A tale of 3 GEDS: How literacy impacts Clevelanders

Have you ever talked about being a “lifelong learner?” What does that mean to you? More often than not, being a lifelong learner suggests a desire to continue being curious after finishing high school, or college, or even graduate studies. It means that school inspired us and engaged our capacity to learn and grow with the world around us. However, for various reasons, the school environment does not always support every student. Bullying, discrimination, financial insecurity and disparate support for learning abilities are all factors in someone’s continued enrollment in high school. Even when students graduate, many find themselves lacking skills that lead to successful jobs, housing and sustainable life practices. Often missing from the narrative is the possibility of free, accessible learning opportunities for people to take on education and literacy growth as an adult. 

In 2025, the Ohio Report Card showed an average graduation rate of 78.8% for CMSD. The data about the 20.7% of non-graduates showed that 58% were no longer enrolled, 17% had a disability, and 23.9% were still enrolled but did not meet the graduation requirements. While longer enrollment terms and deferred graduation dates can be normal, they can lead to prolonged financial insecurity for students looking to enter the workforce. In an evaluation report for the school year, the districts’ Board of Education reported a severe increase in chronic absenteeism and called for “a new set of goals and guardrails” to improve enrollment and performance in the upcoming year.

Lost in this data are the students who dropped out, were not reached by these new initiatives and continue on without  their high school diploma. Although the pursuit of higher education and jobs is possible without a diploma, it is tricky and often without financial support. Online programs, night schools and adult education programs offer different options for career and workforce readiness – opportunities to pursue your GED as an adult. In Cleveland, Seeds of Literacy tries to provide an especially intentional and community-oriented education for adult learners. 

Open to people of all backgrounds and abilities, Seeds supports adults with free tutoring in all subjects in their location on the West Side. As you step off the elevator at their third-floor classroom, a corkboard filled with crafted diplomas and little bows bursts into view. Attached to each of these is the name of a student who successfully received their GED. Underneath these posts are construction paper grad caps, with the names of folks who are on their way to taking their GED.

In 2023, Seeds of Literacy put faces to these names by starting their Student Ambassadors program. This is a group of Seeds students that work outreach events for the organization, share their stories and encourage others to connect with the program. Three of these students – Selina, Jonni and Guylain –  thoughtfully shared their journey to and through Seeds of Literacy, achieving their GED and growing in confidence.

“I knew that when I dropped out, I didn’t want that to be my end story,” says Selina. She is confident, outgoing and speaks eagerly about her pursuit of learning. She has always learned differently – throughout school, she struggled with learning disabilities that kept her from focusing. Her third grade teacher brought up Selina’s challenges in class with her parents; diagnosed and medicated, Selina’s focus improved, but her self-confidence did not. She was placed in specialized classes, away from her friends and began to question herself. “I always asked, you know,” she says, “Why am I not smart like them? Why doesn’t my brain work like that?” Math was always the most difficult subject, and remained challenging for her due to a lack of teachers who sustained commitment to her learning. 

The situation did not improve with the switch to online learning. Selina dropped out of high school during the COVID pandemic when learning became almost impossible over a Zoom call. After deciding to still pursue her GED, years later, a cousin referred her to Seeds of Literacy. She began attending the program less than a year ago. “I loved it off the bat,” she asserts. “You come here and you’re family, and the tutors care about you beyond.” She relays text messages from Chris Richards, head coordinator at Seeds, who always reaches out to check on his students when they are absent, sick or discouraged. Selina, Jonni and Guylain all laugh at their shared experience of a “where are you???” call from John Martin, outreach coordinator. “You can’t escape this school,” laughs Selina, and Guylain agrees: “I wanted to give up, but these people … they start sending me messages!” 

Encouragement and self-confidence are key values of Seeds’ learning curriculum. Every student receives individualized curriculums and works with tutors who are kind, caring and persistent in their dedication to a learner. Selina, nervous about taking her GED exam later this year, says that her tutors would never let her take the test unprepared. She is the most confident she’s ever been at math, and is finishing up the geometry curriculum. “I wake up and I’m finally ready and excited to go to school for once in my life,” she says, proudly. “It’s just very exciting. I love to learn now, and I’ve never really loved to learn before!” Selina intends to attend nursing school after receiving her GED, and is currently training to be a certified nursing assistant.

