Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – As part of its efforts to bridge the gap in educational attainment and workforce development, Grow Lawrence County (a workforce and education arm of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council) held a Success and Opportunity at Reading Plus Math, Financial and Digital Literacy (SOAR+) open house June 25 at the StoneGate Arts & Education Center.
The original Success and Opportunity at Reading program was closed during the COVID pandemic. However, the need for adult literacy in Lawrence County did not diminish and in 2024 a group of dedicated volunteers began meeting to address the continued need for local adult literacy services. The discovery that many people in Lawrence County also lack basic skills in math, how to handle personal finances, and struggle with today’s advanced digital technology led to the development of a new SOAR program with additional focus areas.
From those discussions, and insight from former SOAR program member Debbie Beeler, SOAR+ was developed.
“The SOAR+ open house provided community members an opportunity to view our educational materials, ask questions about our one-on-one confidential and personal tutoring program, or inquire about how they could become a volunteer tutor,” said Cathy Bullington, the GLC Adult Education coordinator. “It was exciting to see the community come out to support the relaunch. I want to give a huge thank you to our partners and dedicated committee members for giving our community this new pathway to a promising future.”
In addition to one-on-one tutoring, SOAR+ will host smaller group events throughout the year.
For more information or to volunteer to become a SOAR+ tutor, call (812) 275-4493 or email Cathy Bullington at: [email protected]