document resume ed 357 181 ce 063 558 title ...document resume, ed 357 181 ce 063 558 title [success...
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DOCUMENT RESUME
, ED 357 181 CE 063 558
TITLE [Success Stories:) Empowering the Adult Learner.INSTITUTION Royce and Royce, Inc., Lancaster, PA.PUB DATE 93NOTE 55p.PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141)
EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS Academic Achievement; *Adult Basic Education; *Adult
Literacy; Basic Skills; *Biographies; CareerDevelopment; *Literacy Education; Mathematics Skills;*Outcomes of Education; Participant Satisfaction;Reading Skills; *Success
IDENTIFIERS Empowerment; Pennsylvania
ABSTRACT
This publication contains the success stories of 10outstanding men and women who have overcome seemingly insurmountableobstacles to become contributing citizens of Pennsylvania. Thesestories destrib.; how, through their participation in Pennsylvania'sadult basic education and literacy programs, they were aided in theirsuccessful struggles to enhance their reading and math skills, todevelop new career interests and opportunities, and to take charge oftheir lives. (YLB)
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ER
AC
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DU
CA
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GR
AM
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NSY
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TM
EN
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ED
UC
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UC
CE
SS
ST(
)RIV
S
CO
MM
ON
WE
AL
TH
OF
PEN
NSY
LV
AN
IAR
ober
t P. C
asey
, Gov
erno
r
DE
PAR
TM
EN
T O
F E
DU
CA
TIO
ND
onal
d M
. Car
roll,
Jr.
, Sec
reta
ry
Off
ice
of P
osts
econ
dary
and
Hig
her
Edu
catio
nC
harl
es F
uget
, Com
mis
sion
er
.B
urea
u of
Adu
lt B
asic
and
Lite
rary
Edu
catio
nJo
hn C
hris
toph
er, D
irec
tor
SUC
CE
SS S
TO
RIE
S SE
LE
CT
ION
CO
MM
ITT
EE
Sam
uel B
rint
on, A
BE
Dir
ecto
rE
ast P
enns
boro
Are
a Sc
hool
Dis
tric
t
Pegg
y G
reen
e, I
nstr
ucto
rH
arri
sbur
g St
ate
Hos
pita
l
Che
ryl H
arm
on, A
dvan
cEPM
Res
ourc
e C
ente
r
John
I le
isey
, Sup
ervi
sor
Leb
anon
Adu
lt L
earn
ing
Cen
ter
Car
olin
e L
ee, C
oord
inat
or o
f A
dult
Lite
racy
Com
mun
ity C
olle
ge o
f A
llegh
eny
Cou
nty
Ral
ph M
orga
n, A
ssoc
iate
Exe
cutiv
e D
irec
tor
Schu
yIk'
ll Il
1 4
29
Iren
e Pa
ul, D
irec
tor
Red
Lan
d C
omm
unity
Act
ion
Prog
ram
Dan
Par
tin, 3
53 A
dvis
orPD
E, B
urea
u of
AB
LE
Sher
ry R
oyce
Succ
ess
Stor
ies
Proj
ect D
irec
tor
Mar
gare
t Sha
w, A
BE
Adv
isor
PDE
, Bur
eau
of A
BL
E
Cyn
thia
Wes
t, C
omm
unity
Rel
atio
ns O
ffic
er
Dau
phin
Dep
osit
Ban
k
Tab
le o
f C
onte
nts
AL
LE
GH
EN
Y C
OU
NT
YO
utst
andi
ng A
dult
Stud
ent:
How
ard
Bro
wn
Spon
sor:
Con
nelle
y T
echn
ical
Ins
titut
e4
CE
NT
RE
CO
UN
TY
Out
stan
ding
Adu
lt St
uden
t: C
harl
es I
. Kri
ner
Spon
sors
: CIU
10
Dev
elop
men
t Cen
ter
6M
id-S
tate
Lite
racy
Cou
ncil
LA
CK
AW
AN
NA
CO
UN
TY
Out
stan
ding
Adu
lt St
uden
t: T
ed L
eeSp
onso
r: S
cran
ton
Cou
ncil
for
Lite
racy
Adv
ance
8
Out
stan
ding
Adu
lt St
uden
t Tam
my
McG
raw
Spon
sor:
Lac
kaw
anna
Jun
ior
Col
lege
10
LU
ZE
RN
E C
OU
NT
YO
utst
andi
ng A
dult
Stud
ent C
assi
e D
awso
nSp
onso
r: L
uzer
ne I
nter
med
iate
Uni
t 18
12
LY
CO
MIN
G C
OU
NT
YO
utst
andi
ng A
dult
Stud
ent:
Deb
ra W
inte
rsSp
onso
r: L
ycom
ing
Cou
nty
Lite
racy
Cou
ncil
14
MIF
FLIN
CO
I !N
TY
Out
stan
ding
Adu
lt St
uden
t: So
phia
Hei
kes
Spon
sor:
TIU
Adu
lt E
duca
tion
& J
ob T
rain
ing
Cen
ter
16
MO
NT
GO
ME
RY
CO
UN
TY
Out
stan
ding
Adu
lt St
uden
t: C
arol
Gro
ceSp
onso
r: E
agle
ville
Hos
pita
l18
PHIL
AD
EL
PHIA
CO
UN
TY
Out
stan
ding
Adu
lt St
uden
t: D
alia
Cas
tro
Spon
sor:
Com
mun
ity L
earn
ing
Cen
ter
20
Out
stan
ding
Adu
lt St
uden
t: V
eron
ica
Fran
klin
Spon
sor:
Lut
hera
n Se
ttlem
ent H
ouse
Wom
en's
Pro
gram
..
.22
S
Dea
r R
eade
r:
In th
is p
ublic
atio
n, S
UC
CE
SS S
TO
RIE
S E
mpo
wer
ing
the
Adu
lt L
earn
er, y
ouw
ill r
ead
the
insp
irin
g st
orie
s of
ten
outs
tand
ing
men
and
wom
en w
ho h
ave
over
com
e se
emin
gly
insu
rmou
ntab
le o
bsta
cles
to b
ecom
e co
ntri
butin
g ci
tizen
sof
our
Com
mon
wea
th. T
hrou
gh th
eir
part
icip
atio
n in
Pen
nsyl
vani
a's
adul
t bas
iced
ucat
ion
and
liter
acy
prog
ram
s, th
ey w
ere
aide
d in
thei
r su
cces
sful
str
uggl
es to
enha
nce
thei
r re
adin
g an
d m
ath
skill
s, to
dev
elop
new
car
eer
inte
rest
s an
d op
-po
rtun
ities
, and
to ta
ke c
harg
e of
thei
r liv
es. T
he p
erse
vera
nce
and
hope
dem
onst
rate
d by
thes
e co
urag
eous
adu
lts is
trul
y m
ovin
g.E
llen
and
I ha
ve b
een
stro
ngly
sup
port
ive
of a
dult
basi
c ed
ucat
ion
effo
rts
in o
ur s
tate
. Ove
r th
e pa
st s
ix y
ears
, we'
ve b
acke
d up
that
sup
port
with
an
hist
oric
stat
e in
vest
men
t in
adul
t lite
racy
pro
gram
s. W
e ar
e co
nvin
ced
that
it ta
kes
this
kind
of
educ
atio
nal c
omm
itmen
t to
ensu
re th
at e
very
citi
zen
of o
ur s
tate
has
the
oppo
rtun
ity to
rea
ch h
is/h
er h
ighe
st p
oten
tial i
n lif
e.N
othi
ng is
mor
e es
sent
ial t
o th
e fu
ture
com
petit
iven
ess
of o
ur e
cono
my
and
the
vita
lity
of o
ur s
ocie
ty th
an th
e ed
ucat
ion
of o
ur p
eopl
e. W
hen
peop
le c
anno
tre
ad, t
hey
cann
ot p
artic
ipat
e fu
lly in
thei
r w
ork
plac
es o
r th
eir
com
mun
ities
. And
we
all s
uffe
r be
caus
e of
it.
Tha
t's w
hy it
's s
o im
port
ant f
or a
ll of
us
to s
uppo
rt e
ffor
ts to
impr
ove
liter
acy
in o
ur s
tate
. Sta
te g
over
nmen
t will
con
tinue
its f
inan
cial
and
mor
al c
omm
itmen
t. B
ut o
ur s
ucce
ss d
epen
ds o
n th
e ac
tive
invo
lvem
ent o
f ev
eryo
ne w
ho c
ares
abo
ut o
ur f
utur
eas
a s
tate
and
as
a pe
ople
.I
hope
that
SU
CC
ESS
ST
OR
IES:
Em
pow
erin
g th
e A
dult
Lea
rner
will
insp
ire
all o
f us
to h
elp
brin
g th
e jo
ys a
nd r
ewar
dsof
lite
racy
and
life
long
lear
ning
to e
very
Pen
nsyl
vani
an.
