Native Students Stepping Forward:
Dollar General Adult Education Program
2014 – Ongoing
About The Program
The American Indian College Fund’s Native Students Stepping Forward: Dollar General Adult Education Program, previously known as the Dollar General American Indian and Alaska Native Literacy and Adult Education Program, addresses a critical gap in the education pathway, empowering underserved Native people to gain the foundational literacy skills needed to prepare for and obtain high school equivalency (HSE) credentials and pursue post-secondary education and meaningful career pathways.
Like the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF), the program’s primary funder, supporting it at up to $300,000 annually, Native Students Stepping Forward is committed to helping individuals of all ages receive the educational foundation they need to succeed in post-secondary education opportunities or the workforce. Through tribal college and university (TCU)-implemented programming, this work seeks to strategically expand services and resources to achieve measurable outcomes in ABE progression and HSE program enrollment, retention, and completion. In a continuous effort to value the whole student, the program aims to assess and address students’ needs to succeed, encourages culturally relevant programming elements, promotes visibility of HSE students at TCUs, and supports college and career readiness programming components. TCU grantee partners also regularly engage across the cohort in a Community of Practice (CoP) to share best practices and challenges, strengthen programming, and examine holistic impact on students and communities.
High School Equivalency Visibility Project
The American Indian College Fund engaged three TCU high school equivalency (HSE) partners for the HSE Visibility Project, featuring the stories of HSE students and graduates in a social media campaign throughout winter and spring of 2024.
2024 Adult Education Program Convening
Fall 2024 – Rapid City, SD
Culture
The two-day convening was facilitated by Ethleen Iron Cloud – Two Dogs, who guided the group in exploring the transformative potential of Indigenous Adult Education. Through her leadership, participants examined how their programs serve as a foundation for Native community wellness and empowerment.
Relationship
Kinship, storytelling, and creativity were at the heart of the gathering. Memories were made and connections were formed and strengthened, bringing together 11 TCU representatives, one funder, and seven College Fund staff.
Vision
The group examined ways to enhance programming, build pathways, and support adult education students’ and staff wellness.
Place-Based
A cultural excursion to The Journey Museum included a film on Lakota Star Knowledge and a private tour of related collections.
Celebration
A group dinner closed the convening, complete with conversation, laughter, and a delicious shared meal in downtown Rapid City.
Previous Adult Education Convenings
Grantees
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University
Northwest Indian College
Oglala Lakota College
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
Salish Kootenai College
Sinte Gleska University
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Tohono O'odham Community College
Related Blogs
Tohono O’odham Community College’s Pre-College Program Graduates Three GED Students in 2022 and Launches Pre-College GED FAST TRACK Option in 2023
Tohono O’odham Community College continues to make strides in pre-college pathway options for Native students, setting them up for success in their college and career journeys.
Once the Student, Now the Tutor: My GED Story
Just a few years ago, Conrad was a GED student at Oglala Lakota College. Now he is back in the same classroom as the tutor, using his lived experience and TCU education to support students continuing their own education.
Returning to School Takes Courage: Akiiwaande’s Story
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College’s high school equivalency (HSE) program recognizes that one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Aakwa’ode’ewin (bravery), is displayed momentously by its HSE students. This is the story of one those students, Akiiwaande.
