By Marie Brown
I, along with many in our community, recently attended a Kicking Up Dust Towards New Horizons given by OIC of Ouachita. This was a Community Partners Roundup in which most of the attendees wore western attire that made the evening spectacular and joyful. OIC is one of the best-kept secrets in our region. OIC offers HISET (formerly GED) test preparation free of charge. They also offer Job readiness skills, I Can afterschool tutoring program, and business Management and Technology skills, as well as the popular SOAR program.
OIC recently closed the sale with the Monroe City School System on the former MLK Middle School on Nutland Rd. in Monroe. They are in the process of pursuing licensure from the Louisiana State Board of Regents to offer several accredited courses, including HVAC Certification and Electrician Certification. This is great news because not everyone will attend college, so this addition of training is a welcomed blessing.
OIC’s community-based organization has taken wings and promises to turn our community around by continuing to educate, train, and secure employment for individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged. We should roll up our sleeves and get behind OIC in supporting their efforts to make a huge impact in our community. We are thrilled that this facility is located on the Southside of Monroe; however, those throughout our region will also benefit. Because of that, we can continue to Love where we Live and Live where we Love!