Sinc
erel
y,
Rob
ert P
. Cas
eyG
over
nor,
Com
mon
wea
lth o
f Pe
nnsy
lvan
ia
tl
'4
4
Em
pow
erin
g T
he A
dult
Lea
rner
10
HO
WA
RD
BR
OW
N
"The
bot
tom
line
is: B
elie
ve in
you
rsel
fH
ave
true
fai
th in
your
frie
nds.
Succ
ess
beco
mes
inev
itabl
e."
1104
#4,1
1 gi
ow4%
13
AL
LE
GH
EN
Y C
OU
NT
Y
How
ard
Bro
wn
grew
up
in a
hom
e w
here
his
fat
her
beat
him
and
put
win
e in
his
bab
y bo
ttle
to p
acif
y hi
m. R
aise
d by
this
alc
ohol
ic f
athe
r w
ho s
pent
mos
t his
tim
eon
the
road
and
in b
ars,
How
ard
and
his
sist
er le
arne
d to
take
cwe
of th
em-
selv
es. M
any
unre
late
d "a
unts
" an
d "u
ncle
s" p
asse
d th
roug
hth
eir
lives
, but
with
out s
igni
fica
nce
and
mea
ning
. The
hou
sehe
gre
w u
p in
had
one
roo
m, n
o ph
one,
and
no T
V o
r he
at.
The
ref
rige
rato
r ha
d a
lock
on
it an
d fo
odw
as d
istr
ibut
edm
ilita
ry s
tyle
. How
ard
and
his
sist
er w
ent t
o sc
hool
to k
eep
war
m. W
rapp
ed in
rag
s, h
ungr
y an
d co
ld, h
e w
as u
nabl
e to
conc
entr
ate.
Onl
y hi
s si
ster
who
was
thre
e ye
ars
olde
r pr
o-vi
ded
dire
ctio
n an
d or
der
in h
is li
fe. T
hen,
at 1
2, w
hen
hebe
gan
to "
part
y,"
havi
ng r
ando
m s
ex a
nd d
rink
ing,
his
sis
ter
diso
wne
d hi
m.
The
cha
nges
whi
ch w
ere
occu
rrin
g du
ring
the
60s
and
70s,
the
drug
s, th
e ci
vil r
ight
s st
rugg
les,
and
the
anti-
war
mov
emen
t, ap
peal
ed to
How
ard.
Jus
t as
the
natio
n w
asre
belli
ng, s
o w
as h
e. P
artic
ipat
ing
in th
e an
ti-w
ar m
ovem
ent
fit h
is li
fest
yle
and
belie
fs. W
hile
at a
pub
lic le
vel,
hew
asdo
ing
som
ethi
ng h
e be
lieve
d w
orth
whi
le; a
t a p
erso
nal l
evel
,hi
s lif
e w
as s
inki
ng in
to d
espa
ir. D
rink
ing
and
emot
iona
lre
belli
on w
ere
his
way
of
copi
ng w
ith h
imse
lf a
nd o
ther
s.H
is m
arri
age
at 1
7 to
a b
ride
of
14 w
as a
"sh
otgu
nw
eddi
ng:'
His
bri
de tu
rned
out
not
to b
e pr
egna
nt, a
nd th
em
arri
age
last
ed o
nly
six
mon
ths.
How
ard
cann
ot r
emem
ber
a lo
ng s
pan
of h
is li
fe a
fter
that
. Dri
nkin
g af
fect
ed b
oth
his
4
Spon
sor:
Alf
red
R. F
asce
tti, C
onne
lley
Tec
hnic
al I
nstit
ute
and
Adu
lt E
duca
tion
Cen
ter
actio
ns a
nd h
is m
emor
y. H
e w
as f
ortu
nate
in h
is la
tetw
en-
ties,
to h
ave
a fr
iend
who
took
him
und
er h
is w
ing
and
in-
trod
uced
him
to s
elf-
help
psy
chol
ogy.
And
rew
Car
negi
e,N
apoi
eon
Hill
, and
Ben
jam
in F
rank
linw
ere
cata
lyst
s in
his
ques
t for
sel
f-di
rect
ion
and
infl
uenc
ed h
isw
ay o
f th
inki
ngan
d be
havi
ng s
ocia
lly a
nd m
oral
ly. W
ork
for
the
dis-
enfr
anch
ised
whi
ch b
egan
with
his
act
ivis
m in
the
60s
has
cont
inue
d. T
he h
omel
ess
caus
e ha
s be
com
e hi
s "c
allin
g:' H
ese
es th
is c
allin
g as
a ju
stif
icat
ion
for
his
exis
tenc
e.In
Sep
tem
ber
1991
, How
ard
ente
red
Con
nelle
y T
echn
ical
Inst
itute
and
Adu
lt E
duca
tion
Cen
ter
topu
rsue
the
fiel
d of
Bui
ldin
g T
rade
s M
aint
enan
ce. H
e ho
ped
that
this
trad
e m
ight
be a
via
ble
voca
tion
to h
elp
his
caus
e. T
he le
ader
ship
ski
llshe
use
d as
an
advo
cate
for
oth
ers
wer
eno
w u
sed
to p
ursu
eso
met
hing
pra
ctic
al a
nd u
sefu
l for
him
self
. He
volu
ntee
red
to h
elp
his
clas
smat
es, t
each
ers,
and
adm
inis
trat
ion
whe
neve
r so
me
task
nee
ded
to b
e do
ne, a
nd h
e be
cam
ea
role
mod
el f
or o
ther
s. T
o hi
s am
azem
ent,
in M
arch
199
2 he
took
and
pas
sed
his
GE
D.
Feel
ing
this
was
a g
ift t
o sh
are,
he
volu
ntee
red
to te
ach
read
ing
and
mat
h sk
ills
to o
ther
s. W
hile
doi
ng th
is, h
ew
rst
ill v
isib
le in
the
Ints
burg
h co
mm
unity
adv
ocat
ing
the
hom
eles
s ca
use.
Tod
ay h
e se
rves
on
seve
ral b
oard
s w
hich
activ
ely
over
see
hom
eles
s is
sues
. Whi
le w
aitin
g to
rec
eive
a jo
b as
a c
usto
dian
with
the
Pitts
burg
h Pu
blic
Sch
ools
, he
is v
olun
teer
ing
as a
tuto
r in
rea
ding
and
mat
h.
CH
AR
LE
S K
RIN
ER
'7 w
ish
I co
uld
get o
nth
e ra
dio
and
conv
ince
peo
ple
toge
t hel
p.I
don'
t car
e w
ho k
now
s no
w!
I ha
ve a
GE
D a
nd I
wan
t oth
ers
toha
ve th
is c
hanc
e, to
o!"
ems,
164
44.
1 '
CE
NT
ER
CO
UN
TY
whe
nC
harl
es K
rine
r fa
iled
seve
nth
grad
e fo
r th
ese
cond
tim
e, h
e w
as s
o fr
ustr
ated
and
dis
cour
aged
that
he
quit
scho
ol. H
e ha
d al
so f
aile
d fi
rst,
thir
d, a
nd f
ifth
gra
des.
He
coul
d no
t rea
d. C
huck
got
a v
ery
fine
job
with
the
city
depa
rtm
ent o
f w
ater
; tha
t is,
unt
il he
cou
ld n
ot p
ass
a jo
bre
late
d te
st. S
ince
that
tim
e, h
e ha
s w
orke
d as
a h
eavy
equ
ip-
men
t ope
rato
r.Y
ears
late
r, h
e m
arri
ed A
lice;
they
had
thre
e ch
ildre
n an
dhe
had
a s
tead
y jo
b w
orki
ng in
the
coal
min
es. H
e se
emed
to h
ave
his
life
in o
rder
. But
alw
ays
in th
e ba
ck o
f C
huck
'sm
ind
was
the
fear
that
he
mig
ht b
e as
ked
to r
ead
dire
ctio
ns,
do c
oal o
rder
s or
, wor
se y
et, t
ake
a re
quir
ed te
st f
or jo
bad
vanc
emen
t. H
e ha
d w
ante
d m
ore
out o
f lif
e bu
t kne
w h
eco
uld
not a
pply
for
dif
fere
nt w
ork;
not
with
a f
amily
tosu
ppor
t and
a "
secr
et"
inab
ility
to r
ead.
