Sharon Lopez overcame her fears and got her high school diploma. PHOTO COURTSEY OF SHARON LOPEZ
It’s never too late to graduate
Fighting poverty and unemployment Riverside County ranks as California’s fifth largest county and will top 2.5 million residents in 2021, according to census estimates. It’s also one the state’s most diverse counties; more than 21% of its population was born in a foreign country. In addition, almost one in five residents lacks a high school diploma or equivalent. Learning language skills and earning a diploma or certificate can help Riverside County residents get good jobs and lift themselves out of poverty.
Getting a diploma or GED opens doors and possibilities BY ALLEN PIERLEONI
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middle-aged adults without their diplomas? haron Lopez has been a loyal volunteer in her “When I started, I thought, ‘I haven’t been in community for many years, donating her time school in forever, this is impossible’,” she says. “But to a long list of organizations and causes. “You everyone was so helpful. I want others to know there name it, I’ve done it,” she says. is hope, that they can do it and will feel better about The Alvord Unified School District has been one themselves.” of her favorite beneficiaries. “I was offered jobs in the Lopez is not alone. “We’ve seen a huge increase in district and told to run for the school board,” she says. students going for their high school But there was one obstacle in diplomas this year,” says Victoria the way: She lacked a high school Santana, Career Services and diploma. Outreach Liaison for ACAS. “I was always embarrassed It has to do with by it; it was a secret I didn’t pandemic-related job loss want to talk about,” says and workers “stuck in Lopez, 53. “Even my kids minimum-wage jobs because were shocked when I said, ‘I of a lack of a diploma (or got my high school diploma.’ GED),” Santana says. Mind you, my son graduated “Now they’re seeing adult from UC Berkeley.” education as an opportunity Lopez is acutely aware to get a better job or a that she “missed a lot of Sharon Lopez Graduate, Alvord Community Adult promotion with that diploma. opportunities by not having that School While it may seem like a piece of piece of paper. There were many paper, it’s actually turning into doors things I could have done, but I had to let opening for them.” them go because I was unwilling to share my secret.” The chance to change that came in 2020, Lopez recalls. “I just so happened to tell one of my friends For more information on Alvord Unified School District’s about it. She said, ‘This is an easy fix; c’mon, let’s go.’ adult education programs, visit www.alvordschools.org/ She took me to the Alvord Community Adult School adulteducation or call 951(ACAS) and signed me up.” 509-5000. The school staff “was so supportive and they truly care about the students,” Lopez says. “Because the courses were online, I could work them around my life. Now that I have my diploma, the principal, Craig Shiflett, tells me, ‘Now you can go to college, it’s never too late.’ I might take that avenue and still go to work for the district.” Craig Shiflett PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAIG SHIFLETT Would she recommend the same path for other
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Population • • •
I want others to know there is hope, that they can do it and will feel better about themselves.
Unemployment • • •
December 2019: 3.6% December 2020: 9.1% Change: 252.8%
During the pandemic, unemployment reached a high of 15.9% in May 2020.
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Riverside ABOUT STUDENTS Regional Consortium for Adult Education
2010: 2,201,580 2020: 2,495,300 Growth: 13.3%
Riverside County residents need adult education • • • •
11.3% live in poverty 18% adults age 25+ lack high school diploma or equivalent 41.1% language other than English spoken at home $28,596 annual per capita income (2019)
Population and Unemployment Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Education Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
https://riversideregionadulted.org
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