This is Guylain’s first time back in the Seeds of Literacy building in a while. He passed his GED in January, and continues his work as a student ambassador. “I used to come here every morning, so it’s part of me,” he laughs. He has had an alarm set for the last year and a half that wakes him up to come to Seeds, and he says he still wakes up automatically and misses seeing his tutors and friends. 

Guylain arrived in the United States as a refugee from war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He speaks five languages – Swahili, Nala, Oluganda, English and of course, French, – and is adjusting to a new system, culture and society in the U.S. He and his younger sisters live in Cleveland, and he is encouraging them all to attend Seeds of Literacy as well. 

“When I was in Africa…I wanted to be a lawyer,” he says. “Once the war started, you don’t know where you’re going, you have just to go.” Guylain and his family left many documents when they fled the DRC, including high school diplomas and educational certificates. Although he learned English through school, he was faced with the challenge of thinking in English when he arrived in the US. After trying various online GED platforms, he was referred to Seeds of Literacy. “When I reached this place, I found amazing people,” he says. He passed his GED this January. Now, he is registering to join Tri-C as a student pursuing a business analyst degree. “I’m feeling like I have wings, you know?” He playfully waves his arms to imitate a graceful bird, “I can do whatever, and I’m feeling comfortable.”

Jonni empathizes with both of their friends. A Cleveland Native, Jonni dropped out of high school after years of bullying and struggling to succeed in school. After dropping out, they attempted to pursue school online but didn’t have the financial resources to finish. Struggling with ADHD, dyslexia and a speech impediment led to many roadblocks in their academic success. They were held back in first grade for their speech impediment. English words felt impossible. “I couldn’t say [them] for the life of me,” they exclaim. “But I’m here, and I’m speaking!” 

Becca Huntington, a key staff member at Seeds of Literacy and family friend of Jonni’s, recommended they try the program. The most important factor for Jonni was the tutors’ capacity to work with them hands-on. “I struggle really bad with [ADHD], and I need that hands-on [teaching], like, so desperately.” They found this support when they began learning at Seeds, they said, and received their GED this past January alongside Guylain. They are now pursuing a degree in animation and design at Tri-C. Jonni’s main concern remains the overwhelming challenge to get a job. Without a GED, they had little hope for a sustainable career. Now with their GED, they are well-aware of the lack of funding for the arts. This does not stop them from pursuing their goals. “I feel like I’m not going to be able to get a job after school, but I still want the experience.” Jonni is taking graphic design classes to gain technical and promotional skills that could afford them more job opportunities. 

The journey to receiving a diploma, of course, isn’t without challenges. Selina is balancing the schedule and workload of becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) while pursuing her GED at Seeds. Guylain struggled to pass the exam, failing the first four attempts before successfully passing. Jonni expressed their fear of never getting a job without a diploma, and the insecurity that brings. All three share the concern of how to finance these higher education programs. They remember times they wanted to give up completely, and all three cite the persistence of their Seeds tutors as the main reason they did not.

“It’s nice to have friendships, too, where you can rely on each other,” says Selina, and emphatic nods of agreement follow from Guylain and Jonni. “We sit and we chat with each other and encourage each other so much.” Guylain tells me much of his hope came from seeing other people graduate from the program, and that he continues to recommend it to friends, acquaintances and family. Seeds of Literacy is redefining education and community for so many students of all backgrounds, abilities and desires. Their personalized tutoring, accessible environment and sustained holistic support are helping adults achieve their educational and career goals. 

If you’re lucky, you’ll run into Guylain, Jonni or Selina in Cleveland and hear firsthand the delight and confidence in their voices as they relay their experience at Seeds of Literacy. The doors of the program are always open to new students, both in person and virtually. If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing their GED, these former students say Seeds of Literacy is an excellent program that creates joy and intention in learning.