In 1
990,
aft
er h
is o
ldes
t son
obt
aine
d a
GE
D, C
huck
hea
rda
radi
o ad
vert
isem
ent f
or th
e M
id-S
tate
Lite
racy
Cou
ncil
and
deci
ded
to e
nrol
l. Fo
r al
mos
t 18
mon
ths
he w
ould
com
eho
me
ever
y W
edne
sday
aft
er w
orki
ng a
10
hour
shi
ft a
nddr
ivin
g an
hou
r to
and
fro
m w
ork.
He
wou
ld th
en e
at d
inne
r,sh
ower
, cha
nge
clot
hes
and
driv
e to
tuto
ring
ses
sion
s.
6S
Spon
sors
: Mae
Ann
a K
orb,
C1U
10
Dev
elop
men
t Cen
ter
Jean
ne L
ondo
n, S
ue C
onra
dy,
Mid
-Sta
te L
itera
cy C
ounc
il
He
was
alw
ays
on ti
me.
Chu
ck le
arne
d to
rea
d an
d de
code
wor
ds, t
hen
sent
ence
s, p
arag
raph
s, s
tori
es, a
nd th
ene
wsp
aper
. In
Febr
uary
199
2, h
avin
g ad
vanc
ed f
rom
a th
ird
grad
e to
a n
inth
gra
de r
eadi
ng le
vel,
he w
as r
eady
to e
nrol
lin
a G
ED
pro
gram
. In
Mar
ch, h
e en
rolle
d in
the
CIU
10'
sD
evel
opm
ent C
ente
r fo
r A
dult'
s G
ED
cla
ss in
DuB
ois.
Tha
tM
ay 1
992,
at t
he a
ge o
f 44
, he
pass
ed th
e G
ED
test
. \v
lien
they
got
the
new
s, h
is s
on s
aid:
"I
knew
you
cou
ld d
o it,
Dad
.I'm
pro
ud o
f yo
u!"
Chu
ck lo
oked
up
thro
ugh
his
tear
s w
itha
wid
e gr
in a
nd s
aid:
"I
neve
r th
ough
t tha
t I w
ould
eve
r he
arm
y so
n sa
y th
at:'
Bec
ause
of
Chu
ck's
ent
husi
asm
and
exa
mpl
e, h
isyo
unge
st s
on r
etur
ned
to f
inis
h hi
gh s
choo
l. C
huck
has
spok
en a
t tut
or tr
aini
ng s
essi
ons
thro
ugho
ut C
lear
fiel
dC
ount
y an
d ha
s en
cour
aged
his
fel
low
GE
D c
lass
mat
es in
thei
r st
udie
s. "
I w
ish
that
I c
ould
just
get
on
the
radi
o an
dco
nvin
ce p
eopl
e to
get
hel
p. I
don
't ca
re w
ho k
now
s no
w I
have
a G
ED
," h
e be
ams,
"an
d I
wan
t oth
ers
to h
ave
this
chan
ce to
o!"
Tha
t's w
hy h
e is
now
vol
unte
erin
g fo
r th
elit
erac
y co
unci
l to
help
oth
ers
lear
n to
rea
d so
that
they
, too
,ca
n ea
rn a
GE
D.
15
'It's
not
too
late
to le
arn
to r
ead;
so D
O I
T"
Tel
Let
LA
CK
AW
AN
NA
CO
UN
TY
Whe
nT
ed L
ee w
as in
the
nint
h gr
ade
he lo
st h
is f
athe
rw
hom
he
had
love
d, a
dmir
ed, a
nd r
elie
dup
on. T
he c
hild
of
his
addi
cted
old
er s
iste
r, h
e ha
d be
en a
dopt
ed b
y hi
s fa
ther
and
mot
her.
Whe
n hi
s gr
ief-
stri
cken
mot
her
mov
edho
me
to N
ew Y
ork,
Ted
had
to f
ace
the
trau
ma
of a
djus
ting
toa
new
scho
ol a
long
with
the
loss
of
his
fath
er. I
n th
ene
w s
choo
l,he
was
ass
igne
d an
indi
vidu
al tu
tor
inst
ead
of b
eing
pla
ced
in th
e le
arni
ng d
isab
led
clas
s. H
e be
gan
to r
ealiz
e th
at h
e"w
asn'
t dum
b;"
he c
ould
lear
n; h
e ju
st c
ould
n't r
ead.
He
expe
rien
ced
acad
emic
suc
cess
, but
the
stre
ss o
f st
udyi
ngin
cess
antly
was
too
grea
t. O
ne n
ight
he
atte
mpt
ed s
uici
deby
sla
shin
g hi
s w
rist
s. H
e w
as a
dmitt
ed to
a ps
ychi
atri
c un
itan
d pl
aced
on
drug
s w
hich
led
toa
real
dep
ress
ion,
and
anot
her
suic
ide
atte
mpt
.H
is m
othe
r in
an
effo
rt to
hel
p hi
m r
etur
ned
to S
cran
ton
and
plac
ed T
ed in
the
psyc
hiat
ric
unit
at C
omm
unity
Med
ical
Cen
ter.
He
is n
ot s
ure
how
long
he
was
ther
eor
for
how
long
he w
as tr
eate
d at
the
hosp
ital's
out
patie
nt f
acili
ty, t
he S
cran
-to
n C
ouns
elin
g C
ente
r. W
hat T
ed d
oes
rem
embe
r is
that
the
drug
s gi
ven
him
res
ulte
d in
a lo
ss o
f m
uscl
e co
ntro
l and
afe
elin
g of
dis
orie
ntat
ion.
Dec
idin
g to
str
aigh
ten
out h
is li
fe,
he to
ok h
imse
lf o
ut o
f tr
eatm
ent a
nd o
ff d
rugs
, col
d tu
rkey
.A
pply
ing
for
a jo
b at
a lo
cal H
ill's
Dep
artm
ent s
tore
, he
told
the
trut
h ab
out h
is p
robl
ems,
his
com
mitm
ent,
and
his
dete
r-m
inat
ion
to tu
rn h
is li
fe a
roun
d. T
he in
terv
iew
er a
dmir
ed h
isde
term
inat
ion
and
agre
ed to
giv
e hi
m a
cha
nce.
8
Spon
sor:
Dia
na S
tats
man
, Scr
anto
n C
ounc
il fo
r Lite
racy
Adv
ance
In M
ay 1
989
he e
nrol
led
in a
lite
racy
prog
ram
run
by
SCO
LA
, the
Scr
anto
n C
ounc
il fo
r L
itera
cy A
dvan
ce. H
e sa
ysas
king
for
hel
p w
ith h
is r
eadi
ng w
ason
e of
the
hard
est t
hing
she
has
eve
r do
ne. H
e m
ade
arra
ngem
ents
with
Hill
s to
be
rele
ased
fro
m h
is w
ork
dutie
s at
the
ime
the
tuto
r w
asav
aila
ble.
In
retu
rn, h
e ag
reed
to b
e "o
n ca
ll" w
hene
ver
hew
as n
eede
d fo
r w
ork
on w
eeke
nds
and
even
ings
. Alth
ough
this
agr
eem
ent r
equi
red
him
to w
ork
80 a
nd 9
0 ho
urw
eeks
,it
was
wor
th it
. He
love
d le
arni
ng a
nd e
njoy
ed w
orki
ngw
ithhi
s tu
tor
even
thou
gh it
mea
nt w
alki
ng tw
o m
iles
to a
ndfr
om le
sson
s.T
ed n
ow r
eads
at s
ixth
gra
de le
vel a
nd h
asbe
en p
ro-
mot
ed f
rom
sto
ck b
oy to
cas
hier
. He
has
obta
ined
a dr
iver
'slic
ense
and
bou
ght a
new
car
with
the
mon
ey h
e ea
rned
by
wor
king
ove
rtim
e. H
e co
ntin
ues
to w
ork
with
his
tuto
r an
dha
s co
mpl
eted
15
of th
e 21
cor
resp
onde
nce
cour
ses
he n
eeds
to g
et h
is h
igh
scho
ol d
iplo
ma.
He
plan
s to
con
tinue
his
stud
ies
with
Int
erna
tiona
l Cor
resp
onde
nce
Scho
ols
(IC
S)in
the
fiel
d of
Hot
el a
nd R
esta
uran
t Man
agem
ent.
