Literacy: Spanning the U.S. - New Orleans LA, Morris Co NJ, Providence RI,

Literacy:  Spanning the U.S.

Turn the Page for Literacy

Urban Libraries: 1.29.2014

Last week, New Orleans Public Library, LA, under the leadership of Executive Director Charles Brown and in partnership  with 10 regional parish libraries, launched the "Turn the Page" literacy campaign with the goal of making New Orleans the most literate city in the U.S. by the city's 300th birthday in 2018.

ULC Executive Board member Irvin Mayfield, who also serves on the Board of the New Orleans Public Library Foundation, led the celebratory kick-off jamming to the brassy sounds of the Crescent City.

Watch the video and follow this exciting campaign on Facebook and Twitter.  READ MORE !

Graduates sing praises of literacy program

Volunteers sought to teach English

Daily Record: 2.03.2024 by William Westhoven

Viviane Davis, a French-speaking immigrant from Burkina Faso in West Africa, wanted to learn the native language of her adopted nation when she moved to Morristown.

John Budzinski, a retired electrical worker and Air Force veteran, had spoken English his entire life, but the Lake Hiawatha resident could not read or write well enough to pass the entrance exam at the County College of Morris.

Five years later, Davis is an registered nurse on scholarship to study for her BSN through CCM’s new bachelor’s degree partnership with Rutgers University. And Budzinki is on the Dean’s List at CCM.

Both credit the Literacy Volunteers of Morris County for giving them the language skills they need to succeed.

“I’m getting an associate’s degree in the humanities and hopefully one day, I will be smart enough to be one of the tutors here,” Budzinski said at the nonprofit program’s offices on Pine Street in Morristown. “I’m also qualified to be a substitute teacher and I think I’m going to pursue that.”

Debbie Leon, executive director of the program, said Davis and Budzinski were shining examples of their core mission “To provide literacy services to adults in our community who either can’t speak English or need help reading and writing English.”  READ MORE !

Libraries have crucial role in boosting adult literacy

Providence Business News: 2.03.2014 by Patricia Daddona

Karisa Tashjian, originally from Chester Springs, Pa., gravitated to work in literacy. After studying at Clark University, she moved to Maryland and volunteered to tutor a Korean woman in English.

She is now director of the Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative and of adult-literacy services for the Providence Public Library.

RIFLI is a 15-year-old adult-literacy program that has Providence Public Library as its fiscal agent. About 200 adults use it to learn to read, use technology, manage finances and apply for jobs.

Programs range from English as a Second Language, to college-transition classes and citizen-preparation classes. Immigrants, in particular, come to public libraries first for help with literacy, Tashjian says.  READ MORE !