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Dallas Morning News Charities: Wilkinson Center

Posted by admin on 09 Mar 2012 / 0 Comment


Desiree Bennett, 13, and her grandmother, Ramona Bennett, 55, work on a math problem together. Ramona Bennett is taking GED classes through the Wilkinson Center at Eastfield College, Pleasant Grove campus. The two often study together at home.

By TAYLOR ADAMS
Dallas Morning News Staff Writer
tadams@dallasnews.com
Published: 25 January 2012 10:00 PM
 
Ramona Bennett walks her 13-year-old granddaughter, Desiree, to Billy Earl Dade Middle Learning Center in southeast Dallas.
 
Twelve other hours of the week, Bennett spends her time in a class with the Wilkinson Center, trying to pass the General Education Development test.
 
The Wilkinson Center, one of the 23 agencies receiving donations this year through The Dallas Morning News Charities, offers free programs for various ages with aims to lead people out of poverty.
 
Bennett’s GED class, held at Eastfield College, is one of those offered in the Adult Education Services at the center.
 
“I haven’t planned so far, I just want it,” she said. “I feel like if I just get my GED, I can get a job anywhere.”
 
The center started in 1985, providing churches with items to help communities in need. Later, it added a food pantry, after-school programs and, in 2003, started adult education classes.
 
Bennett, 55, has been taking classes at the Wilkinson Center since April after she lost her job as a daily clerk. She attends the class four days each week, with the sole goal of passing the test.
 
Bennett dropped out of L.G. Pinkston High School because she was “having fun,” despite her mother’s urging to stay in school.
 
Now, Bennett has grandchildren looking to her as an example.
 
“They’re really looking up to me,” she said. “I have to hang on. … I’m not giving up.”
 
Gladis Joya, 38, also isn’t giving up. Arriving from El Salvador eight years ago with her husband, an American citizen, she found a way to fulfill her desire to teach.
 
While she was enrolled in English classes, Joya met Rachael Berhe, the program director at Wilkinson, who encouraged her to teach a GED class in Spanish.
 
“I’ve been able to find myself teaching here,” Joya said in Spanish.
 
She also said what inspires her most are the adult students she teaches.
 
“The effort students put forth in life, not only for themselves, but for their families, is amazing,” she said. “They say they can help their kids with their homework.”
 
Carlos Noriega, 31 and a parent of three children, has been taking GED English classes at the center since the summer of 2010.
 
“I looked for a job everywhere, there was no luck — so I was going to go back to school,” he said. “I’m doing this for my children … No matter what, I’m going to finish this.”
 
Noriega, who lives in Pleasant Grove, left H. Grady Spruce High School when he was in the middle of high school and making money outside of the classroom.
 
“I thought UPS was a good job,” he said.
 
After holding other jobs, he felt he needed more.
 
“With no offense … I didn’t want to be 50 to 60 years old, packing groceries,” he said. “I see myself at 40 with two degrees.”
 
Meanwhile, his children, Alyssa, 7, Bianca, 9, and Carlos, 11, watch him go through classes as they attend elementary and middle school.
 
“The middle child — the oldest daughter — she wants to be a vet. … They see me and they want to go to college, too,” he said.
 
After joining the GED class, Noriega started spending even more time there, volunteering to teach one of the computer literacy classes, which is another class that Bennett intends to take along with preparing for the GED.
 
Wilkinson staff said Ms. Bennett, as she is known around the center, is always smiling, no matter how difficult a class might be.
 
“I thank God, first of all, because I could’ve ended up somewhere else,” Bennett said. “I still have faith that I can still make it.”



  • Administration Offices:
    4144 N. Central Expwy., Suite 610
    Dallas, Texas 75204
    Telephone: (214) 821-6380
    Fax (all): (214) 827-1972

    Food and Emergency Services:
    3402 N. Buckner Boulevard, Suite 302
    Dallas, Texas 75228
    Telephone: (214) 269-1418

    Eastfield College-Pleasant Grove Campus Office:
    802 S. Buckner Boulevard
    Dallas, Texas 75217
    Telephone: (214) 269-1418

    Mailing Address:
    P. O. Box 720248
    Dallas, Texas 75372