Celebration honors ARA
graduates and other students

“My life is for a purpose now”

Click here to see the inspiring video!

For release: May 21, 2010

The Community Renewal Adult Renewal Academy gave single mother Tilithia Lewis much more than greater education in her life. She also gained meaning for her life.

“Being a part of the Adult Renewal Academy meant the world to me. It changed my life – not only my life, but my children’s life, because I can provide for them better,” said Tilithia, a mother of five.

“Since I got my GED, I enrolled at Bossier Parish Community College. I will be a physical therapist. The Adult Renewal Academy taught me that I could do it. I studied hard and if you try hard for whatever it is you want, you can accomplish it.

“It taught me the value of life. My life is for a purpose now.”

Tilithia is one of nine students who earned their GED this academic year at the ARA and one of more than 100 who took classes this year. All students were honored in an end-of-the-year celebration Thursday evening.

John Good, CEO of The Good Companies, served as keynote speaker and encouraged the students to keep setting new goals and to always maintain their integrity.

"Dream big. Go after the dream and be willing to pay the price to achieve it. It takes work, effort and commitment," he said.

The ARA was started in 2003 to help adults of all ages broaden their education and earn their GED. Classes in math, reading, life skills and more are taught by certified instructors, including some provided by Caddo Parish Adult Education Programs.

To date, 22 students have earned their GED and 38 students have received 257 college credits. Most students have shown an increase in two-to-four grade levels in their test results.

“The day I got my GED meant a lot. My teacher called me and I was so happy that I kind of jumped out of my seat with joy. I said now that I have that, I am going to do something to better myself,” said Jack Raney, who earned his GED last December.

“I have sickle cell anemia and asthma and every now and then I was in the hospital and having pain crises. But the teachers kept calling me and coming to see me to encourage me. That made me stronger and it made me come back every time because people actually cared for me. I kept pushing myself as much as they pushed me and I finally got my GED and I am very happy about that.”

Other students also shared their thoughts after earning their GED:

• “I want to enroll in school to be a medical assistant and work toward being a registered nurse. I want to buy my own house and have my kids live the lifestyle that I want them to live, not like me. I want them to do better. I feel like I can accomplish anything. I think I can finish out my life the way I want to and not mess up.” – Oneasha Washington
  
  
• “If a person is feeling down and out, like they can’t succeed in life, the Adult Renewal Academy is the best place to go. They give you encouragement and they are very patient. I have moved on to better things. I have enrolled at Southern University, majoring in business management. I am also director of the Blue Goose Blues Foundation, dedicated to a historic district here in Shreveport.” – Askari Hinton
  
  
• “I have my GED now. I am so excited about it. I want to succeed if not for myself, then for my child. Now I am in the process of going to Northwestern State University for nursing.”  – DeAnna Hood
  

Community Renewal International is a nonprofit effort to restore safe and healthy communities through caring relationships. Founded in 1994, Community Renewal reaches at-risk youth through Friendship Houses built in impoverished neighborhoods, strengthens education through the Adult Renewal Academy, partners with The Fuller Center for Housing and connects caring partners who turn their neighborhoods into safe havens of friendship and support.

Contact: David Westerfield, director of communications
(318) 425-3222
davidwesterfield@communityrenewal.us