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  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission
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    • Impact
  • PROGRAMS
    • Student Yearbook ’20-’21
    • Literacy Foundations
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      • Want to Learn English?
      • ¿Quieres aprender inglés?
      • အင်္ဂလိပ်စာလေ့လာချင်ပါသလား
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      • هل تريد تعلم اللغة الإنجليزية؟
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  • BOOKSTORE
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June 18, 2019

Meet our IndyGo Student of the Month – Cleon!

Cleon Indy GO SOM

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, where he has fond memories of island life with his friends and family. He comes from a large family and has seven siblings — and Cleon is the only one who no longer lives in Jamaica. He loves his family, he says, but his family’s size limited his education options.

“School in Jamaica is not bad,” Cleon explained. “But when you come from a big family, that’s where the problem comes in.” He says if your family can’t afford to send everyone in the house to school, it may just be the oldest siblings who get to go.

Education through primary school (elementary and middle school) is free and accessible in Jamaica for children between the ages of 5 and 12. High school is when families have to pay tuition for their children. If the family has a large number of children, often only a select one or two are able to attend high school and further their education.

“Sometimes kids skip class because they have no money to send you,” Cleon said.

Cleon’s older sisters were already attending high school by the time he got through primary school, and his family couldn’t afford to send him. So he ended his formal education at a young age and began to look for work.

When Cleon was ready to enter secondary school, Jamaica still didn’t have subsidized tuition for high school. Though there are more systems in place to break down financial barriers today, families in the 1980s and 1990s had to make sacrifices.

After leaving school, Cleon was able to grow and learn by working at resorts and picking up odd jobs on the island. It was at one of these resorts where he met his wife, who was in Jamaica on vacation… from Indianapolis.

The two hit it off and eventually got married. For most of their relationship, they lived separately with her visiting Jamaica a few times each year. A few years ago, Cleon’s wife decided that it was time for him to come to the United States permanently.

He knew that once he moved to Indianapolis, he would have the time and resources to finally increase his education.


 “I’m proof: This program works.”


“Before I got here,” he said, “I was always telling my wife, ‘One of the first things I want to do: I want to get more than what I have.’”

As soon as he settled into life in Indianapolis, Cleon and his wife sat down to look up educational resources for him. His wife remembered hearing about Indy Reads, and she knew it was the right way to go. After waiting a couple of months for a spot in the class to open, Cleon went through the orientation and enrollment process and was ready to tackle his education needs.

Eager to learn and grow, Cleon joined the Indy Reads classroom with determination and optimism and has been flourishing since. Indy Reads Instructional/Intake Coordinator, Christina says, “He helps put an ease in the classroom. Whenever there is a new student, I know we can count on Cleon to make them feel welcomed and comfortable. He is always happy to help his teachers too.”

Cleon’s Student navigator, Chris, describes Cleon as a practical but optimistic mentor in the classroom. “He gives good advice about life issues,” Chris says. “His outlook on life is real. He thinks about what will better him and his family life. He shuns the negative.”

“Indy Reads has enlightened me a lot,” Cleon says. “That’s the thing I love about it. I’m proof: This program works.”

Cleon is looking forward to applying to better jobs, working hard toward his dream of starting his own business. “Now I have a stable foundation. I can build and go straight up.”

 

Help students like Cleon get into
a classroom even faster!

CLICK HERE to make a gift or begin a monthly donation
and help even more students reach their full potential!

 


Indy Reads is proud to partner with IndyGo to support students in the Community Classrooms program. Watch for more student stories in each month’s newsletter, and catch Routes 19, 38, or 39 to visit Indy Reads at the Central Library, or Routes 11 or 21 to visit Indy Reads Books! All route and trip information is available at indygo.net.

 

2019 Indy Reads Indy Reads Writes IndyGo Student of the Month
Previous StoryIndy Reads Awarded Grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Next StoryMeet Dawt: IndyGo’s Student of the Month!

About

Our mission is to build the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential.
 

Upcoming Events

February

March 2023

April
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Events for February

27th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for February

28th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

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5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

1st

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
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Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:00 pm

Indy Reads Volunteer Info Session

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Financial Literacy Series with Centier Bank

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2nd

Sarika Agarwal
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Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

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5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

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5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

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3rd

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

1:00 pm

Four-Eyed Media on First Friday!

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4th

2:00 pm

Lisa Hendrickson: Burning the Breeze

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5th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

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Events for March

6th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

7th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
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Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

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8th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
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Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

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9th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

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10th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

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11th

2:00 pm

Indy Reads Celebrates STEM with Nyla Nova

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12th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

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13th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

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14th

Sarika Agarwal
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Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

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10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

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Sarika Agarwal
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Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

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Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

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Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

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17th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

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18th

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19th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

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Sarah Styf: Embracing the Journey

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Events for March

20th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

21st

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
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22nd

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
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Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

23rd

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

24th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

25th

10:30 am

Drag Story Hour with Prince Brentlee

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12:00 pm

Monthly Indianapolis Riot Reads Book Club Meeting

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2:00 pm

Empire of Strings: Jeffrey Lee Book Signing

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Events for March

26th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

Indy Reads
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for March

27th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

28th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

29th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
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Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:00 pm

Indy Reads Volunteer Info Session

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Step Into Your Power with Tamara Winfrey-Harris

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30th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
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Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

31st

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for April

1st

7:00 pm

Celebrate National Poetry Month with Jacob Sunderlin and Michael Robins

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Events for April

2nd

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

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2:00 pm

Gal’s Guide Anthology: Journey – Book Tour

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