World of Opportunity

World of Opportunity (WOO) is a community-based, social justice, civil rights, educational, and job readiness program.

We work with adults and young adults who have been pushed out of school or have not completed their high school education, and wish to prepare for the GED exam. We also offer literacy, adult basic education, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.

The World of Opportunity (WOO) offers free vocational training in computers, computer electronics, health care (CNA - certified nurse aide class), AutoCAD, Spanish, substance abuse education and prevention, basic carpentry and electricity. Our objective in offering these courses is also to assist students to gain meaningful employment using these skills.

All training is FREE!

At the World of Opportunity (WOO) we teach with and learn from the whole person. Our students are human beings, not test scores. Curriculum is individually designed to meet each student's need and each student progresses at her or his own pace.

If you are interested in becoming a student, volunteer tutor, or contributor, we welcome you and look forward to working with you.

We are located at 7501 Georgia Road, across the street from Marks Village public housing, next door to Miller Wire Works, in the heart of gate city. Call us at 205-271-9532, for more information.

Morning sessions are Monday through Friday, 10:00 - Noon
Afternoon sessions are Monday through Thursday, Noon - 2:00 PM
Evening sessions are three nights a week: Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

All classes are free. Registration requirements are paper, pencil, and a smile. If you are lacking any of these items, scholarships will be provided.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

The World of Opportunity (WOO) 2006 GED graduation ceremony will be Saturday
July 29, 2006
5:00 PM
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Seating is extremely limited so please reserve your place today. Call 205-271-9532 to reserve your seat and for more information.

This invite is especially extended to WOO graduates and alumni, and to GED graduates from other smaller community programs who have not had the opportunity particiapte in a formal cap and gown ceremony.

In addition to the GED graduation, candidates will be inducted into the WOO chapter of the National Adult Education Honor Society, which will also include students from the WOO computer, CNA (certified nurse aide) health care, and adult basic education programs.

Conscious of today's poverty:
A CHANGE IS SOON TO COME

By Warren Goodgain
World of Opportunity (WOO)
Birmingham, AL 35212

Submission for the 2006 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Essay Contest
Sponsored by the National Conference for Community Justice (NCCJ)

First of all, there are ideas in Dr. King's speech from 1968 that relate to our circumstances of 2005. For instance, when he talked about the people that were living in poverty, I think that forty-three years later, we still have the same problem.

Dr. King mentions that he met a woman that was living in an apartment and he describes the conditions which she was living. Those conditions were just terrible. Her rent was a hundred ($100.00) dollars ,for an apartment that was shared with roaches and rats. That's pathetically unrighteous. Today, one of my friends has an apartment where the toilets are backed up all of the time and the landlord won't fix them. She is paying about two-hundred and ninety dollars ($290.00) rent a month, and she, too, has to share her apartment with a few roaches. Has forty-three years really made a difference?

Dear sister and brothers, evacuee neighbors of Hurricane Katrina:

The doors and arms of the World of Opportunity (WOO) are open to Katrina evacuees who would like to study for the GED exam, or high school-aged youth who would like to continue their studies until they can enroll at their new high school.

Also, we offer computer operations, computer repair, AutoCAD (computerized drafting), CNA (certified nurse aide) health care training, Spanish, and we will do our best to help with job leads

In addition, we offer counseling or referrals for substance abuse, medical problems, shelter, food, clothing, women's issues, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and more. We are here to listen to your needs and concerns and will stick with you until we can reach some resolution so that you find some peace of mind.

August 13, 2005

Early Saturday morning at the World of Opportunity (WOO), Veronica and DeMarkus were busy making sandwiches and preparing sack lunches which also included an apple, a bag of chips, water and fruit drink. While other students arrived, Johnnie and Jermaine turned on computers and began to surf the web. Jacqueline and Jermaine helped load the lunches. Finally at 8:35AM, with 13 of us (Corey, Angela, Candace, Javon, Jacqueline, Veronica, DeMarkus, Jermaine, Johnny, Ch'tay, Lucille, David & I) in a van and pickup truck, we pulled out of the WOO parking lot to begin our civil rights journey to Hayneville, Alabama, about 120 miles southwest of Birmingham.

The following chronicle and list reads long......but the accomplishments of WOO students are many. We wanted to share some of their progress with you.

On July 9th, more than 140 people squeezed into the WOO Auditorium in downtown Gate City to celebrate the progress of WOO students in many areas of study including adult basic education, literacy, GED preparation and graduation, computer operations, certified nurse aide health care, AutoCAD, community service, parenting, and more. Most importantly, we celebrated our village spirit of all for one and one for all. Tears of joy were shed by students, staff, parents, guardians, grandparents. Against all odds, WOO students have persevered to continue their education for more than 5 years.

Personal Finance Skills
Tuesday 11:15AM - noon
Martha Walters, VP, New South Federal Savings Bank

Job Interviews & Preparation
Wednesday 11:15 - Noon
Larry Angst financial administrator

August 15, 2004

Congratulations to Corey Howard, our beloved WOO Assistant Director, who earned his Associates Degree in AutoCAD (Computer-aided drafting and design) from Virginia College.

August 12, 2004

Congratulations to Teressa Tyus!

It took more than three years, delicately juggling motherhood, childcare, employment, and studies for Teressa Tyus to proudly become WOO's 41st GED graduate. Teressa is the proud mother of Michelle and Daniel, and often brought both children with her to class.

August 02, 2004

Misunderstanding of one who loves you most
....silent black eyes of one's true ghost.

Can the empty sentences
be solved like a puzzle?