Living Wages

If you have any other questions for us, please feel free to call us at 202-574-3961.

When are you open?

Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm. Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (mainly for the EDP). We are closed on holidays.

Are your locations accessible by Metro bus or subway?

Our 4th street location (4235 4th. Street SE, 20032) is closest to the Southern Avenue Metro Station. You can reach our center by taking the D12, D14, NH1, or A2 bus from the Southern Avenue Metro station. You can also reach it by taking the A6 or A8 bus from the Anacostia metro station.

Our V street location (1401 V Street SE, 20020) is closest to the Anacostia Metro Station. You can reach our center by taking the: 90, 92, 93. A42, A46, A48, P1, P2, P6, V2, V5, W2, W3, W5, W6, and W8 busses. It is located two blocks from the big chair.

Do you charge a fee?

Yes. Both our GED program and our National External Diploma Program (EDP) require that learners pay an initial fee of $20. Learners should pay this fee during their second visit.GED: There is a $10 monthly charge for our GED program after the first month.

EDP: Our National External Diploma Program has a $130 program fee which must be paid before graduation. This fee is used to offset the cost of materials. After paying the initial fee, a learner’s balance will be $110 dollars. Learners may make payments towards the balance of their program fee at their convenience, but they must pay at least $50 towards it before entering the assessment portion of the program.

What is the EDP?

The National External Diploma Program (EDP)is a way for adults over the age of 25 to receive a high school diploma. In the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and many other places, an EDP is equivalent to the GED. We will discuss the differences between the EDP and the GED during your intake session.

For more information about the EDP, please visit www.nedp.org.

What is an intake session?

Intake sessions happen every two weeks.

On that day, we meet you, introduce ourselves and our programs, and allow you to ask questions. The intake is your chance to find out about who we are and what we do before you pay any fees or make any commitments.

What do I need to bring to the intake session?

You only need to bring your DC ID and any past CASAS test, GED, or GED practice test scores (if available).

Do I need to bring a lunch?

While you are always welcome to bring your own food (we even have a refrigerator for your perishable items), DC Central Kitchen provides us with food on Tuesdays and Thursdays.There are usually enough leftovers to feed everyone throughout the week. Furthermore, we grow tomatoes, collards, spinach, and other wonderful vegetables in our own garden and share them with our staff and learners.

Do I have to read (or do math) at a 9^th grade level to go to Living Wages?

To be a candidate to work through the EDP books, you must be able to read and do math at the 9^th grade level. If you score at the 7^th or 8^th grade level, we allow you to do pre-GED or pre-EDP tutoring with us. If you score at the 6^th grade level or lower in either subjects, we will probably refer you to another program. We have a limited number of spaces available for learners at this level, and at this time, most of these spaces are filled.

Can I work on your programs from home?

No. Our programs are not geared from completing at home. But as part of the learning process, you may be given some assignments and practice work that should be done at home.

Also, we have Plato an online learning tool. Learners can use it at home to prepare for both the GED and the EDP.

What if I don’t have a computer?

None of our work requires you to have a computer at home. The EDP includes research and letter writing assignments that require the use of a computer, but these can be done at Living Wages.

However, we do sell high-quality, refurbished computers for $50 a piece. These are available to anyone in the community.

What other computer services do you offer?

We have a computer lab that is available for any of our learners to use. Basic computer training is part of the EDP program. We also offer one-on-one tutoring in basic computing on Tuesdays and A+ classes on Saturdays. You must make appointments with the instructors in charge of both of these classes before attending.

Can I take my 2-year-old son to your place while I learn?

Unfortunately, we do not have child care facilities at either of our locations. Exceptions can be made in special circumstances, but we want our learners to spend their time at Living Wages focusing on their own needs—not on their children at this time.

Do you provide job placements?

We do not provide direct job placements but we do try to refer you to good job resources. We have a bulletin board in our hall that we keep stocked with information about job postings and appointments, and our computers have O-Net, a program which you can use to discover which job you are best suited for. Also, because we get to know you during the learning process, we may suggest possible job paths considering your strengths and skills. Furthermore, our staff is willing to help you in your job search.

How long will it take me to complete your program?

Our programs are self-paced. In other words, it depends on the time and effort you put into it. Some can finish it in about 6 months, while others can take 2 years.

How are your centers different from other literacy agencies?

We are like a library in many ways—we provide tutors, books, and other resources. While we are happy to assist you in using any of these resources, we ask you to set your own goals and determine how much time to spend at our site. While we do offer some classes (approx. 4 EDP and 3 GED classes per week), most of your time at Living Wages will be spent working with one of our 22 tutors. Most of our tutors are volunteers and don’t follow a specific schedule, but if you like, most are willing to make appointments.

We use a plan developed by the National Institute for Literacy known as "Equipped for the Future." The plan teaches skills and content through the development of the roles in which adults actually live their lives -- the roles of parent, worker, and citizen.

What is unique about your educational philosophy and approach to learning?

Our educational philosophy is based on the principles of "popular education," first articulated by the late Brazilian educator, Paulo Friere.

Unlike traditional adult education which starts with the premise that knowledge must be brought from outside by experts, we believe, as did Friere, that true education is based on dialogue between partners committed to social change.

Our starting point is the day-to-day experiences of the people who come to our centers -- their spirituality, their pains, their joys, and their hopes. This kind of education is learner-centered, not teacher-centered. Our volunteers and staff members think of themselves as both students and teachers—we believe that we are educated by our learners while we help them in their own educational progress.

For more on our educational philosophy, please visit the Who We Are section of this website.

Why did you start Living Wages?

Prior to founding of Living Wages, we realized that most people living in poverty can not share in the prosperity of our society without additional education and training. They lack the skills needed to earn a decent wage. Education is the key to getting a better job with a Living Wage.

Moreover, we saw that places where they can get the education and training they seek, provided in the context of their daily lives and struggles, hardly exist. So, we decided to establish such a place.

Why do you call your organization "Living Wages?"

We help people prepare to earn a living wage. A living wage is one that allows workers to live in dignity. We believe that adequate work with adequate pay for all who seek it is a fundamental means for achieving basic justice in our society. We believe that all workers should receive a fair living wage and that no one who works for a living should have to live in poverty.