highlights of WHEEL Plus include:

  • Learning Fair and Celebrando la Lectura Events: Learning Fairs and Celebrando la Lectura events will include information about possible classes (English, financial literacy, and family literacy), low income support programs and services, and dependent care information. A component of each Learning Fair will be the hour long Celebrando la Lectura program to engage employees in reading to and teaching their children. Age appropriate books will also be distributed at this event.
  • Family Literacy Workshops: classes will be offered to parents in the workplace based on CAP Sonoma’s AVANCE program, an evidence-based parent/child reading and education program.
  • Family-Friendly Policies: using materials and information developed by the Institute for a Competitive Workforce and other well-known research organizations, and customized as part of WHEEL Plus, the Chamber will provide businesses with recommended models on flex time, family leave, work at home, and other programs that support working families.

The current WHEEL program has been implemented at a number of large and medium-sized worksites in Sonoma County including La Tortilla Factory, LEMO USA, North Coast Builders Exchange, and Amy’s Kitchen. A specific goal for WHEEL Plus is to involve smaller employers by grouping like industries for effective participation.

For implementation, WHEEL Plus brings the qualifications and skills of two well respected organizations: the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and the CAP Sonoma. Both organizations are known for their long and consistent history of leadership and initiative in addressing the challenges facing our community.

For more information on the WHEEL Plus program, contact Kelly Bass, Director of Workforce Development, at (707) 636-2389 or kellyb@santarosachamber.com.