Indy Reads’ Ruby Slippers 40th Anniversary

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Help us launch the next 40 years of Literacy for All!

Indy Reads: Adult literacy and English language classes

Earn a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma and workforce certifications, learn English, and visit our amazing community bookstore.

[MUSIC] [RUBA] Every aspect of our work really ultimately touches upon creating opportunities for folks who have not had the chance to advance their own education, their opportunities to read and write the world.

And we hope that through our programs, folks start to realize their full potential.

Indy Reads is a literacy nonprofit organization that offers adults classes where they can learn to improve their English learning, language, and literacy skills, as well as their high school equivalency diplomas and workforce credentials.

We also operate a community bookstore where we uplift, elevate, and celebrate literacy for everyone, family and the wider community.

Opportunities for home ownership, opportunities for food security, opportunities for better health, better work, a thriving life. All of that becomes possible when we have literacy.

[VICTOR] I understand that the United States, we need to practice to speak in English. I appreciate all the teachers and the volunteers help me, because they give me a structure, grammar. They give me the confidence to speak in English. And maybe I understand more the American culture.

[MUSIC] [RUBA] We offer a whole menu of courses from learning to read and write and speak and understand English, all the way through earning your high school equivalency diploma and earning workforce credentials.

[RASHIDAH] I chose to pursue my HSC because I’m just tired of dead end jobs, things leading to nowhere. So as soon as I completed my HSE, I would say, phew, like a week later, I signed up for Ivy Tech. I had my kids in mind solely. I figured I would do it for them and also allow them to have a better future.

[MUSIC]

Indy Reads is honored to have been awarded the Love Thy Neighborhood award in the Education category! LISC Indianapolis created the Love Thy Neighborhood Awards in 2017 to encourage the transformation of neighborhoods throughout the Indy region into authentic and vibrant places profoundly attractive and livable for both residents and visitors.

Each year, 12 organizations or projects are recognized as finalists for their role in impacting livability, opportunity, vitality, and education in their neighborhoods. Watch Indy Reads’ video here!

Indy Reads builds literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential. 

In pursuit of our vision of 100% literacy for all, Indy Reads’ staff and volunteers partner with our adult learners to help build the literacy and language skills they need to participate in their community, support their children’s education, earn their HSE diplomas, enter job training programs, and obtain national industry-recognized job certifications.  

Our mission is supported by donations and purchases in our community bookstore.

Classes, certifications, and more ways to learn with Indy Reads

High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma

In-person and virtual classes prepare our adult students to earn their HSE diploma by covering all five subjects in the HiSET exam (reading, writing, math, social studies, and science).

English Language Learning (ELL) classes

Our fastest-growing program, ELL classes support adult learners who are learning English as a new language. We are proud to serve learners at all levels of the English literacy spectrum as they develop their speaking, listening, reading, writing, and comprehension skills to unlock their economic and social potential.

Literacy Foundations

Adults seeking to improve their foundational reading and writing skills to achieve personal literacy goals can receive instruction and tutoring in our in-person and virtual Literacy Foundations classes.

Customer Service and Paraprofessional Certifications

Start or change your career with valuable workforce training certifications. Our industry-recognized Paraprofessional and Customer Service certifications help adults in central Indiana stand out in today’s competitive job market. Customer Service participants have the opportunity to complete a paid internship in our community bookstore.

Browse new and used books online or in-store

Our community bookstore in Fountain Square is full of great reads and merch, but you can also shop online! And, don’t forget our amazing free or pay-as-you-can family-friendly programming. 

Recent news around Indy Reads

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An Indy Reads English Language Learning Class celebrates their achievements in Indy Reads' community bookstore. There are three volunteers, six students, and two children in the photo.

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An Indy Reads staff member reads Honey & Spice in front of the living wall in Indy Reads' community bookstore. There is a stack of books next to her.

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Indy Reads staff and volunteers pose in front of Fountain Square Theatre before our Inaugural Fundraising Breakfast: Unlocking Our Potential. There are 14 staff members and 2 volunteers smiling in front of the marquee.

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