In our inaugural Stride for Hope 5K Run/Walk, we run alongside adult learners who are actively changing their lives—and strengthening their communities—through education and career training that creates direct pathways to economic mobility.
A high school diploma is one of the first steps to unlocking these opportunities. Yet, 7% of adults over the age of 25 in the District of Columbia do not have one. Without a high school diploma, these residents earn $5,000 less annually than their peers who hold one, making it harder to build financial stability and overcome long-standing societal barriers.
Academy of Hope (AoH) helps adults in D.C. overcome this challenge by offering FREE GED programs. Learners in the program work with a teacher in class or online to develop their critical thinking skills and knowledge in all four subject areas. Each subject test can be taken at a certified testing center when the student is ready. The learner can take one subject test at a time, as many times as needed. Once the learner passes the test, they receive a credential that is recognized by most employers and universities in the United States and Canada as a high school diploma.
At AoH, GED is available to adults of any skill set. Before they are placed into classes, learners complete a Comprehensive Adult Student Systems (CASAS) exam to assess their level of reading, writing, and mathematical cognition. Based on their results, they are placed in classes ranging from Level 1 to Level 5. Teachers then work with learners to help them improve their comprehension, progress to Level 5, and pass their exams to earn their high school diploma.
Many learners starting at Level 1 have successfully passed the GED. Take alum Rozina Knight. No one in her family had a high school diploma. She, herself, only had an eighth-grade education. But with her kids as her motivation, Rozina wanted to rewrite her story and set her next generation up for success.
“I looked at those kids I gave birth to, and I knew that education was the most important thing to me, to the point I was afraid for my kids to grow up without it … I said to myself, ‘I’m going to finish school.’”
While life’s challenges would tempt her to quit, the support from her kids and AoH staff kept her going. After 13 years of hard work and determination, Rozina would graduate with her high school diploma in 2008. Her dedication has not only transformed her life but also introduced new opportunities and inspired generational change. Today, all of her children have their high school diplomas, just like her.
Rozina’s journey mirrors a 5K: it’s not about speed—it’s about perseverance and crossing the finish line. So, when you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines at the AoH Stride for Hope 5k/Walk, you do more than just participate. You help learners like Rozina stay motivated to make a difference in their lives.
Interested in making an impact? Register today: https://aohdc.org/5k-race-homecoming-festival/.