He
is a
n un
surp
asse
d sp
okes
man
for
lite
racy
and
his
stor
yha
s be
en f
eatu
red
in th
e lo
cal
new
spap
er. H
e is
sto
pped
at
loca
l sto
res,
in c
hurc
h, a
nd o
n th
e st
reet
by
wel
l-w
ishe
rs a
ndpo
tent
ial t
utor
s. A
s a
resu
lt of
the
stor
y, h
ew
as a
ppro
ache
dby
IC
S an
d is
now
bei
ng p
aid
as a
con
sulta
nt a
nd th
roug
hre
terr
als.
His
late
st p
lans
are
to s
tart
a St
uden
t Sup
port
Gro
upat
SC
OL
A.
TA
MM
Y M
cGR
AW
7 kn
ow w
orki
ng,
stud
ying
, and
taki
ng c
are
of a
bab
y is
har
d ri
ght n
ow,
but w
hen
I gr
adua
te, i
t will
all
have
bee
n w
orth
it."
r
Tes
~,H
eQui
w,
LA
CK
AW
AN
NA
CO
JNT
Y
As a
chi
ld, T
amm
y M
cGra
w h
ad a
dult
resp
onsi
bilit
ies.
She
clea
ned
the
hous
e, d
id th
e la
undr
y, s
hopp
ed f
or g
roce
ries
,co
oked
din
ner,
and
took
car
e of
her
you
nger
bro
ther
whi
le h
erm
othe
r st
ayed
in th
e ba
r fr
om o
peni
ng to
clo
sing
ever
y da
y.B
y th
e tim
e sh
e w
as in
hig
h sc
hool
, she
rea
lized
that
her
mot
her
was
an
alco
holic
who
wou
ld d
rink
a c
ase
of b
eer a
day
whi
le h
er li
ve-i
n bo
yfri
end
dran
k a
pint
of
whi
skey
.B
ecau
se o
f th
e fi
ghtin
g, c
ryin
g, a
nd lo
ud m
usic
, Tam
my
coul
d no
t do
her
hom
ewor
k un
til th
e ho
use
quie
ted
dow
n,us
ually
abo
ut 3
:30
am. M
ost o
f he
r da
ys w
ere
spen
t fal
ling
asle
ep in
cla
ss a
nd b
efor
e lo
ng s
he w
as f
lunk
ing
out.
Skip
-pi
ng s
choo
l was
the
only
tim
e sh
e ha
d to
her
self
. By
the
time
she
reac
hed
11th
gra
de, l
ife
at h
ome
had
beco
me
into
lera
ble.
She
was
n't j
ust a
mai
d, b
ut a
bab
y-si
tter
for
her
mot
her's
frie
nds,
a tu
tor
to h
er s
iste
r, a
nd th
e pe
rson
who
kep
t her
mot
her's
boy
frie
nd f
rom
bea
ting
up h
er k
id b
roth
er.
Tam
my
turn
ed to
her
boy
frie
nd, J
im, a
nd s
pent
as
muc
htim
e w
ith h
im a
s po
ssib
le. B
ut s
he n
ever
kne
w w
hat s
he w
ould
find
whe
n sh
e re
turn
ed h
ome.
In
her
seni
or y
ear,
she
cam
eho
me
to f
ind
her
mot
her
in th
e ya
rd, s
praw
led
in a
lay.
.rt c
hair
,co
mpl
etel
y na
ked,
hol
ding
a b
eer
and
cryi
ng. T
hat w
as th
eda
y sh
e de
cide
d to
qui
t sch
ool.
Whe
n sh
e tu
rned
18,
Tam
my
deci
ded
the
only
way
out
of
her
life
was
to g
et p
regn
ant.
But
10
Spon
sor:
Joy
ce K
erri
ck, L
acka
wan
na J
unio
r C
olle
ge
whe
n he
r bo
yfri
end
deci
ded
she
shou
ld h
ave
an a
bort
ion,
she
refu
sed
and
he le
ft h
er. A
lone
, sca
red
and
preg
nant
, she
end
edup
goi
ng to
pub
lic a
ssis
tanc
e an
d m
ovin
g in
to a
pro
ject
.A
fter
the
baby
was
bor
n, s
he b
egan
to th
ink
abou
t wha
tki
nd o
f lif
e th
is h
elpl
ess
baby
was
goi
ng to
hav
e. T
amm
yre
aliz
ed it
was
up
to h
er to
do
som
ethi
ng a
bout
that
. She
join
ed th
e Si
ngle
Poi
nt o
f C
onta
ct (
SPO
C)
prog
ram
and
inM
arch
199
2 en
tere
d an
Adu
lt B
asic
Edu
catio
n cl
ass
atL
acka
wan
na J
unio
r C
olle
ge. W
ith th
e he
lp o
f A
nita
Col
a, h
erpa
tient
, enc
oura
ging
teac
her,
she
fou
nd th
e co
urag
e to
get
thro
ugh
her
stud
ies
and
her
life.
It w
as h
ard
com
ing
hom
e,fe
edin
g th
e ba
by, c
lean
ing,
doi
ng h
omew
ork
and
tryi
ng to
stud
y. B
ut s
he m
ade
it an
d re
ceiv
ed h
er G
ED
in J
une
1992
.Sh
e re
turn
s to
cla
ss o
ften
, hel
ping
oth
er s
tude
nts
whe
n th
ete
ache
r is
bus
y, g
ivin
g en
cour
agem
ent t
o al
who
fee
l the
y ca
n't
pass
the
test
s, a
nd w
orki
ng o
n th
e cc
mpu
ters
. Alth
ough
Tam
my
had
to w
ithdr
aw f
rom
sch
ool t
his
fall
due
to p
erso
nal
prob
lem
s, s
he p
lans
to r
etur
n to
cla
sses
in th
e sp
ring
. She
wan
tsto
bec
ome
a m
edic
al s
ecre
tary
so
she
will
be
able
to m
ake
ago
od li
fe f
or h
er f
amily
. Her
mot
her
wat
ches
her
gra
ndch
ildw
hile
her
dau
ghte
r w
orks
. Tam
my
says
: "I
know
wor
king
, stu
-dy
ing,
and
taki
ng c
are
of a
bab
y is
har
d ri
ght n
ow, b
ut w
hen
I gr
adua
te, i
t will
all
have
bee
n w
orth
it:'
CA
SSIE
DA
WSO
N
"If y
oufa
il, d
on't
stop
tryi
ng.
You
can
mak
e it
ifyo
u tr
y!"
eevp
se. D
444/
4044
25
LU
ZE
RN
E C
OU
NT
Y
Eac
htim
e sh
e sa
w o
ne o
f he
r ch
ildre
n gr
adua
te f
rom
high
sch
ool,
Cas
sie
Daw
son
knew
that
one
day
she
wou
ldlik
e to
wal
k ac
ross
that
sta
ge to
rec
eive
her
dip
lom
a. C
assi
ew
as b
orn
and
rais
ed in
the
sout
h an
d le
ft s
choo
l aft
er c
om-
plet
ing
the
seve
nth
grad
e. f
.',he
nia
rrie
d yo
ung
and
put h
ered
ucat
ion
on h
old
to r
aise
her
chi
ldre
n. I
n 19
62 th
e fa
mily
mov
ed to
Pen
nsyl
vani
a, a
nd 2
4 ye
ars
late
r a
liter
acy
com
-m
erci
al o
n te
levi
sion
pro
mpt
ed h
er to
cal
led
the
800
liter
acy
hot l
ine.
In 1
986,
she
beg
an to
wor
k w
ith M
ary
Cal
laha
n,a
volu
ntee
r lit
erac
y tu
tor
at th
e lo
cal l
ibra
ry. A
t the
sam
e tim
e,C
assi
e w
as g
iven
cus
tody
of
thre
e of
her
ver
y yo
ung
gran
d-da
ught
ers.
She
kne
w it
wou
ld b
e di
ffic
ult t
o ra
ise
them
but
she
wel
com
ed th
e jo
b. S
ince
the
girl
s w
ere
too
youn
g to
go
to s
choo
l, sh
e of
ten
took
them
with
her
to h
er tu
tori
ngse
ssio
ns. M
any
times
, the
y ha
d to
wal
k ov
er a
mile
to th
ech
urch
whe
re s
he m
et w
ith h
er tu
tor.
