Pikes Peak Library District’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals Through Adult Education

Executive Summary

The Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) provides a suite of no-cost adult education programs that directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By offering resources for career development, language acquisition, and secondary education, PPLD functions as a critical institution for fostering lifelong learning, promoting economic growth, and reducing local inequalities. This report outlines the alignment of PPLD’s initiatives with key SDGs, including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education

PPLD’s core mission strongly aligns with ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. The provision of no-cost educational programs removes financial barriers, a crucial step toward equitable access.

• High School Equivalency: PPLD offers two pathways for adults to complete secondary education.
  1. GED classes prepare students for the four subject tests, providing an alternative to a traditional diploma.
  2. Career Online High School is a fully funded, accredited online program where graduates earn a diploma and a career certificate.
• Language and Literacy: English as a Second Language (ESL) classes enhance speaking, reading, and writing skills, fostering deeper community integration and improved employment prospects. According to PPLD CEO Teona Shainidze-Krebs, improving adult literacy has long-term positive effects, as children of parents who read to them are more likely to succeed academically and civically.
• Digital Literacy: Through access to platforms like LinkedIn Learning, cardholders can build essential digital skills in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and project management, ensuring they can participate in an increasingly digital society.

Fostering SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The library actively promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all through targeted career services.

• Career Navigator Services: This program provides individualized support, assisting job seekers with identifying strengths, setting career goals, developing resumes, and preparing for interviews.
• Vocational Training: The Food Industry Training program is a five-week, no-cost course that prepares participants for employment as prep or line cooks. Graduates earn a ServSafe Managers Certification, a valuable credential that facilitates entry into the workforce.
• Skills Development: Access to online learning tools empowers individuals to acquire new skills or upskill in their current field, contributing to a more dynamic and resilient local workforce.

Addressing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 1 (No Poverty)

By making all programs available at no cost, PPLD directly addresses and reduces economic and social inequalities within El Paso and Teller counties.

• Removing Economic Barriers: Free access to diploma programs, career training, and language classes ensures that opportunities for advancement are not limited by an individual’s financial status, contributing to poverty reduction (SDG 1).
• Supporting Vulnerable Populations: ESL classes and U.S. citizenship preparation courses are vital resources that help immigrants and non-native speakers overcome barriers, fostering social and economic inclusion (SDG 10).
• Enhancing Self-Sufficiency: The programs are designed to enhance literacy and promote self-sufficiency, empowering individuals to achieve greater economic stability and community engagement.

Conclusion: A Model for Institutional Impact

Pikes Peak Library District serves as a powerful example of a strong local institution (SDG 16) advancing global development goals. Its adult education initiatives, funded by the Adult Education and Family Literacy grant, create tangible pathways to quality education, decent work, and reduced inequality. By transforming from a repository of books into a center for empowerment and skill-building, PPLD provides the community with the essential tools to build a more sustainable and equitable future.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The issues highlighted in the article, primarily focusing on the adult education and career development programs offered by the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article’s core theme is education, specifically “lifelong learning” for adults. It details various no-cost educational programs such as English as a Second Language (ESL), General Educational Development (GED) preparation, and Career Online High School. This aligns with SDG 4’s aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article emphasizes how the library’s programs help individuals build skills for employment. It mentions “career development tools,” “Career Navigator Services” for job seekers, and specific vocational training like the “Food Industry Training program.” These initiatives contribute to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all, which is the essence of SDG 8.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  A significant point in the article is that these educational and career services are available “at no cost” to “remove barriers for everyone.” By providing free access to resources for skill development, diploma attainment, and language proficiency (ESL), the library helps to reduce inequalities in opportunities, particularly for those who may face economic or social disadvantages. This directly supports SDG 10’s goal of reducing inequality within and among countries.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets under the identified SDGs can be identified:

1. Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.

   The article states that PPLD’s programs, including vocational training like the “Food Industry Training” and skill-building through “LinkedIn Learning,” are available “at no cost.” This directly addresses the “affordable” and “equal access” components of this target by removing financial barriers to vocational and technical education.

2. Target 4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

   The library’s offerings are explicitly designed to build job-relevant skills. The article mentions “training videos on LinkedIn Learning to build skills in Microsoft Office, project management, Adobe Creative Cloud,” and the “Food Industry Training program” which prepares participants for “prep or line cook positions.” These programs directly contribute to increasing the number of adults with vocational skills for employment.

3. Target 4.6: Ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.

   The provision of “ESL classes” to help learners gain confidence in “speaking, reading, and writing” and “GED classes” that prepare students for a high school equivalency diploma are direct efforts to improve adult literacy and numeracy, as described in this target.

4. Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.

   Although the target date is in the past, the library’s ongoing efforts align with its principle. By offering programs like “Career Online High School” for a diploma and “GED classes,” the library provides pathways for adults who may be out of the formal education system to re-engage and gain qualifications, thereby reducing the number of adults not in education or training and improving their employment prospects.

5. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

   The article highlights that the programs “remove barriers for everyone” and are offered at “no cost.” The specific mention of ESL classes for language learners and programs for those without a high school diploma demonstrates a clear effort to empower and include individuals who might otherwise be marginalized, promoting their economic and social inclusion.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Number of participants in adult education programs

  The article implies this indicator by mentioning that for ESL and GED programs, “Registration opens twice per year and spots fill quickly.” Tracking the number of people enrolling in ESL, GED, Career Online High School, and the Food Industry Training program would directly measure the reach and success of these initiatives under Targets 4.3 and 4.4.

• Number of certifications and diplomas earned

  The article explicitly states that graduates of the Food Industry Training program earn a “ServSafe Managers Certification” and that Career Online High School graduates earn a “diploma” and “career certificate.” The number of these credentials awarded is a direct indicator of the successful completion of programs aimed at improving skills and qualifications (Target 4.4).

• Accessibility and cost of programs

  A key indicator mentioned throughout the article is that the programs “remain available at no cost.” This qualitative indicator measures the library’s commitment to removing economic barriers and ensuring inclusive access, directly relating to Target 10.2. The continued provision of these services for free is a measure of progress.

• Provision of job-seeking support services

  The article describes the “Career Navigator Services, which provide one-on-one support for identifying strengths, setting career goals, writing resumes and preparing for interviews.” The number of individuals who use these services can be an indicator of progress towards helping people find decent work (Target 8.6).

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: gazette.com