More than 200 ESL and GED Students Complete Fall Semester

Students of the Southwest Organizing Project’s ESL and GED program participated in a special ceremony and potluck dinner celebrating their completion of the Fall 2008 semester. The Southwest Organizing Project, working in partnership with Malcolm X College, recognized the achievements of two-hundred forty-six students who completed the sixteen week fall semester. Family members and friends cheered in the Maria High School auditorium as teachers read the names of their students and they walked across the stage to receive their certificate.

The Southwest Organizing Project has been working with Malcolm X College since January 2008 to offer free adult education classes in the mornings and evenings at Maria High School. The number of registered students has steadily increased over the last three semesters with 347 students registered for the fall semester. Maria High School is currently the largest satellite location for Malcolm X College’s Continuing Adult Education program.

SWOP leaders ran a "We Want to Learn English" campaign, resulting in the partnership with Malcolm X College. Leaders organized listening campaigns within their churches and schools to assess the growing need for accessible adult education classes in Southwest Chicago. In August, leaders hosted a fundraiser dance at St. Gall to maintain funds for the program and continue to subsidize costs for a childcare program which enables many mothers to attend the classes.Aracely Perez, leader with SWOP’s ESL Committee, shared that “at this time, we are very proud that we brought classes here and all of our accomplishments this year.”