Cas
sie'
s he
alth
was
not
alw
ays
the
best
and
sev
eral
tim
es h
er s
tudi
es w
ere
inte
r-ru
pted
for
med
ical
rea
sons
. Her
tuto
ring
was
als
o in
terr
upte
dw
hile
she
atte
nded
Luz
erne
Cou
nty
Com
mun
ity C
olle
ge to
atta
in h
er N
urse
's A
ide
Cer
tific
atio
n. A
fter
wor
king
for
aw
hile
as
a N
urse
's A
ide,
she
res
umed
her
lite
racy
trai
ning
.In
199
0, b
oth
Cas
sie
and
Mrs
. Cal
laha
n fe
lt sh
e w
as r
eady
to e
nter
GE
D c
lass
es. S
he e
nter
ed th
. Adu
lt L
itera
cy P
rogr
am
3
12
Spo
nsor
s:Fr
ank
Nar
done
, Luz
erne
IU
18
Fran
k W
asca
lis, B
onni
e B
lesk
ieev
icz
cosp
onso
red
by th
e L
uzer
ne I
nter
med
iate
Uni
t and
the
Luz
erne
Cou
nty
Hum
an R
esou
rces
Dev
elop
men
t Dep
art-
men
t. H
er in
itial
sco
res
wer
e ba
rely
abo
ve f
ourt
h gr
ade
leve
l,an
d C
assi
e kn
ew s
he w
ould
hav
e to
wor
kve
ry h
ard
to p
ass
the
GE
D te
st. S
he s
impl
y re
fuse
d to
giv
e up
alth
ough
she
thou
ght o
f it
man
y tim
es. I
t was
n't e
asy
at h
erag
e to
rai
seth
ree
youn
g ch
ildre
n al
one,
mai
ntai
n a
part
tim
e jo
b to
hel
psu
pple
men
t her
wel
fare
inco
me,
and
atte
nd c
lass
es f
ull t
ime.
It to
ok h
er f
our
year
s of
lite
racy
trai
ning
, tw
o ye
ars
of G
ED
clas
ses,
and
fou
r at
tem
pts
at th
e te
st f
or h
er to
rea
lize
her
drea
m. I
n Ju
ne 1
992,
a f
ull 5
0 ye
ars
afte
r dr
oppi
ng o
ut o
fsc
hool
, she
got
her
hig
h sc
hool
dip
lom
a. A
s he
r pr
oud
child
ren
Nat
ched
, she
was
giv
en a
sta
ndin
g ov
atio
n as
she
wal
ked
acro
ss th
e st
age
to r
ecei
ve h
er d
iplo
ma.
Cas
sie
is c
urre
ntly
enr
olle
d in
Alli
ed M
edic
alca
reer
sw
here
she
pla
ns to
com
plet
e tr
aini
ng to
bec
ome
a pr
actic
alnu
rse.
She
oft
en v
isits
GE
D c
lass
es to
off
er w
ords
of
enco
ur-
agem
ent t
o fe
llow
stu
dent
s.Sp
eaki
ng to
a g
roup
of
Sing
le P
oint
of
Con
tact
(SP
OC
)lit
erac
y an
d pr
e-G
ED
stu
dent
s, s
he o
ffer
ed th
e fo
llow
ing
advi
ce: "
It's
not
alw
ays
goin
g to
be
easy
, but
if y
ou f
all d
own,
get u
p. Y
ou c
an m
ake
it if
you
rea
lly tr
y:'
DE
BR
A W
INT
ER
S
7 w
ould
enco
urag
e an
yone
who
can
't re
ad to
get h
elp.
..It
doe
sw
onde
rs f
oryo
u.It
did
for
me.
..
I ca
n pi
ckup
abo
ok a
nd r
ead!
"
Ded
44 l#
44.(
443
4-
LY
CO
MIN
G C
OU
NT
Y
Deb
raW
inte
rs g
rew
up
as o
ne o
f si
x ch
ildre
n of
fun
c-tio
nally
illit
erat
e pa
rent
s in
Mon
tour
svill
e, P
enns
ylva
nia.
Deb
ra r
emem
bers
her
Dad
rea
ding
wel
l eno
ugh
topa
y th
ebi
lls, b
ut s
he h
as n
o re
colle
ctio
n of
sto
rybo
oks
or m
agaz
ines
in h
er h
ome.
She
was
nev
er r
ead
to a
nd r
ecei
ved
no h
elp
with
her
hom
ewor
k. S
he w
as il
l as
a ch
ild a
nd it
took
her
fou
rye
ars
to c
ompl
ete
the
firs
t tw
o gr
ades
of
scho
ol. W
hen
she
was
in th
e fo
urth
gra
de a
bro
ken
jaw
that
req
uire
d su
rger
ysi
delin
ed h
er f
or m
ost o
f th
e ye
ar b
ut s
he w
as p
asse
d to
fif
thgr
ade
beca
use
of h
er a
ge. F
rust
rate
d du
e to
her
inab
ility
tore
ad a
nd to
und
erst
and,
she
bec
ame
disr
uptiv
e.A
t hom
e, e
qual
ly f
rust
rate
d pa
rent
s ar
gued
and
fou
ght w
ithea
ch o
ther
con
stan
tly. A
lcoh
ol a
buse
was
alw
ays
a fa
ctor
and
phys
ical
abu
se o
f th
e ch
ildre
n re
sulte
d. I
n se
vent
h gr
ade
at th
eag
e of
14,
Deb
ra b
ecom
e pr
egna
nt. H
er p
regn
ancy
was
deem
ed "
an e
mba
rras
smen
t and
bad
exa
mpl
e fo
r th
e ot
her
stud
ents
" an
d sh
e w
as a
sked
to le
ave
scho
ol. O
ther
kid
s he
rag
e sh
unne
d he
r an
d sh
e w
as e
ssen
tially
alo
ne. A
t the
age
of
15 s
he m
arri
ed a
nd b
y th
e tim
e sh
e w
as 1
8 ye
ars
old,
she
was
the
mot
her
of tw
o da
ught
ers
and
a so
n. H
er h
usba
nd, w
ho w
assi
x ye
ars
olde
r th
an s
he, w
as v
erba
lly a
nd o
ccas
iona
llyph
ysic
ally
abu
sive
. Deb
ra r
emem
bers
: "H
e ca
lled
me
stup
idal
l the
tim
e be
caus
e I
coul
dn't
read
, and
I b
elie
ved
him
:'W
hen
she
was
22,
trag
edy
stru
ck. H
er s
ix-y
ear
old
son,
Jack
, was
kill
ed w
hen
a fi
re tr
uck
back
ed o
ver
him
. "I
knew
AR
! F.
14
Spon
sor:
Sha
ron
Di S
tasi
, Lyc
omin
g C
ount
y L
itera
cy P
roje
ct
whe
n I
surv
ived
his
dea
th th
at I
cou
ld h
andl
e an
ythi
ng th
atca
me
my
way
:' sh
e sa
id. A
t the
age
of
24, d
iagn
osed
with
cerv
ical
can
cer,
she
was
cal
led
upon
to s
how
that
str
engt
h.A
s he
r da
ught
ers
ente
red
scho
ol, s
he d
id h
er b
est t
o he
lpth
em, t
ryin
g to
ens
ure
that
"th
ey d
id n
ot e
nd u
p lik
e m
e' B
utth
e da
y ca
me
whe
n th
ey k
new
mor
e th
an s
he d
id.
Aft
er 1
5 ye
ars,
Deb
ra w
alke
d aw
ay f
rom
her
mar
riag
eta
king
her
dau
ghte
rs w
ith h
er. A
ser
ies
of lo
w-i
ncom
e jo
bsfo
llow
ed, u
ntil
she
got a
job
as a
mac
hine
ope
rato
r. R
ealiz
-in
g th
at s
he w
as h
andi
capp
ed o
n th
e jo
b by
her
inab
ility
tore
ad a
nd d
o ba
sic
mat
h, s
he d
ecid
ed s
he n
eede
d he
lp a
nden
rolle
d in
Oct
ober
199
1 in
Lyc
omin
g C
ount
y L
itera
cy P
roj-
ect c
lass
es. H
ighl
y m
otiv
ated
and
tota
lly s
uppo
rted
in h
eref
fort
s by
her
sec
ond
husb
and,
Lee
, she
wor
ks h
ard
to g
ain
the
skill
s ne
eded
to g
et in
to a
GE
D p
rogr
am.
Deb
ra d
ecid
ed to
go
publ
ic w
ith h
er s
trug
gles
whe
nhe
r em
ploy
er, t
he W
est C
ompa
ny, i
nstit
uted
a w
orkp
lace
skill
s pr
ogra
m. S
he s
its o
n th
e bo
ard
of th
e L
ycom
ing
Cou
nty
Lite
racy
Pro
ject
as
a st
uden
t rep
rese
ntat
ive
and
advi
sor.
