By Melissa Ulrey and Heather Hourigan
The Shalom Community Center in Bloomington is a haven from harsh winter weather where the homeless community can shower, have breakfast and lunch, receive mail, and now, take adult education classes.
Shalom Community Center, in partnership with Monroe County Community School Corp Adult Education Program, began holding free, on-site GED preparation classes starting January 25.
So far, the class has eight students, but MCCSC Adult Education Director Sherry Dick is confident that community interest will increase as more and more people hear about the classes.
“I think a lot of places word isn’t even out yet about it,” she says, “so we’re expecting that the class will be full in just a couple weeks.”
The classes, which are scheduled to meet every Tuesday and Thursday until May 26, are completely free for students, although, Dick says when students are ready for the GED, they will have to pay a $70 testing fee. In addition, she says the classes themselves will cost approximately 10-thousand dollars.
“This is coming from the state adult education budget that MCCSC gets,” Dick says.
Volunteers In Tutoring Adult Learners –Monroe County Public Library’s adult literacy program– Coordinator Sue Murphy says she knows the importance of adult education. She works with adult community members that need assistance with elementary reading and writing skills.
“The fact that Sherry has organized this class to meet at the Shalom Center,” Murphy says, “just makes it so much easier for these individuals. There are enough barriers for them as it is.”
People interested in taking classes can sign up at Shalom’s hospitality desk.
This story was written for WFIU and is available here on the website for Indiana Public Media.
Melissa Ulrey 