In 1997, the Congregation of St. Joseph honored its 125 years of service to the Diocese of Cleveland by providing start-up funds to an organization that incorporated its ministry.  Sister Kathleen Kilbane submitted a request to begin an adult literacy program in neighborhood communities, ministering to a growing need for a free and easily accessible program. 

Selected as a sign of recommitment to the less fortunate of the Diocese and reflective of the Congregation’s long history in education, Seeds began in the St. Colman Family Learning Center in July 1997. 

Within the next two years, additional Seeds tutoring sites were added at St. Augustine in the Tremont neighborhood and Annunciation in the Puritas neighborhood.  The Seeds program developed its own tutor training sessions, materials and supplies.  With the expansion of the program to the east and west, site coordinators were recruited to administer at the Westside Catholic Center, St. Joseph Center, Thea Bowman Center, Legacy Center and St. Henry’s Family Center.

In 2005, Seeds received accreditation from ProLiteracy Worldwide, the largest adult literacy organization in the world.  Seeds is the only adult literacy program in Cuyahoga County with this accreditation.

In January 2008, Seeds’ Resource Center and offices relocated to the Clark-Fulton neighborhood at the corner of West 25th Street and Clark Avenue.  As of December 2008, all classes, with the exception of those at the Legacy Center, moved to the central Resource Center location.  Centralization allowed Seeds to maximize resources and sustain a proven, effective adult literacy program that has retention and graduation rates that are twice the national average.

Currently, Seeds serves over 850 active students with the invaluable help of about 200 volunteer tutors.