Literacy: Spanning the U.S. - Delaware Co PA :: Colusa Co CA :: Smyth Co VA

Literacy:  Spanning the U.S.

Adult literacy champions praised in Delco

Philadelphia Tribune: 10.01.2014 by Louis Bolling

The Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC) recently announced its 2014 Champions of Adult Literacy.

Kristin Ball Motley, pharmacist and owner of Health Care Solutions of Delaware Valley; State Rep. Joe Hackett and the nonprofit organization Clarifi are the 2014 Champions of Adult Literacy.

These community leaders will be honored at the 2nd Annual Champions of Adult Literacy Awards reception and fundraiser, Thursday, Nov. 13, at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack.

“I feel very blessed that I was nominated for this award for doing work that I love,” Ball Motley said at the press conference announcing the Champions. “I am honored.”Ball Motley and the other honorees were chosen for their valuable work helping adults in the areas of health literacy, adult education and financial literacy. Their efforts are especially important to the adult students that seek free literacy instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), basic literacy skills and GED.  READ MORE !

Adult literacy program reaches 28 years

Appeal Democrat: 9.24.2014 by Lizzie Jenkins

Colusa will celebrate 28 years of helping adults learn to read by recognizing the students, tutors and faculty who have helped make the program successful.

Part of California Library Literacy Services, a California State Library program celebrating 30 years this month, Colusa Library will celebrate 28 years of being involved in the program at 6 p.m. Friday at the Colusa Scout Cabin.

California Library Literacy Services is launching an awareness program — Together, California Reads — to encourage libraries statewide to spread the word to Californians about the literacy program in their areas. In conjunction with Colusa's event and the statewide campaign, the Colusa County Board of Supervisors has deemed September Adult Literacy Awareness Month.

"I think that (the Colusa Library Literacy Program is) a program that's really needed," said Rodney Irons, a library employee who has been involved with Colusa's program since January of this year.

Colusa County has the lowest literacy rate in the state after Imperial County, Irons said — 34 percent of Colusa County adults lack basic literary skills, easily more than the 25 percent overall adult illiteracy rate in California.  READ MORE !

Smyth County's literacy organization shuttering its doors

SWVA Today: 10.13.2014 by Linda Burchette

A longtime literacy program in the county may be ending, but its impact will not be forgotten anytime soon and its work is expected to continue through its volunteers.

Smyth County Advancement of Literacy Education (SCALE) announced this week that after 26 years of service, several years of budget cuts and months of discussion it will be shutting its doors on Oct. 31. The organization is being dissolved and its materials distributed to other local programs.

“Things have been going downhill ever since the recession began,” said Tracy McCarty, program coordinator. “When I was hired I was told there was only enough money for a year and a half, but we made it four more years. We definitely made great strides and the community really pitched in with fundraising but it just wasn’t enough. I think the board of supervisors (budget cut) was just one of many factors.”

SCALE was among several local programs whose funding was cut by the county board of supervisors in recent years, losing nearly $14,000 in 2013, 25 percent of the organization’s budget.  READ MORE !