Chattanoogans who once gave up on learning are returning to the classroom for another time around. Formerly branded high school drop-outs, these students are part of a growing number of locals getting a second chance at an education—and it’s paying off for the whole community.

The movement, directed by local literacy organization Reading Education for Adult Development (READ) of Chattanooga, helps under-resourced adults earn their GEDs and acquire the reading and math skills necessary to enter the workforce.  “We improve quality of life through adult education,” said Lori Hairrell, executive director of READ.

And their efforts have been successful. Since Hairrell started working with the program in 2004, the number of participants has nearly doubled.  READ assessed over 1,600 students this year. If people continue to enter the program at this rate, she says, it could mean big things for the local workforce.

“Statistically, a person with a GED earns about $9,000 more than someone without a high school degree,” Hairrell says. “GEDs are viable for economic development because they put people into the workforce and they can contribute to the community.”

A contract with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Division of Adult Education in 2005 enabled READ to transition from a volunteer agency focused on teaching adults to read into a workforce development initiative that expanded the program’s resources, allowing it to hire more teachers rather than rely on volunteers. This move led READ to exert a wider community reach.

“Growth is important to community impact, which is why we are now developing partnerships with local organizations and businesses,” Hairrell says. “We are working to meet our customers where they live and work.”

As the state’s oldest literacy organization, READ is supported by United Way and is governed by a board of directors. Though the organization has been serving the city for nearly half a century, its most significant growth has occurred in more recent years. In February, READ was recognized as the United Way’s Community Impact Program of the Year. 

READ recruits its students primarily through word of mouth but works closely with the Hamilton County Department of Education and 14 community partners. Over 30 hours of classes are offered at the READ offices while Goodwill, the Aim Center, the Northside Neighborhood House and Chattanooga public library have in-house literacy programs. As the program continues to move forward, new initiatives are emerging.

READ is partnering with the Junior League’s Healthy Start initiative to implement a health literacy program for Chattanooga’s mothers-to-be. “We offer pregnancy literacy classes through moms’ clubs at health clinics, community organizations and hospitals,” Hairrell says. “These classes excite mothers who learn new words, such as ‘epidural,’ as well as ways to prevent having a low-birth weight baby.  A healthy baby takes away a barrier that could prevent a mother from finishing high school or getting her GED.”