Many of our students realize that reading, speaking and understanding English is important to many facets of their lives. For them, coming to Indy Reads to build their language skills is about changing their lives in ways that help their children grow and their families thrive. This month’s IndyGo Student of the Month, Dawt Sung, […]
Meet our IndyGo Student of the Month – Cleon!
Students in our Community Classrooms come from a variety of backgrounds and bring their own experiences and perspectives with them. These perspectives contribute to the diverse community environment that make our classrooms unique. This month’s IndyGo Student of the Month, Cleon Bell, brings happiness and optimism to class every week. Cleon grew up in Jamaica, […]
Meet Candace: Building a Brighter Future with Literacy!
Cyclical poverty is a burden far too many of our students have had to endure. All too often, circumstances far, far beyond our students’ control leave them without the education they need to pursue the opportunities — college, a reliable job, access to healthcare — many of us enjoy. This month’s IndyGo Student of the […]
Our IndyGo Student of the Month, Michael Cook, found his “safe haven” at Indy Reads
In our classrooms, students learn much more than the fundamentals of reading. Michael Cook, this month’s IndyGo Student of the Month, is learning how to find himself after years of dealing with drugs and addiction. He says, “It was like walking in the unknown and never finding your way out. Indy Reads is my way […]
Meet January’s IndyGo Student of the Month – Michelle!
For many of our students, choosing to come to Indy Reads is about much more than just learning how to read. Our students are often looking to find a better or more permanent job, increase their ability to read their own mail and pay their bills, or gain the skills to take their driver’s license […]
Meet November’s IndyGo Student of the Month: Halima
Halima came to Indy Reads after spending years and years moving from place to place. At the age of 13, she fled her home country of Algeria thanks to an arranged marriage. She was taken to France and promised an education and a brighter future, but was immediately put to work instead. Over the following […]
Meet October’s IndyGo Student of the Month – Bethny!
Bethny came to Indy Reads after having fled oppression and a lack of opportunities in her native Burma. Her father came to America first, and worked hard to bring Bethny and her five brothers and sisters afterward. Together, the family has struggled through learning cultural differences and being “outsiders” in the United States. Bethny made […]
Meet September’s IndyGo Student of the Month: Christina!
Indianapolis native Christina attended Pike High School’s special education program. The program served many students with a wide range of special needs and taught necessary life skills such as grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, and basic arithmetic. However, there were simply not enough resources to meet each student’s individual needs and literacy skills were not the […]
Meet August’s Student of the Month: Veronica!
When Veronica moved to the U.S. in the early 2000s, taking care of her family became her number one priority. But as her children grew older, she knew she needed to make a change — she didn’t want to keep relying on her kids to be her translators. “I felt I really needed to learn […]
Meet Donya: July’s IndyGo Student of the Month!
When Donya arrived in the U.S. five years ago, she thought she would be moving to a new land of opportunity. Instead, she was almost immediately confronted with what she calls the most challenging experience of her life. “It was like breaking out of a bubble and being thrown into a world of strangers,” Donya […]
Meet Juan: May’s IndyGo Student of the Month!
For Juan, Indy Reads’ Community Classrooms are a family affair: Juan and his family migrated to the United States from Spain pursuing better opportunities in America, but it wasn’t long before Juan’s mother realized her challenges in reading and writing would hold her back. She enrolled in the donor-powered Community Classrooms literacy program, and began […]
Meet Kenny: April’s IndyGo Student of the Month!
Kenny’s story starts with the same idea that sparks most Indy Reads students tosign up: It was time for a change. “I struggled with my reading since I was a little kid,” Kenny says. “As I got older, I said, ‘Maybe it’s time I go back and better my life.’”