She
has
been
fea
ture
d in
the
loca
l new
spap
ers
and
very
rece
ntly
con
vinc
ed h
er o
lder
sis
ter
and
brot
her-
in-l
aw to
get
liter
acy
help
. "T
he f
irst
ste
p is
the
hard
est,
but g
o fo
r he
lp:'
she
tells
fel
low
wor
kers
and
fri
ends
. Deb
ra w
ould
like
togr
adua
te f
rom
the
high
sch
ool s
he a
ttend
ed a
nd th
en g
oto
bea
uty
scho
ol.
5
"Get
ing
my
GE
D h
elpe
d m
ebe
tter
mys
elf
and
help
edm
yse
lf-e
stee
m.
..1
fee
l a lo
t mor
e co
nfid
ent
abou
t mys
elf"
2:t G
MIF
FLIN
CO
UN
TY
Bec
ause
Soph
ia H
eike
s' m
othe
r m
oved
to N
ew Y
ork
City
fro
m P
uert
o R
ico,
Sop
hia
spok
e ve
ry li
ttle
Eng
lish
until
she
star
ted
kind
erga
rten
. She
left
sch
ool i
n 10
th g
rade
, aft
erbe
ing
atta
cked
by
thre
e bo
ys in
a s
choo
l hal
lway
. Alth
ough
she
was
res
cued
by
a se
curi
ty g
uard
, she
was
afr
aid
to r
etur
n.In
fac
t, sh
e de
cide
d it
was
tim
e to
leav
e th
e ci
ty. S
ophi
aw
asfo
rtun
ate.
She
had
a F
resh
Air
fam
ily th
at s
he h
ad v
isite
dev
ery
year
sin
ce s
he w
as n
ine.
The
y lo
ved
her
like
a da
ught
eran
d en
cour
aged
her
mov
e to
Jun
iata
Cou
nty.
But
leav
ing
the
city
did
not
mea
n th
at s
he h
ad e
scap
edvi
olen
ce. S
he m
et h
er h
usba
nd w
hile
wor
king
ina
sew
ing
fact
ory.
The
y ha
d tw
o ch
ildre
n w
hile
she
str
uggl
ed in
am
arri
age
in w
hich
she
was
con
stan
tly to
ld th
at s
he c
ould
neve
r do
any
thin
g ri
ght.
Soph
ia e
vent
ually
end
ed u
p in
the
hosp
ital a
s th
e re
sult
of a
dru
g ov
erdo
se. L
eavi
ng th
is u
nhap
-py
mar
riag
e, s
he e
nter
ed a
new
rel
atio
nshi
p th
at in
volv
edph
ysic
al a
buse
. It t
ook
a si
x-m
onth
ret
urn
to N
ew Y
ork
City
to e
scap
e th
at s
ituat
ion.
Ret
urni
ng to
Cen
tral
Pen
nsyl
vani
a, s
he b
ecam
e pr
egna
ntw
ith h
er th
ird
child
. Eve
n th
ough
her
pre
gnan
cyw
as h
igh
risk
, she
fou
nd a
noth
er s
ewin
g jo
b an
d af
ter
a st
rugg
le w
ithth
e lo
cal h
ousi
ng a
utho
rity
, sec
ured
a th
ree
bedr
oom
hom
e.E
very
thin
g w
as g
oing
wel
l unt
il he
r so
n go
t sic
k an
d sh
e ha
d
16
Spon
sor:
Kel
ly B
arro
n an
d R
andy
Var
ner
77U
Adu
lt E
d &
Job
Tra
inin
g C
ente
r
to m
iss
a lo
t of
wor
k. L
aid
off
and
unab
le to
fin
d an
othe
r jo
b,sh
e be
cam
e de
pres
sed
and
wou
ld s
it fo
r ho
urs
rock
ing
her
baby
and
cry
ing.
In
earl
y 19
92, f
rien
ds r
efer
red
her
to th
eT
usca
rora
Int
erm
edia
te U
nit's
Adu
lt E
duca
tion
and
Job
Tra
in-
ing
Cen
ter.
She
sta
rted
in L
ife
Skill
s cl
asse
s an
d qu
ickl
ym
oved
into
GE
D c
lass
es o
nce
she
was
abl
e to
arra
nge
for
child
car
e.M
any
times
Sop
hia
had
to m
iss
a cl
ass
or p
art o
fa
clas
sdu
e to
chi
ld c
are
prob
lem
s. B
ut s
he w
ould
alw
ays
mak
eup
the
mis
sed
less
ons.
Som
etim
es s
he w
ould
bec
ome
disc
oura
ged
and
get d
own
on h
erse
lf. B
ut s
he c
ould
be
coun
ted
on to
com
e ba
ck e
ven
mor
e de
term
ined
and
foc
used
than
bef
ore.
Her
det
erm
inat
ion,
dri
ve, a
nd f
ocus
bec
ame
aso
urce
of
stre
ngth
for
oth
er m
embe
rs o
f he
r cl
ass.
The
y dr
ewin
spir
atio
n fr
om h
er p
ositi
ve a
ttitu
de a
nd h
er s
tron
g de
sire
to b
e a
good
rol
e m
odel
for
her
chi
ldre
n.So
phia
rec
eive
d.
I* G
ED
in S
epte
mbe
r 19
92 a
nd m
oved
on to
New
Cho
ices
, a p
rogr
am f
or d
ispl
aced
hom
emak
ers.
She
now
pla
ns to
stu
dy L
icen
sed
Prac
tical
Nur
sing
. She
is a
Hea
dsta
rt v
olun
teer
and
enj
oys
wor
king
with
chi
ldre
n in
the
clas
sroo
m. A
s a
mem
ber
of th
e H
eads
tart
pol
icy
coun
cil,
she
plan
s fu
nd r
aise
rs a
nd o
ther
act
iviti
es. H
er g
oal i
s to
aff
ord
tobe
abl
e to
aff
ord
to s
end
her
thre
e ch
ildre
n to
col
lege
.
1'1
r",
A a
'7'm
like
the
Nik
e co
mm
erci
alju
st d
o it!
"
ayw
MO
NT
GO
ME
RY
CO
UN
TY
Car
olG
roce
's f
athe
r di
ed w
hen
she
was
six
, and
her
mot
her
plac
ed f
ew r
estr
aint
s on
her
. By
her
mid
-tee
ns, C
arol
'sm
othe
r w
as il
l, an
d an
y fo
rm o
f di
scip
line
was
gon
e. S
hebe
gan
drin
king
at t
hirt
een.
Soo
n af
ter,
she
sta
rted
abu
sing
drug
s an
d al
coho
l, an
d co
nsta
ntly
ski
ppin
g cl
asse
s. S
he le
ftsc
hool
in th
e 12
th g
rade
and
join
ed th
e Jo
b C
orps
. But
aft
erth
ree
mon
ths,
she
was
sen
t hom
e be
caus
e he
r m
othe
r w
ascr
itica
lly il
l. W
hen
Car
ol w
as 1
7 ye
ars
of a
ge, h
er m
othe
rdi
ed. S
he c
ontin
ued
to s
tay
hom
e an
d be
cam
e a
care
take
rfo
r he
r ni
eces
. She
dri
fted
thro
ugh
abus
ive
rela
tions
hips
,pr
ogre
ssin
g fu
rthe
r in
to a
ddic
tion,
no
long
er w
orki
ng, a
llow
-in
g ot
hers
to d
irec
t her
life
. Her
fiv
e ch
ildre
n gr
ew u
p as
she
had
with
out d
irec
tion
or p
rope
r pa
rent
ing.
In 1
987,
she
lost
her
chi
ldre
n to
pro
tect
ive
cust
ody.
Whe
nsh
e en
tere
d E
agle
ville
Hos
pita
l, he
r lif
e w
as a
t a d
ead
end.
She
had
lost
her
sel
f-co
nfid
ence
and
sel
f-es
teem
. But
she
did
have
cou
rage
. She
wor
ked
hard
tow
ard
rebu
ildin
g al
l asp
ects
of h
er li
fe. S
he e
nter
ed a
GE
D c
lass
, wor
ked
hard
, and
whe
nsh
e pa
ssed
the
GE
D, c
ontin
ued
atte
ndin
g sc
hool
to b
uild
her
typi
ng s
kills
. Car
ol d
isco
vere
d a
care
er g
oal.
She
wan
ted
tobe
com
e a
cour
t rep
orte
r.
4 t
18
Spon
sor:
Kat
hlee
n M
arks
, Eag
levi
lle H
ospi
tal
In 1
988,
she
left
trea
tmen
t and
got
a jo
b w
orki
ng a
t a f
ast
food
res
taur
ant.
