The BeLit Bulletin, July 2025 | |
A Tale of Two Realities
For all of us at Beyond Literacy, recent days have brought the best of times and the worst of times -- both celebration and heartbreak.
šFirst, the best: We just honored our largest graduating class in BeLit history - 200 adult learners earned career-advancing credentials and high school diplomas. It was a day of joy, pride, and transformation as families and communities joined together to celebrate new beginnings in college, careers, and life. Download the event photos and virtual Class of 2025 Yearbook here.
šØThen, the worst: On July 3, without warning, the federal government rescinded nearly 40% of our core funding - adult literacy grants that had already been awarded and budgeted. This unprecedented claw-back is forcing immediate, severe changes to our organization: staff layoffs, fewer classes, and the closure of one of our three learning centers.
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This is more than a budget cut. It reduces economic opportunity in our city. Every $1 invested in adult education returns $60+ in increased wages, tax revenue, and reduced public spending. Cutting these programs now is short-sighted and deeply harmful to striving families.
š¢ We need your voice. Please urge U.S. Senator McCormick to demand the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) release our vital, already-approved funds. Email his Legislative Director, Laura Atcheson at Laura_atcheson@mccormick.senate.gov, or call at 202-224-6324. Together, we can help restore the life-changing services that fuel positive outcomes for the communities we serve and beyond.
Thank you for standing with BeLit and the thousands of lifelong learners counting on us. Let's ensure the Class of 2026 has the same opportunities as our inspiring graduates below.š
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Congratulations to our Distinguished Alumni Award Winner, Rachele Styer
Rachele (right) pictured with PECO Workforce Development Manager, Keith Henderson (left), and with the PECO Team (below left)
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At BeLit, we believe that education changes everything, and Rachele Styer is a powerful example of just that.
Just two years ago, Rachele joined BeLit's CAST Test-Prep Class with a dream: to create a better life for herself and her infant son. She studied tirelessly for the Construction and Skilled Trades (CAST) exam, taking our prep course while juggling new motherhood and a demanding schedule.
With the support of BeLit and her family, Rachele didnāt just pass the test, she soared. As PECOās Workforce Development Manager Keith Henderson recalled: āIāll never forget the day I told her she passed. Her face lit up. She earned that score while raising a one-year-old, and now sheās thriving on the job. Youāve got to see her with a jackhammer!ā
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In less than six months, Rachele went from a PECO Helper to a full-time employee, joining a growing number of BeLit alumni transforming their lives through hard work and opportunity. In her own words: āI always heard āit takes a village,ā but I didnāt truly understand it until I became a mom. My parents, my cohort, everyone in the Helper Program ā they were my village. And now I get to show my son whatās possible.ā
Congratulations to Rachele Styer, a fierce role model, rising star at PECO, and BeLit's 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award winner.
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Meet Our Inspiring Community Partner of the Year: Exude, Inc. Founder & CEO, Marcos R. Lopez
Marcos (right) pictured with BeLit CEO, Kimmell Proctor (left)
At BeLit, we believe our programs are only as strong as the people who power them, and Exude has been instrumental in helping us care for our team so they can care for others. Thatās why we were proud to honor Marcos Lopez, Founder and CEO of Exude, Inc., as our 2025 Community Partner of the Year.
In a moving acceptance speech, Marcos reflected on his own journey, āWe grew up poor ā we never owned a home. We just got by. But my parents had great ambition for us. For them, this American dream started with education.ā
Marcos and his brothers became the first in their family to graduate from high school and college. After moving to Philly, he worked hard, built a life, and ultimately launched five companies, most created to support mission-driven organizations like BeLit. āWhat happened is actually simple,ā he shared. āBecause of the education I pursued, lots of hard work and commitment, and help I received along the way, from friends and strangers alike, I was able to build something meaningful.ā
Through Exude, Marcos has dedicated his career to helping organizations grow by investing in their people. His humility and message of possibility resonated deeply, āHereās the thing ā we can all do this. Iām really not that special. Iām someone who worked hard, had some help, and was a little lucky along the way. That could be any one of you.ā
He left our graduates with a charge: āYou all have the opportunity to do more, build more, have more, and be more. I am living proof that this is possible. Go forward and seize the day ā and try like crazy to be happy in any moment and every moment you can.ā
We couldn't agree more. Thank you, Marcos, for your unwavering belief in people, purpose, and the power of education.
