(Cleveland)—On Thursday, April 30th before hundreds of people at Tri-C’s Metro Campus Theater, 30 participants in the Cleveland Municipal Court’s Get on Track Program received their GED’s, allowing them to move on with their lives and become productive citizens in Northeast Ohio.
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Facing a first degree misdemeanor offense, 32 year old Francine Gill started the program in 2007 as the mother of one child.  After almost eight years and three more children, she was awarded a laptop computer for overcoming the most obstacles.

“I did it for my kids. I can’t tell them to get a high school diploma it if I didn’t get one,” said Gill, her face bursting with emotion.  Gill plans to attend Remington College and prepare for a career in cosmetology.

Judge Emanuella Groves was instrumental in guiding Francine throughout the program.

“She raised the bar of expectations in her household and I’m confident that her children will also finish school and that’s what we’re trying to do,’ said Judge Groves.

Click here to watch interview with Judge Emanuella Groves and graduate Francine Gill

The Keynote Speaker for the event was State Senator Nina Turner, who pointed out everyone has fallen off track from time to time.

“There are no perfect people in this world, so to the graduates tonight, the fact that you live in a city and have the privilege of having a court that believes in redemption is a beautiful thing and I want to salute you tonight,” said Turner.

Click here to view State Senator Nina Turner's keynote address

The Get on Track Program stresses education, employment and character development as a healthy alternative to negative behavior.   Under the direction of Judges’ Groves, Lauren C. Moore and Charles L. Patton, over 500 people have graduated since it started in 2006.  Currently there are 280 participants in Get on Track.

Francine Gill’s advice to them: “Just keep trying, you’ll get it eventually.”