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Carmen Montana, the General Education Diploma, and her Social Network

This case study focuses on the experience of a Black woman who returned to school for her General Education Diploma (ged) certificate after 32 years away from formal schooling. Through the reflections of Montana and her social network, six women who supported her during and after the ged exam, we are able to see the way in which Montana changes the network and herself over time. We are also able to see some of the ways in which Montana positively affects her children and husband through her pursuit of the ged. The 11 interviews reveal the themes of improved literacy skills, heightened confidence, community activism, and youth leadership, as Montana circulates in her community and congregation a year after the ged. It is also possible to glean from the study the kind of opportunities that adult literacy educators may create by involving a students social network in the active support of increased literacy skills at the ged level.