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  "path": "/blog/advocate/highlights-from-the-excel-center-national-conference/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-15T22:16:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.goodwill.org",
  "tags": [
    "Advocate"
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  "textContent": "By Laura Walling, Vice President of Government Affairs, Goodwill Industries International, Inc. Melvin tried to earn his GED four times. Each time, life got in the way. Laura had already paid for her cap and gown when she was told she couldn’t graduate. She had missed too much school while supporting a family member through court hearings. For both Melvin and Laura, the path to opportunity wasn’t linear—but they found a second chance through The Excel Center, a tuition-free public charter high school for adults operated by local Goodwill organizations in communities across at least 12 states and the District of Columbia. Their stories a",
  "title": "Opening Doors, Changing Lives: Highlights from the Excel Center National Conference"
}