It was a telephone scam that sparked Justin Dieffenbach’s midlife career change. The Lemoyne resident had clocked about 20 years of carpentry work after leaving the military before a 2021 phone scam nearly cost him $2,500. Not long after that, Dieffenbach saw a flyer advertising digital literacy classes at the Employment Skills Center , a Carlisle nonprofit offering adult education, training, and workforce development.
“I was so intimidated by computers,” he said. “[I] did not like them one bit.” Nevertheless, Dieffenbach signed up for the course.
On Thursday night, he joined dozens of other Employment Skills Center in crossing the stage at Carlisle High School’s Swartz Auditorium during the organization’s graduation and recognition ceremony. The ceremony celebrated graduates from a variety of the nonprofit’s programs, from the GED program to English as a Second Language to EMT and nurse aid training. Thursday’s event also featured guest speaker Becca Raley, associate director of integration at Church World Services Harrisburg .
“The Employment Skills Center, especially at this moment, is a very special place because your mission is at the heart of the community we aspire to be,” she said. Raley said many students took classes while working full time. Some balanced course work with raising a family while others sacrificed paid work to further their educations.
“Tonight, in this chapter of this story, you’re our heroes,” she said. When Dieffenbach s.
