A Budding Artist

Dafonta comes to us from Winton Terrace and is currently enrolled in The Next Level program. The 17-year-old loves to draw. He especially enjoys drawing anime style warriors.

"I draw because of my imagination and passion for it. It’s fun to draw and when I finish and look at the picture, I think 'wow I did it and I practiced for a long time and it paid off.'”

"I want my GED because I really need it to get the jobs I want and to succeed in life. It will help me get a better future for myself and my family."

Busy Busy Busy

This week has been a busy one for the staff and students at LCW. I don't know if it's the back-to-school buzz or just something in the air, but students have been pouring in and we have more coming every day.

The capacity crowd took some careful management, but a little rearrangement and some careful space usage got everyone in and working hard. Some of our more industrious students even took advantage of the nice weather and studied outside in the park.

The classroom filled up quickly.

Trying to make a little more room.

Squeezing in, always room for one more.

Anthony working on his math skills for the GED next month.

Kenyon gives instruction in the shade.

Kandice getting it done in the sunshine.

I'm From

I’m from somewhere nobody ever been
I’m from a dead-end don’t know where to begin
I got lost in the streets by a dear friend
Who took my life from me and me want it to
End

He said he love me said he care too
All of it was a dream that wouldn’t come true.
I started smoking drugs and dropped out of school.
Then he left me in the dark, I didn’t get far

I’m
Back
In the dead-end where nobody ever been.
I’m from the streets where we sell drugs
And shot dice for life

Life is hard; Life is tough smoking that weed
Ducking the cops
Being free is the best way to be
Cause when the cops get you
Fifteen to life is not where I want to be

Now I’m back on the streets smoking weed
Ducking cops again
Back to beginning somewhere
Nobody ever been

I’m from Literacy Center West, I got my GED
And a job again.
Life was hard; Life was tough
They taught me also, they taught me to talk
They handed me an open hand
This is where I’m from this is not the
End.

I’m from somewhere nobody ever been
I’m from a dead end
Literacy Center West taught me where to begin,
They taught me a lot, they taught me to
Trust.

I’m from a school with a lot of heart,
They taught me a good start.

by Khadijah

Sharoca

Sharoca comes to us from Oakley. She is currently working on her GED and interviewing for jobs. Here she discusses how getting a GED will help her achieve her goal of becoming a police officer.

The New Guy

My name is Justin Combs. I am the Communications Director for Literacy Center West.

Right now, I’m the new guy.

Starting at a new place is never easy. Starting at a place that specializes in getting jobs for people can be particularly intimidating. Even though I’m beginning another leg of a professional career, I’m finding that most of what we teach our students about keeping their first job still applies.

You have to be on time, keep a good attitude, be honest, make sure you communicate with your boss, and be willing to learn.

I've defintiely been learning a lot. Coming to the center has shown me how hard it can be to do a lot of the things most of us take for granted, like finishing high school or getting a job. I've learned how almost anything can get in the way of someone living up to their potential. That sometimes people just need a little help to get moving in the right direction. But mainly I’m learning the importance of never giving up.

The energy in this place is incredible. Our students are here to get something done. They have made a choice to remove some of the barriers in their lives and they do it with a verve that you can feel in the air.

With this blog, I want to capture some of that energy. Hopefully we’ll be able to show you what it’s like here for our students, the triumphs, failures, hopes, realities and just the day-to-day stuff it takes to get it done.