Hoffman Estates center names 'Outstanding Volunteer'

Just three weeks after arriving in America from Mexico in 1987, Miguel Coronel had to face every teen's nightmare: high school.

Yet for Coronel, the apprehension was magnified. At 18, instead of a senior, he was deemed a sophomore by U.S. school standards. As if that was not bad enough, Coronel could not speak English.

"In gym class, I couldn't understand what the teacher said to do, so I just followed the guys in front of me and did what they did," said Coronel.

It took more than six months before Coronel became comfortable with the English language. However, language was only one hurdle. To keep up, he needed to learn computer skills.

"One of my friends in high school gave me the opportunity to learn computers, so I decided to give others the same opportunity," said the Elgin resident. "I wanted to pay it forward."

That is why the 39-year-old became involved in teaching computer proficiency to Spanish-speaking people through the Hoffman Estates Community Resource Center under the FIND (Family Involvement Nurturing Development) PI (Prevention Initiative) program.

"The FIND-PI program is part of the Early Childhood Block Grants," said Kathy Kohlstedt, family intervention specialist with the program. "The Prevention Initiative program serves low-income, at-risk families in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 and Palatine Township Elementary District 15."

Coronel began his involvement with the center four years ago, he says, "to make myself useful in the community." He spends four hours a week preparing and teaching three levels of computer training, including beginner, intermediate and job skills.

"Some people that took the class used to work on the factory line," said Coronel. "They thank me because now they work in offices. That's very rewarding."

Success came through trial and error.

"The biggest challenge is when they open Word and see all the different buttons," Coronel said. "You can see on their faces that they are thinking, 'Oh no; what's all this?' But I tell them not to worry. I have them type their name and click one button at a time to underline, bold, color. Then they become comfortable and by the end of class they're playing on their own."

Coronel got the idea for the job skills class after being approached by some students.

"They were fine filling out a factory application. But when they saw the word 'resume' they had no clue what to do," said Coronel.

Kohlstedt appreciated Coronel's initiative, and presented him with the center's Outstanding Volunteer award.

"He works very independently with the class and really listens to the students," she said. "He heard their need and took the ball and ran with it."

Having some experience with interviewing applicants, and taking advantage of a 2000 resume training program, Coronel utilized his schooling to help others.

"I had to take the materials, refine them, and personalize it so students could understand it," said Coronel, who spent about 40 volunteer hours on the project. "Paragraphing was a language barrier. So I would put the paragraphs in bullet form with key words."

Kohlstedt was quite impressed with Coronel's endeavors.

"He and one other volunteer designed the class and put together the curriculum," she said. "He had to translate the handouts into Spanish."

Coronel's attention to detail and his caring efforts has paid off for some.

"A few people have told me that knowing how to design a resume and cover letter helped them get the job they wanted," Coronel said.

Another challenge for Coronel is space issues.

"The resource center is located at the Salem Ridge Apartment complex in a 600-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment," said Kohlstedt. "The computer classes are run in a 10' x 10' or 10' x 13' sized bedroom. So it can't accommodate more than four computers."

Coronel also volunteers his time to work on donated computers, getting them up and running for families.

"He'll work on them and if he can't figure something out, he'll get his brother to help," said Kohlstedt. "So he is pulling other people into this, which is great."

Coronel works as an international costumer advocate for Motorola in Schaumburg. He has volunteered for the company's cancer walks and for their Latino Business Council.

"Last year with the Council, I went to Streamwood High School on career day. I presented myself to tell the Hispanic students how I made my career at Motorola speaking to Spanish clients in Latin America," said Coronel.

Coronel, who is married and has one daughter, enjoys playing volleyball on the Motorola and a YMCA league. However, he may not have much time for the hobby in the future, as he would like to initiate another program at the center.

"I would like to start an English club where people would speak only in English while reading a book, or with games and other things," said Coronel. "That way, they could practice what they learn."