She
was
abl
e to
hav
e he
r ch
ildre
n vi
sit h
eron
wee
kend
s. A
fter
two
year
s, s
he to
ok a
new
job
in a
dep
art-
men
t sto
re, m
oved
into
a la
rger
hom
e, a
nd h
er c
hild
ren
wer
ere
turn
ed to
her
. She
has
reb
uilt
thei
r fa
ith in
her
, and
now
guid
es th
em w
ith f
irm
ness
and
dir
ectio
n. H
er 1
8-ye
ar-o
ld is
wor
king
, her
17-
year
-old
just
gra
duat
ed, a
nd h
er 1
6- a
nd15
-yea
r-ol
d ch
ildre
n ar
e in
hig
h sc
hool
. The
six
-yea
r-ol
d ju
stst
arte
d ki
nder
gart
en. L
ast f
all,
Car
ol s
tart
ed c
olle
ge. S
he is
wor
king
on
her
basi
cs a
nd h
opes
to e
nter
bus
ines
s sc
hool
.A
n ac
tive
mem
ber
of C
omm
unity
Hou
sing
Ser
vice
s,an
orga
niza
tion
for
sing
le p
aren
ts, s
he h
elps
with
fun
d ra
isin
gac
tiviti
es a
nd p
artic
ipat
es in
wor
ksho
ps. W
hen
aske
d ab
out
the
cour
age
it to
ok to
turn
her
life
aro
und,
she
min
imiz
es h
erpa
rt in
this
tran
sfor
mat
ion
and
give
s pr
aise
to h
er g
odm
othe
r,Pa
ulin
e, w
ho n
ever
gav
e up
on
her
and
to th
ose
who
lent
aha
nd a
long
her
pat
h to
rec
over
y. T
here
are
not
man
y w
ho,
at 3
8 ye
ars
of a
ge, c
ould
sig
nifi
cant
ly r
ebui
ld a
life
that
had
such
a w
eak
foun
datio
n. B
ut C
arol
say
s: "
I'm li
ke th
e N
ike
com
mer
cial
just
do
it:'
DA
LIA
CA
STR
O
017
"You
can
ove
rcom
e a
bad
situ
atio
nby
not
look
ing
at w
hat
is a
roun
dyo
u,bu
t by
look
ing
atw
hat i
s be
fore
you
."
PHIL
AD
EL
PHIA
CO
UN
TY
At t
he a
ge o
f 14
, Dal
ia C
astr
o fo
und
hers
elf
with
out
asu
ppor
t sys
tem
. Whe
n he
r m
othe
r, a
sin
gle
pare
nt w
ith s
even
child
ren,
suf
fere
d a
nerv
ous
brea
kdow
n, s
he w
as p
asse
d fr
omre
lativ
e to
rel
ativ
e. F
eari
ng h
er p
eers
wou
ld r
idic
ule
her,
she
drop
ped
out o
f sc
hool
and
beg
an u
sing
dru
gs, a
nd "
hang
ing
out:'
She
mov
ed in
with
her
boy
frie
nd in
ord
er to
avo
ida
hom
e fi
lled
with
fam
ily p
robl
ems.
Dal
ia e
nter
ed a
key
pun
ch tr
aini
ng p
rogr
am b
ut s
hebe
gan
abus
ing
coca
ine
and
shar
ing
an a
part
men
t with
an
olde
r si
ster
who
als
o ha
d a
drug
pro
blem
. By
19, s
he w
asad
dict
ed. L
ater
that
yea
r w
hen
she
beca
me
preg
nant
, she
wen
t to
live
with
ano
ther
old
er s
iste
r, a
nd m
anag
ed to
sto
pus
ing
drug
s al
toge
ther
. Soo
n af
ter
her
daug
hter
's b
irth
, she
bega
n us
ing
drug
s ag
ain.
She
left
her
chi
ld w
ith h
er m
othe
r,dr
oppe
d ou
t of
sigh
t, an
d su
ppor
ted
her
habi
t by
wha
teve
rm
eans
she
cou
ld. I
n 19
87 s
he s
usta
ined
thir
d de
gree
bur
nsin
an
illeg
al n
ight
clu
b fi
re th
at k
illed
sev
en a
nd in
jure
d 31
peop
le. A
lthou
gh f
righ
tene
d by
this
exp
erie
nce,
it w
ould
take
anot
her
year
of
addi
ctio
n be
fore
she
wou
ld d
ecid
e to
cha
nge.
Dal
ia f
inal
ly b
egan
to lo
ok a
t her
life
and
her
self
whe
nth
e C
ourt
s th
reat
ened
to ta
ke a
way
her
infa
nt s
on w
ho h
adbe
en b
orn
prem
atur
ely
due
to h
er a
ddic
tion.
It w
as M
arch
1990
and
she
was
25
year
s ol
d. T
wo
mon
ths
late
r, a
fter
str
ug-
glin
g to
fin
d a
prog
ram
that
wou
ld a
ccep
t her
, she
join
eda
20
Spon
sor:
Jea
n L
. Fle
schu
te, C
omm
unity
Lea
rnin
g C
ente
r
Chr
istia
n dr
ug r
ehab
ilita
tion
faci
lity
in P
hila
delp
hia
calle
dSo
ldie
rs o
f th
e L
ord
(SU
M).
Aft
er f
ive
mon
ths
in th
e pr
ogra
m,
she
had
a sh
ort r
elap
se a
nd th
en r
etur
ned.
In
the
reha
bilit
a-tio
n pr
ogra
m, s
he s
erve
d as
an
in-h
ouse
cou
nsel
or,
as w
ell
as a
bili
ngua
l int
erpr
eter
for
oth
er S
pani
sh-s
peak
ing
clie
nts.
Dec
idin
g th
at s
he w
ante
d to
impr
ove
her
job
pros
pect
s by
furt
heri
ng h
er e
duca
tion,
Dal
ia s
oon
foun
d he
r w
ay to
the
Tra
nsiti
onal
ly N
eedy
Pro
gram
, a jo
b re
adin
ess
trai
ning
cour
se a
t Im
pact
Ser
vice
s. I
n O
ctob
er 1
991,
Dal
ia e
nrol
led
in th
e C
omm
unity
Lea
rnin
g C
ente
r an
d be
gan
wor
king
toim
prov
e he
r ed
ucat
ion.
Sinc
e re
ceiv
ing
her
GE
D, D
a lia
has
mad
e m
any
chan
ges
in h
er li
fe. N
ow 2
8 ye
ars
of a
ge, s
he h
as le
ft th
e re
habi
litat
ion
prog
ram
and
obt
aine
d em
ploy
men
t in
data
pro
cess
ing.
In
the
even
ing,
she
atte
nds
two
cour
ses
at th
e C
omm
unity
Col
lege
of P
hila
delp
hia.
She
wou
ld li
ke to
hel
p ot
hers
and
pla
ns to
beco
me
a dr
ug a
nd a
lcoh
ol c
ouns
elor
. Dal
ia c
ontin
ues
toco
unse
l at S
OT
L a
nd is
a b
oard
mem
ber
of I
mpa
cto
de V
ida,
a C
hris
tian
drug
reh
abili
tatio
n pr
ogra
m f
or L
atin
a w
omen
. She
refe
rs th
ose
she
coun
sels
to s
ocia
l ser
vice
and
edu
catio
nal p
ro-
gram
s. L
ast J
une,
she
gav
e a
spee
ch a
t the
cen
ter's
gra
duat
ion
cere
mon
ies.
She
als
o gi
ves
talk
s ab
out h
er o
wn
road
to r
e-co
very
at v
ario
us c
hurc
hes
and
reha
bilit
atio
n fa
cilit
ies,
hop
ing
to in
spir
e ot
hers
who
are
str
uggl
ing
to c
hang
e th
eir
lives
.
7
VE
RO
NIC
A F
RA
NK
LIN
"It's
nev
er to
o la
te to
lear
n."
tkile
44e.
Z4
F444
4/44
44S
,
PHIL
AD
EL
PHIA
CO
UN
TY
Ver
onic
aFr
ankl
in g
rew
up
in a
poo
r fa
mily
with
sev
ench
ildre
n in
Nor
th P
hila
delp
hia.
The
re w
as n
ever
eno
ugh
love
, atte
ntio
n or
mon
ey to
go
arou
nd. S
he n
ever
kne
w h
erre
al f
athe
r an
d ha
d a
succ
essi
on o
f "l
ive-
in"
fath
ers
with
who
m s
he n
ever
got
alo
ng. A
lthou
gh V
eron
ica
enjo
yed
scho
ol a
nd d
id w
ell i
n sc
hool
, she
fel
t tha
t she
nev
er f
it in
with
the
othe
r ch
ildre
n. I
n he
r se
nior
yea
r sh
e be
gan
usin
gdr
ugs
as a
way
to b
e ac
cept
ed b
y he
r pe
ers.
