On May 30th, eleven students of the YWCA Sojourner’s Education/Job
Readiness Center received their GEDs (General Equivalency Diplomas).
This group ranges in age from 18 to mid-40. Some are parents; others
have been out of school for 10 or more years, and eight of the 11
either are attending college now or will attend in the fall.
“One on one, that’s how it works at the Center,”
said Margaret Taylor, director of the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter
for Homeless Women and Families. “We usually start with classes
in self-esteem and work up from there. Once the students gain some
self-confidence, they make better progress,” she said.
Taylor refers to the students in the YWCA Sojourner’s Education/Job
Readiness Center as her “kids,” no matter what age they
are. “Being homeless doesn’t mean you can’t learn,
get your diploma, get a job and stand on your own two feet. It just
means that you’re eligible for the services that we provide
through the Shelter and the Center,” said Taylor.
Those who attend classes at the Center include participants from
the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women and Families,
the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program, Covenant House, Jericho House,
Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center, the Salvation Army, Samaritan Inn,
Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home, Union Mission, New Connections and
Smith Street Station.
“Most of our grads are already working; one is in the military,
two are currently seeking employment and all have worked hard at getting
this diploma,” said Taylor.
Services provided for the homeless through the YWCA Sojourner’s
Education/Job Readiness Center include adult basic education; life-skills
preparation such as money management and voter registration; job-development
preparation and placement, including self-marketing techniques, interviewing
tips and job-keeping skills; computer-literacy; women’s health
information; substance abuse counseling, childcare and transportation.
“Making time to study while juggling family and job responsibilities
isn’t easy, but all of our graduates have risen to the challenge
to get their diplomas. Some of them have earned outstanding scores
in the testing, too,” said the Center’s Education Coordinator,
Marsha Washington.
Connie Stone, the Center’s Adult Basic Education instructor,
says of the graduates. “They have proven that success comes
to those who work hard and do their best.” she said.
The Center at 1307 Lee Street, East, operates from 8:30 am to 4:30
pm, Monday through Friday. The YWCA Sojourner’s Education/Job
Readiness Center provides services without regard to race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation or marital, family or socioeconomic status.
For more information, contact: Marsha Washington, YWCA Sojourner’s
Education/Job Readiness Center,
304-340-3516 or PK Khoury, YWCA Marketing/Development, 340-3557
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