Grant Recipient Update – Oakland Literacy Council
July 31, 2025

Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: The Impact of Oakland Literacy Council’s GED Program

At Oakland Literacy Council (OLC), we believe education is the first step toward breaking the cycle of poverty. Thanks to the generous support from Impact100 Oakland County, our “Get Your GED with OLC!” initiative is turning this belief into reality for adults across our community who never had the chance to complete their high school education.

Since launching the program in early 2024, we’ve seen remarkable progress, strategic growth, and inspiring success stories from learners who refused to give up—despite the challenges they face.

Investing in Learning

To date, we have utilized $54,784.11 of grant funding, focusing our investments on areas that directly impact learners’ success:

  • Staffing: $41,413.80 for salaries and $3,564.14 in benefits

  • Tutor and Curriculum Development: $1,132 for tutor training and $755 for curriculum development

  • Supplies & Technology: $1,458.86 on supplies and $3,441.56 on technology—including laptops and software

  • Other essentials: Including overhead, contract training, and materials for students

Through these investments, we’ve built a robust foundation to support GED students from enrollment to graduation.

From Goals to Accomplishments

Our timeline of planned activities has largely stayed on track, with all major milestones in the first half of 2024 fully completed. Highlights include:

  • Onboarding a dedicated GED Program Coordinator

  • Reviewing and aligning educational materials with GED requirements

  • Training 41 GED tutors

  • Recruiting and enrolling 105 GED candidates

  • Matching students with tutors and offering structured learning tracks

We’ve also successfully provided practice testing and scheduled GED exams, resulting in three full GED graduates and eight others completing one or more subject tests so far.

Stories of Triumph

The true impact of this program is seen in the lives it changes.

Take Kyle, for example. At 22, Kyle returned to education after leaving high school during the pandemic. With a tutor, a tailored learning plan, and access to online prep tools, Kyle passed all four GED subject tests—each on his first try—and earned “College-Ready” scores across the board. He’s now exploring further education and career paths with help from our Oakland80 college and career navigator.

Ruth, another determined learner, also overcame pandemic-era setbacks and earned her GED diploma after months of hard work with an OLC math tutor.

Meeting Challenges with Innovation

One of our biggest challenges remains student persistence. Life disruptions, new jobs, and limited communication access sometimes result in learners pausing their journey. In response, our GED Program Coordinator, Pat Eggleston, has implemented key solutions:

  • Early referrals to Oakland80 career navigators to help students set long-term goals

  • Plans to launch small group support sessions—both virtual and in-person—to foster connection, motivation, and shared resilience among students

These strategies aim to empower students not just academically, but personally.

Sustaining the Momentum

While we’ve received additional funding from sources like the Luly Wilson Trust, federal WIOA allocations, and a new City of Pontiac ARPA grant, uncertainties at the federal level underscore the importance of sustainability.

To address this, OLC has:

  • Hired a development manager to diversify funding

  • Submitted a $40,000 grant request to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

  • Proposed smart reallocations within our current budget to better support current needs—such as more Essential Ed software licenses and student incentives like gift cards and graduation supplies

A Brighter Future Ahead

This program is already transforming our agency’s footprint and reach. By promoting the GED program online, including a new webpage and targeted Google Ads, we’re seeing growing interest and awareness—especially in underserved communities.

Soon, we’ll be releasing a video spotlighting one of our GED graduates to celebrate their journey and further inspire others to pursue their diploma dreams.

Thank You, Impact100 Oakland County

The support from Impact100 Oakland County has empowered Oakland Literacy Council to help our neighbors take bold steps toward self-sufficiency, employment, and higher education. As we look ahead, we’re more committed than ever to making the GED dream a reality for every learner who walks through our doors.

To learn more or to get involved, visit: oaklandliteracy.com

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