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Mahmoud Awad wanted to provide for his family. Wandy Barreto wanted to become a child career specialist. Hicham Chami wanted to learn English and pursue a career in graphic design. Lisa Davis wanted to become self-sufficient. Michael Tulacz wanted to become a welder. Dorian Porter wanted to attend the medical billing specialist program and become employed in healthcare. |
 (All photos identified left to right) Dearborn Mayor Micheal Guido; Barbara McCallahan from Senator Stabenow’s office; Representative Morris Hood II; State Senator Irma Clark-Coleman; and award winner Hicham Chami at the podium. |
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These ambitions are shared by many people, but these individuals all received services through the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance’s (SEMCA) one-stop service centers and were recognized for their outstanding achievements during the Celebration of Success on Friday, February 28. The program featured success stories from the Downriver Community Conference (DCC), the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) and Ross I.E.S. - Taylor. |
 Award winner Mahmoud Awad; their case manager, Rania Atris-Badreddine; award winner Nawa Banian and their son. |
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Individuals recognized were: Mahmoud Awad and his wife Nawa came to ACCESS. Although Awad had a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, he was unable to find a job in his field, and his wife couldn’t find work due to limited English skills. With the help of SEMCA’s Work First program, Awad landed a job at the Westin Hotel in Romulus. Awad’s wife became fluent in English after participating in the Partnership for Adult Learning (PAL) program. Awad hasn’t lost sight of obtaining a job in his field, but now he is able to do it with less pressure and stress. |
 Bernice Jewell; her grandson Michael jr.; and his dad, award winner Michael Tulacz. |
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Wandy Barreto, a resident of Lincoln Park, came to DCC as a single parent of two. Barreto was able to improve her job search methods, successfully complete computer courses in Microsoft Word and Excel and obtain employment with the Child Care Coordinating Council in Southgate as a child care specialist. Hicham Chami came to ACCESS after migrating from his native country to Michigan. Chami came to the center with the hopes of learning English and going to college to become a graphic designer. With the help of PAL, Chami is fluent in English, an honor student at Henry Ford Community College and on his way to fulfilling his dream. |
 Award winner Dorian Porter’s sister and Dorian. |
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Lisa Davis, a resident of Trenton, came to Ross-Taylor as a Work First client. She would join two mentoring programs through the American Society of Employers (ASE). By attending the programs, Davis learned to take responsibility for her own life and make better choices. Currently, Davis continues to work hard on her life plan and is an employee at Wendy’s with hopes of becoming a manager in the near future. |
 Case manager John Yakima and award winner Wandy Baretto. |
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Lack of transportation and daycare issues were two obstacles facing Dorian Porter, who came to DCC in hopes of entering the medical billing program. With the help of DCC, Porter obtained employment at Sodexho in Dearborn and has recently graduated with a 3.0 grade point average in the medical billing program at Dorsey Business School. |
 Job Developer Pat Gresock and Lisa Davis. |
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Michael Tulacz, came to Ross-Taylor with a long history of drug abuse and long-term incarceration. Tulacz was sure that no employer would give him the chance he needed to succeed. With the help of SEMCA’s Work First program, he earned a job as a welder at HJ Manufacturing in Romulus. Tulacz said his life is more stable after his participation in Work First. “The services we provide to our communities is more enhanced because of SEMCA’s dedication to seeing the need and rising to the challenge,” said Najwa Hadous, operations manager of Employment and Training of ACCESS. “The leadership and guidance provided by SEMCA is what makes our services credible, successful and our goals achievable.” |
 SEMCA Board Member and the emcee for the event, Marilyn Opdyke. |
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