Now He's Awake “My boy was in a coma for years, and because of MSC he woke up,” said Josh’s mom Debora. Ninth grade was when Josh finally dropped out of high school. He had missed so much school he didn’t feel there was a way to catch up. His mother had recently [...]
“I’m sick of looking back, I want to look forward. I want to leave a positive legacy and let people know not to give up, never to surrender.” At age 14, Jack left an abusive home and dropped out of school. He became emancipated so he could get an apartment and a job. He married [...]
Last Tuesday we held MSC's GED Graduation Celebration to honor the 21 graduates MSC has had so far this year. This has consistently been one of my favorite events and, in my 15 years of working at MSC, I have rarely missed a graduation. As a former public school teacher (with family members who also [...]
In his teens, Rob made the decision to leave high school for a job at an independent tech store. He did well, starting out as a janitor but quickly moving up in the ranks to become head tech. His employers recognized his skill and knowledge, and rewarded him for it. Unfortunately, after seven years as [...]
“For the first time in eight years, I have my own real bed,” shares Lola. Lola had worked for years with a local hotel chain and was doing okay, making ends meet at least, until the day she started to get sick. It turned out that the hotel had a mold problem, and it was [...]
"Their willingness to be open and put aside bad experiences and trust me, it's changed me. I'm more compassionate. I don't want to let them down," shares Julie Tran. Julie is a MSC Education and Employment Support Specialist and an AmeriCorps volunteer. Julie leads GED prep courses and community workshops on financial empowerment. She is [...]
Fourteen years ago, when Dedrick Jensen-Woodard married his wife, neither of them knew the changes life had in store. The plan was for Dedrick to be a stay-at-home father, taking care of his two step-children ages 3 and 7 years old. His wife was just offered a lucrative position putting her nursing skills to good [...]
The ORCA LIFT program helped out considerably. I did not have to worry whether or not l was going to make it to work on time or have to miss a day of work. The reduced fare helped me save money. Being on the program benefited me greatly. --Adrian, ORCA LIFT Card Recipient ORCA LIFT [...]
Joseph Chang, a para-educator working with special education youth at Decatur High School, was looking online for volunteer opportunities where he could put his passion for education to work when he found MSC. Joseph currently leads MSC's evening GED prep program. He runs the computer lab and assists students with any questions they may have. [...]
When health issues prevented AJ from working, she started to look for something meaningful to do with her time. She found that meaning in tutoring adults through MSC’s Adult Basic Education program. For the last year and a half, AJ has met twice a week with Emmett, a 71-year-old gentleman, to help him learn how [...]