Her
mot
her
wou
ld n
ot to
lera
te th
is a
nd f
orce
d he
r to
leav
e th
e ho
use.
At
16, s
he w
as o
n th
e st
reet
with
no
hom
e, n
o m
oney
and
no
futu
re. S
he w
as u
nabl
e to
con
tinue
atte
ndin
g sc
hool
and
bega
n a
17-y
ear
cycl
e of
dru
g ad
dict
ion.
Dur
ing
thos
e ye
ars
she
had
two
child
ren
and
did
her
best
to p
rovi
de a
sta
ble
hom
e fo
r th
em. B
ut it
was
impo
ssib
le. F
orth
e pa
st e
ight
yea
rs, s
he h
as b
een
hom
eles
s, li
ving
in s
helte
rsor
with
rel
ativ
es. I
n 19
90, s
he e
nter
ed P
eopl
e's
Em
erge
ncy
Cen
ter,
a s
helte
r w
hich
pro
vide
d he
r w
ith s
uppo
rt, c
ouns
el-
ing,
and
a s
tabl
e pl
ace
to s
tay.
A c
ouns
elor
who
was
are
cove
ring
add
ict e
ncou
rage
d he
r to
see
k he
lp f
or h
er d
rug
prob
lem
. She
ent
ered
DR
C, a
dru
g re
habi
litat
ion
cent
er a
ndw
hile
ther
e en
rolle
d in
the
Lut
hera
n Se
ttlem
ent H
ouse
's a
dult
educ
atio
n pr
ogra
m. F
inal
ly, h
er li
fe w
as s
tabl
e en
ough
tobe
gin
to a
chie
ve h
er m
any
hope
s an
d dr
eam
s.V
eron
ica
over
cam
e m
any
obst
acle
s to
rem
ain
in th
e G
ED
clas
s. S
he w
as s
till l
ivin
g in
the
hom
eles
s sh
elte
r w
ith h
er tw
och
ildre
n. S
he h
ad a
ser
ious
med
ical
pro
blem
whi
ch k
ept h
er
Spon
sors
: Car
ol G
oert
zel a
nd D
aryl
Gor
don
Lut
hera
n Se
ttlem
ent H
ouse
Wom
en's
Pro
gram
from
atte
ndin
g cl
ass
for
two
mon
ths.
But
she
wou
ld n
ot g
ive
up. S
he w
orke
d ha
rd a
t her
stu
dies
for
17
mon
ths
and
rece
ived
her
GE
D d
iplo
ma
in J
uly
1992
. Dur
ing
her
time
incl
ass,
she
hel
ped
othe
r st
uden
ts in
rea
ding
and
wri
ting
and
prov
ided
enc
oura
gem
ent t
o st
uden
ts w
ho w
ere
nerv
ous
abou
t tak
ing
the
GE
D te
sts.
Mos
t im
port
antly
, she
told
new
stud
ents
that
rec
over
y fr
om d
rugs
wou
ld s
ave
thei
r lif
e, ju
stas
it h
ad s
aved
her
ow
n.In
Sep
tem
ber
1992
, she
ent
ered
a c
omm
unity
col
lege
and
bega
n pu
rsui
ng h
er m
ajor
in D
rug
and
Alc
ohol
Abu
seC
ouns
elin
g. S
he p
lans
to b
e a
coun
selo
r in
ord
er to
sha
re h
erst
reng
th w
ith o
ther
rec
over
ing
addi
cts.
Ver
onic
a be
gan
colle
ge a
t the
sam
e tim
e as
her
son
, Eri
c, w
ho s
tart
ed a
t Kut
z-to
wn
Uni
vers
ity w
ith a
ful
l sch
olar
ship
this
yea
r. F
inal
ly, a
fter
eigh
t yea
rs o
f ho
mel
essn
ess,
she
will
be
mov
ing
into
a h
ouse
this
Dec
embe
r w
ith h
er 1
1-ye
ar-o
ld d
augh
ter.
Ver
onic
a ha
s be
en a
nd c
ontin
ues
to b
e an
insp
irat
ion
toth
e ot
her
wom
en li
ving
in th
e Pe
ople
s E
mer
genc
y Sh
elte
r. S
here
gula
rly
atte
nds
Nar
cotic
s A
nony
mou
s m
eetin
gs a
nd s
he is
a tr
emen
dous
enc
oura
gem
ent t
o ad
ult s
tude
nts.
At a
rec
ent
grad
uatio
n ce
rem
ony
she
said
: "I'm
17
mon
ths
clea
n an
d in
thos
e 17
mon
ths
I've
spen
t 15
mon
ths
in a
GE
D c
lass
. Whi
leit
does
n't t
ake
som
e pe
ople
that
long
to p
repa
re a
nd g
et a
GE
D,
it do
es f
or m
e. I
f it
does
for
you
, I c
an o
nly
sugg
est t
hat y
ougi
ve y
ours
elf
that
tim
e. I
f an
ybod
y he
re d
oesn
't ha
ve a
GE
Dor
hig
h sc
hool
dip
lom
a, g
et it
. It's
nev
er to
o la
te to
lear
n:'
rA
ISI
22
r
I.
Bac
k ro
w, l
eft t
o ri
ght:
Ted
Lee
, Car
ol C
roce
, Tam
my
McG
raw
, Sop
hia
Hei
kes,
How
ard
Bro
wn.
Fron
t row
, lef
t to
righ
t: D
ebra
Win
ters
, Dal
ia C
astr
o, C
assi
e D
awso
n, C
harl
es K
rine
r, V
eron
ica
Fran
klin
.
,b
The
Pen
nsyl
vani
a D
epar
tmen
t of
Edu
catio
n (P
DE
) w
ill n
otdi
scri
min
ate
in it
s ed
ucat
iona
l pro
gram
s, a
ctiv
ities
, or
empl
oym
ent
prac
tices
, bas
ed o
n ra
ce, c
olor
, nat
iona
l ori
gin,
sex
,sex
ual o
rien
tatio
n, d
isab
ility
, age
, rel
igio
n, a
nces
try,
uni
onm
embe
rshi
p, o
r
any
othe
r le
gally
pro
tect
edcl
assi
fica
tion.
Ann
ounc
emen
t of
this
pol
icy
is in
acc
orda
nce
with
sta
te a
nd f
eder
al la
ws,
incl
udin
g
Titl
e IX
of
the
Edu
catio
nal A
men
dmen
ts o
f 19
72,
Sect
ions
503
and
504
of
the
Reh
abili
tatio
n A
ct o
f 19
73, a
nd th
eA
mer
ican
s w
ith
Dis
abili
ties
Act
of
1990
.
PDE
em
ploy
ees
and
part
icip
ants
who
hav
e an
inqu
iry
or c
ompl
aint
of
hara
ssm
ent o
r di
scri
min
atio
n, o
r w
hone
ed in
form
atio
n
abou
t acc
omm
odat
ions
for
per
sons
with
dis
abili
ties,
shou
ld c
onta
ct th
e A
ffir
mat
ive
Act
ion
Off
icer
, Dep
artm
ent
of E
duca
tion,
333
Mar
ket S
tree
t, H
arri
sbur
g, P
A 1
7126
-033
3.
SUC
CE
SS S
TO
RIE
S: E
MPO
WE
RIN
G T
HE
AD
UL
TL
EA
RN
ER
*98-
3011
FY
199
2-93
Proj
ect D
irec
tor
and
Edi
tor:
She
rry
Roy
ceFi
eld
Man
ager
s: K
athy
Fas
ano,
Joy
ce K
erri
ck,
Kat
hy K
line,
Ran
dy V
arne
r; a
nd P
aul W
eiss
Roy
ce &
Roy
ce, I
nc.
1938
Cro
oked
Oak
Dri
veL
anca
ster
, PA
176
01
.Fo
r ad
ditio
nal c
opie
s of
this
pub
licat
ion,
ple
ase
cont
actC
hery
l Har
mon
, tel
epho
ne n
umbe
r, 1
-800
-992
-228
3.O
ut-o
f-st
ate
num
ber
is 1
-717
-782
-954
1. T
elec
omm
unic
atio
n D
evic
esfo
r th
e D
eaf
(TD
D)
num
ber
at th
e Pe
nnsy
lvan
iaD
epar
tmen
t of
Edu
catio
n is
717-
783-
844.
5.
5455