Our Programs

The General Equivalency Diploma can be taken by individuals who did not receive their high school diploma. Once they pass this nationally accredited test, they become eligible to attend college and can qualify for federal financial aid.  Our courses are designed to help students become test-ready for the official G.E.D. test that is offered once a month in the jail via our partnership with Chattahoochee Technical College. We offer instruction in Math, Science, Reading, Composition, and Social Studies. All students participate in a general assessment that is then used to help our instructors tailor a learning plan for each individual. We work with each student one-on-one to better equip them for success when taking the official exam.

For all of our students who obtain their official G.E.D., as well as other students interested in pursuing higher education, we offer a Continuing Education Workshop. In this class, we help students identify degree paths that best line up with their passions and future goals. We cover how to apply for university, how to fill out a FAFSA form, how the HOPE Scholarship works, and how to manage time well. We also help them to create a realistic budget built around being a successful student. We discuss the topics of credit hours, transferring, and good study habits in the hopes of equipping them to succeed in classrooms beyond our own.

Our English as a Second Language classes aim to equip non-native english speakers with a better understanding of the English language. We use a variety of teaching methods to accomplish this goal as our students come to us from varying backgrounds and skill levels. However, our primary approach is to immerse our students in conversation that centers around a daily worksheet. This worksheet is tailored to meet the needs of the multiple skill levels present in our classes.

The creative writing classes equip students with a strong understanding of the most current composition theories. Our students take this theoretical knowledge and apply it by composing in a variety of genres. Our students have written short stories, plays, poems, and even complete novels while attending our classes. All of these forms of composition engage our students in metacognition, that is, thinking about their thinking. We believe metacognition is a powerful tool in changing the way one thinks and, as a direct result, in changing an individual's behavior. These creative works are all done in a communal setting that create an atmosphere of diverse unity.  We also believe Art is an unmatched force for good, and therefore deserves a high place among the courses we offer.

Music is the epoch of human expression. Scientific studies have found that music stimulates the brain more than any other human function. It aids in building cognitive function, repairs memory loss, reduces pain and anxiety, relieves stress, and improves social relationships, as well as other therapeutic outcomes. Even our blood moves through our bodies in rhythm! We believe that by teaching Fundamentals of Music, Choral Singing, and Ethnomusicology we can equip our students with the skills of self-control, discipline, determination, and a more complete worldview. We also believe that our imaginations are the first step towards innovation. They are the link to all the blueprints for every technological, industrial, and sociological advancement that mankind has ever made. We hope to stretch the imagination of the student and encourage an environment of creativity through the study of Composition. All of these outcomes can lead to gainful employment, restored social relationships, overcoming addiction, and positive community participation.

Many former inmates face the nearly impossible task of securing gainful employment upon release due to their criminal histories. Through our Entrepreneurship Course, our students learn best business practices, how to file for a business license, budgeting skills, and ultimately draft a detailed business plan. Students that complete the course receive a certificate and access to post-release aid and mentorship to help bring these small businesses into fruition.

Rooted in the Bible, this Faith-based course equips students with strategy to find complete victory over addiction, pain, and brokenness. The course begins with an intensive on forgiveness in partnership with Forgiving Forward, followed by various lessons that dive deeper into what it means to be a “new creation in Christ” and other evidence-based therapies to find victory. Our students connect with others who have faced similar struggles, gain tools to navigate conflict and triggers, grow in personal and interpersonal skills, and find support through mentorship as they are equipped to find true freedom.

In partnership with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Lion Life Community, Inc. operates a full-service library inside the county jail. The library contains over 4,000 titles and is accessed hundreds of times each month.