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BeLit Student Spotlight: Our Class of 2025 Graduate Speakers
We were honored to have two BeLit students speak as representatives of their class: Imani Overstreet (left) and Jonavin Freeman (right). We proudly share their inspiring speeches below.
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Imani Overstreet, GED Graduate
Good Morning, my name is Imani Overstreet, and Iām so proud to stand here today as a 2025 graduate of Beyond Literacy!
Like many of you, my journey hasnāt been easy. I faced challenges, setbacks, and responsibilities that couldāve stopped meābut I didnāt let them. I chose to return to school not just for myself, but for my son. I wanted to be a role model for himāto tell him and show him that hard work pays off. I dreamed of having him by my side at graduationā¦ and today, heās here celebrating with us.
This diploma means the world to meābut itās just the beginning. Iāve officially enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia to study Medical Laboratory Technology. Iām working toward a stable, meaningful career where I can support my family and contribute to something bigger than myself.
To my fellow graduates: your journey matters. No matter where you started or how long it tookāyou did it. You showed up, you stayed committed, and you reached your goal. Be proud of yourself.
I want to thank Beyond Literacy for supporting all of us. And from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank two people who made all the difference: Miss Nancy and Mr. Sam. You are the true definition of what it means to be educators. You never gave up on meāor any of us. Even when the problems got tough and the answers didnāt come easily, you stayed patient, encouraging, and consistent. Thank you for believing in us, even before we believed in ourselves.
To everyone here today: never give up on your dreams. It doesnāt matter how long it takes. It doesnāt matter where youāve been. What matters is that you keep going. Because every step forward is progress.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! We made it!!
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Jonavin Freeman, Workforce Graduate
Good morning, everyone! What an incredible day this is, celebrating here with all of you the completion of my energy pre-apprenticeship program. It feels like just yesterday we were starting out, full of anticipation, and now look at us.
When I think about what truly made this experience special, it really comes down to two things: the people and the shared purpose. We had the incredible opportunity to be trained by seasoned union professionals, individuals who have truly elevated their lives through dedication and hard work. Listening to their stories, hearing about their journeys, and learning directly from their discipline wasn't just instruction; it was inspiration. It showed us whatās possible when you commit to a path and give it your all.
And speaking of inspiration, being in a class with all of you was a blessing in itself. We were a group of individuals all focused on one thing: improving our current situations and bettering ourselves. The support we found in each other, the motivation that radiated through the room ā it was truly powerful. We also had amazing instructors who didn't just teach us skills; they were genuinely invested in our growth and progress. They understood where we were coming from, having been in similar situations themselves, and that made their guidance all the more meaningful.
Of course, it wasn't always easy. There were days when just showing up consistently, staying attentive, and giving it our all felt like a challenge. But that's where the strength of our class really shone through. We built a community with accountability, where we worked together, pushed each other, and collaborated to achieve our shared goals. That collective drive was so important, and itās something Iāll always value.
This program has equipped us with invaluable skills, but more than that, it has shown us the power of dedication, mentorship, and community. Many of us aspire to create better lives for ourselves and our families. Today is not just a celebration of what weāve completed, but a powerful launchpad for what's next.
So, to my fellow grads, let's take everything we've learned ā the skills, the discipline, the power of our collective ambition ā and carry it forward. Let's continue to inspire each other and build the futures we've worked so hard for!
| | | Beyond Literacy's mission is to expand opportunities and improve lives by unleashing the power of literacy through free, high-quality adult education and career readiness. | | |
www.beyondliteracy.org | 215-474-1235 | #BeLitphilly
NEW Mailing Address | 2204 South Street #333, Philadelphia, PA 19146
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