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GED Fair Offers a Second Chance at High School Education
Six Literacy Organizations Collaborate to Sponsor Event
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Did you or someone you know leave high school without a diploma? If so, the free “Second Chance GED Fair” will provide a way for Western New York residents to explore and enroll in a local General Educational Development (GED) preparation program.
The fair will take place Saturday, Oct. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, 450 Masten Ave., Buffalo.
Attendance is free of charge, and will feature keynote remarks from Rev. Darius G. Pridgen, Senior Pastor of True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and prizes will be raffled off to those in attendance.
“We want to make it easy for Western New York residents to sign up to get their GED,” said Joy McDuffie, Chair of the Committee for Dropout Prevention. “The Second Chance GED Fair is a great, free opportunity to sign up for your GED, learn more about services that are available to help you along the way – and to enjoy some food and giveaways while you do!”
Participants will be able to choose two workshop sessions that cover a wide array of information on education, employment and support services to enhance conditions for learning and help achieve academic success. Workshop topics include general GED test and program information, stories from GED graduates, managing depression and mental illness, meeting child care needs, navigating social services, preparing for college and vocational trades as a career.
According to The Schott Foundation for Public Education’s 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males, just 25 percent of black male and 55 percent of white male students in Buffalo successfully graduate on time from high school – rates significantly lower than the national average.
The Second Chance GED Fair is a collaborative effort between Bryant & Stratton College, Buffalo Public Schools Adult Education Division, Catholic Charities of Buffalo, the Committee for Dropout Prevention, Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc., and Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc.
“These six organizations recognize the importance of literacy and education in Western New York and are coming together for the first time to address it head-on,” said Darrell Slisz, Catholic Charities Education Director. “With Buffalo ranking as the third poorest city in the nation, education and workforce development are vital to the future of our region.”
For more information or to pre-register for the Second Chance GED Fair, call 716-876-8991 or visit www.bflodropoutprevention.org.