Warner Robins, Ga. – Literacy initiatives at the Hawkinsville Workforce Development Center (HWDC), where Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) houses Adult Education Division (AED) programs alongside its partner, Help Network Inc., recently received a boost in funding thanks to a $4,250 grant from the Georgia Power Foundation.
Help Network Inc., is a non-profit organization and is the Pulaski County Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP). CLCP’s across the College’s service area support literacy and GED® acquisition alongside the work of the AED.
“We strive to add quality of life by providing and supporting programs that will work toward this community goal,” said, Lucious Bray, chairman of the Pulaski County CLCP Board, who alongside his grandson Naikari Bray and colleague Cynthia Crisp put together the grant application.
“We are thankful for the Georgia Power Foundation for thinking enough of our work to award us this grant,” Bray added.
The Pulaski County CLCP produces 10 to 20 GED® graduates per year. Grant funds will help offset student costs for taking the exams through scholarships and will aid in transportation to and from testing centers.
“Whatever this funding can do to help Mr. Bray and this community, the Georgia Power Foundation would like to be a part of it,” said Mike Roper, Georgia Power’s local manager for External Affairs Southwest Region, during a short ceremony at the HWDC last week.
The Hawkinsville Workforce Development Center is home to both adult education and credit instruction at the College, including dual enrollment with the high school. Housing multiple entry points for education under one roof are something the Center’s director, Marcus Early, hopes shorten the divide of access.
“Rural communities need to know that we are here offering multiple avenues, working with community partners to offer an education that leads to career and personal growth,” he said. “This grant for the Help Network, Inc. will do quite a bit to help achieve these goals and we are pleased to see Georgia Power support these efforts.”
For more information about the CGTC Adult Education Division, visit https://www.centralgatech.edu/adult-education.
About Adult Education Certified Literate Community Programs
In 1990, under the leadership of Governor Zell Miller, the state launched the Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP) as a means of combating the problems of low literacy. The new program was placed in the Office of Adult Education at the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
CLCP takes a local, grass-roots approach to make literacy improvement a community-wide commitment. Each one is a nonprofit collaborative that raises the visibility of literacy and provides support to local literacy providers and individuals in need of services. A network is formed to coordinate business, church, volunteer, social service, local government and schools, media and other efforts locally, to reach, influence and support those who want to improve their education.
This flexible, community-based approach gives each CLCP a unique organization and set of connections. All are governed by volunteer boards that work to fund and promote literacy efforts. An executive director manages the day to day operations and directs activities designed to meet the goals of the CLCP. Funding sources vary and include individual donations, annual giving campaigns, fund-raisers (such as spelling bees and charity auctions), grants, corporate contributions as well as in-kind resources.
Photo: Six men and four women stand together at the front of a classroom for a check presentation. Mike Roper, (front left) Georgia Power’s local manager for External Affairs Southwest Region presents an oversize check to Lucious Bray, chairman of the Pulaski County CLCP Board.
Video: Six men and four women stand together at the front of a classroom for a check presentation. One man hand an oversize check to another following a short message.