Major Change of Focus for West Valley Branch
News from meeting of the Sept. 17, 2016
Our branch has been singularly focused on helping the women at Perryville Prison obtain their GED's, (General Education Development) or high school equivalency certificate for the past 4 or 5 years. During that time we have helped many women through the transition from the stigma of being a high school dropout and prisoner to celebrating graduation with their GED with hope for the future as they eventually move into the community.
When we began the program, the costs and red tape were not insurmountable and we felt empowered to continue. In addition we had a very good working relationship with Dr. TeYawna Lattimore at Rio Salado and were able to make real progress with the program by funneling the funding through Rio Salado Community College.
These past few years, the process has become much more complicated and much more costly and our mentor Dr. Lattimore has moved into another very different position. She is no longer able to help us through the quagmire! It has been very difficult to continue supporting these ladies and this mission without a liaison to guide us. In addition, with the introduction of computerized testing and out-sourcing, the costs have risen to a level that we cannot continue to support this effort.
So our small but devoted members have decided to changed our focus.
We will not be supporting the Perryville GED program in the future, but instead will focus on giving scholarships to women and girls in the communities of the West Valley. We feel strongly that our work at the prison helped many women, young and old and we are all very grateful for having the opportunity to give them assistance.
Our branch has been singularly focused on helping the women at Perryville Prison obtain their GED's, (General Education Development) or high school equivalency certificate for the past 4 or 5 years. During that time we have helped many women through the transition from the stigma of being a high school dropout and prisoner to celebrating graduation with their GED with hope for the future as they eventually move into the community.
When we began the program, the costs and red tape were not insurmountable and we felt empowered to continue. In addition we had a very good working relationship with Dr. TeYawna Lattimore at Rio Salado and were able to make real progress with the program by funneling the funding through Rio Salado Community College.
These past few years, the process has become much more complicated and much more costly and our mentor Dr. Lattimore has moved into another very different position. She is no longer able to help us through the quagmire! It has been very difficult to continue supporting these ladies and this mission without a liaison to guide us. In addition, with the introduction of computerized testing and out-sourcing, the costs have risen to a level that we cannot continue to support this effort.
So our small but devoted members have decided to changed our focus.
We will not be supporting the Perryville GED program in the future, but instead will focus on giving scholarships to women and girls in the communities of the West Valley. We feel strongly that our work at the prison helped many women, young and old and we are all very grateful for having the opportunity to give them assistance.