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Northwest WIOA and Adult Education Impacts MS Adult Learners

by Sarah Smith-Hutchinson

Senatobia, MS (09/15/2026) — Northwest Mississippi Community College's Adult Education and WIOA partnered alongside Northwest's Horticulturist Len Lawhon of Olive Branch to help students train for success by working with the horticulture team to help keep the Northwest campuses beautiful. Since they began implementing this program in 2021, they have had a total of 12 students go through the program. The program started as a collaboration among Director of WIOA and WIN Job Center Operations Jennifer Casey of Senatobia, Director of Adult Education Jennifer Williams of Senatobia and Lawhon.

The Gateway Out-of-School Youth Program is funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which serves eligible youth and young adults by connecting them with job opportunities. The goal is to help them develop skills that put them in high-demand jobs while meeting them where they are. Through this program, participants can overcome barriers, receive their GED or HSE, earn credentials and successfully transition into college, short-term training, or a career.

"Adult Education is an important partner in the success of our WIOA Gateway Out-of-School Youth Program," said Casey. "Together, we are able to meet individuals where they are and provide the education, career training, work experience, and supportive services they need to move forward. This partnership is about more than helping someone earn a credential or find a job-it's about helping people recognize their potential, overcome barriers, and create a pathway to long-term career success.

"Additionally, Mr. Lawhon and his team have been tremendous partners to our program. They not only provide meaningful work experience opportunities for our participants, but they also serve as mentors, encouraging and supporting our participants as they work toward their goals."

This project is 100% funded by federal funds through the WIOA, in the amount of $293,000, through Three Rivers Planning and Development District, Inc./The Mississippi Partnership Local Workforce Development Board. No nongovernmental funds support this project.

"As the coordinator of the Gateway Out-of-School Youth Program it is my team's objective to help youth move from barriers to opportunities," said Rachelle Washington, Northwest's WIOA Internship, Youth and Special Programs coordinator. "We strive to connect youth with employment and career pathways, support them with obtaining education and industry-recognized credentials, and provide meaningful work experience and career explorations that build the confidence needed to enter the workforce.

"Our goal is simple: to meet youth where they are, help them overcome barriers, and provide the tools, training, and support they need to achieve education, employment, and long-term career success."

The program has proven to be effective through Northwest building students up to the next level of their education or preparing them for the workforce. Lawhon said that this "work-education" arrangement benefits not only the students but helps fill critical needs at the college by helping with the upkeep of the grounds. It teaches them valuable skills including "work-life accountability" that prepares them for balancing various aspects of their life.

"Of our WIOA members, nine completed their GED while working with us, five enrolled as full or part-time students at NWCC, three graduated with either an associate degree or tech certification and are employed using those credentials, and two are currently working on their associate degree," said Lawhon. "Of our student interns, six are still working with us, two are now students at Ole Miss or Mississippi State, one is in our nursing school, and two have completed associate degrees."

Success isn't about the end goal for Lawhon, but about helping endow them with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain in today's job market. One of those vital skills is adaptability, which prepares these students for wherever their life takes them after the program and into their next career venture.

"Adult Education is very fortunate to partner with the WIOA Out-Of-School Youth Program," said Williams. "We are very appreciative to have them work with all of our sites while providing our students with career choices within their pathway. This is a tremendous partnership that helps lead to our students' success."

For students like Dillon Oldham from Strayhorn, this allowed him the chance to earn his GED and get opportunities he didn't otherwise get to see in his future, starting with help from grounds team member Anthony Harvey of Arkabutla, who regularly picked up Oldham and brought him to work.

Impressed by his work ethic and ability to work in harsh conditions, Harvey kept encouraging Oldham as well as advocating that eventually he should be part of the full-time grounds team at Northwest after his completion of the WIOA program and getting his GED. It wasn't long after that Oldham was able to get his license and drive himself to work.

Oldham credits his ability to be able to get the job and receive his GED to the help he received from the WIOA program and all those who encouraged him through the process, which included the Adult Ed educators who helped him and the grounds team members like Lawhon and Harvey who encouraged him through the whole process.

Audrey Wade of Senatobia just started her first year as an art student at Northwest after finishing the Adult Education program. Wade said the WIOA program gave her an opportunity to work while improving herself through education.

"The teachers and faculty of the Adult Education program have given me a second chance I never thought I had," Wade said. "I appreciate all the encouragement they have given me to make me move forward to the next point in my life."

For more information on Northwest's Adult Education program, visit www.northwestms.edu/programs/adult-education. For more information on WIOA and workforce training, visit www. https://www.northwestms.edu/programs/workforce.

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Northwest’s Horticulturist Len Lawhon (left), and grounds workers Dillon Oldham (middle) and Anthony Harvey (right). Photo by Sarah Smith-Hutchinson

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