In My Own Words | Sterling Riggs

In My Own Words is an Indy Reads series where students tell their stories using their own authentic voice and words. Sterling is a future motivational speaker with a soulful gravel not unlike the singer Lyfe Jennings, an inspired story, and a warm laugh you can’t ignore. He has all the hallmarks of a great […]

Meet our IndyGo Student of the Month – Cleon!

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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!

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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 […]

Meet November’s IndyGo Student of the Month: Halima

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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 […]

We’re Grateful for Stories Like Khalil’s

This Thanksgiving, We’re Grateful for You! Khalil is a student in Indy Reads’ English Language Learners (or ELL) classroom. Khalil and his classmates — all of them seeking a brighter future and a second chance in America — learn and develop their English reading, writing, and speaking skills together, and build up an incredible community in the […]

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 August’s Student of the Month: Veronica!

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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.’”