Literacy – Spanning the US :: Philadelphia PA :: Wilmington NC :: Green Bay WI

@FreeLibraryCook 

Dinner … At The Library?

The Culinary Literacy Center teaches cooking—and fosters community—among Philadelphians of all stripes

Philadelphia Citizen: 12.13.2016 by Quinn O'Callaghan

An estimated 500,000 Philadelphians, including 25 percent of black residents, lack some sort of basic literacy. This affects them in any number of ways—some can’t fill out work applications, others can’t balance a checkbook, still more can’t properly use a computer or type at a reasonable rate. That’s why for years, the Philadelphia Free Library, along with the city, has participated in programs citywide to teach adults and children how to read.

Now the Library has taken on another, less expected, form of literacy: Nutritional. At the Free Library’s three-year-old Culinary Literacy Center, participants learn how to read recipes, use the techniques in the recipes and understand the math in the recipes. In short—very short—they learn how to cook.

But it is about more than just cooking, says Liz Fitzgerald, director of the Culinary Literacy program. “There are opportunities across the board to interact with Philadelphians from all backgrounds,” she says.“There is an opportunity—where literacy and culinary literacy intersect—to really reach people here.”

Before 2014, Fitzgerald, a librarian with the system, had led library-hosted cooking and culinary literacy classes using, she says, a hot-plate. Then the library, in June 2014, built a fully-fledged, fully-equipped educational kitchen, capable of hosting everything from haute cooking exhibits to classes for low-income Philadelphians, at the main branch of the Free Library.  READ MORE @

@cfliteracy

Voices Of Conscience: Pat Smith gives the gift of reading

Star News Online: 12.19.2016 by Si Cantwell

Pat Smith was reading with Phil Foy in a small classroom in Winter Park Presbyterian Church one morning last week, and Smith was quizzing Foy about the material he'd just read.

"What decision did Michael make?" Smith asked.

"He rented his own apartment," Foy replied.

"Teletype -- did you know that word or did you sound that out?" she asked.

"I just sounded it out," Foy replied, smiling with pride as Smith congratulated him.

Smith and Foy have been meeting twice a week for nearly three years. Foy is pleased with the progress he has made.

"I can read the Bible," he said. "I can read the dictionary, and I can go to the library and get out a book."

A fan of Westerns, his favorite author is Louis L'Amour.

"I've come a long way, all with the Literacy Council," Foy said.

Smith said it takes courage for an adult to admit he or she needs help learning to read.

Cape Fear Literacy helps adults with two programs, Adult Literacy and English as a Second Language.  READ MORE @ VIDEO

@LiteracyGB

Walls come down to support adult learners

A renovation project is underway at Literacy Green Bay to expand classroom space and add technology.

Green Bay Press Gazette: 12.19.2016 by Todd McMahon

Rosa Ramirez took a mighty big swing and delivered a crushing blow. The golden head of the sledgehammer she wielded tightly with both hands left a gaping hole at the bottom of one section of drywall.

The 40-year-old Ramirez had the honor of helping Literacy Green Bay staff, board members and project supporters whack away during what was hyped as a “wallbreaking” ceremony Friday. As the eager hitters in construction helmets and safety glasses connected on the ‘X’ markings across the base of a wall, they marked the start of an important makeover for the longtime agency in downtown Green Bay.

The basement space used by Literacy Green Bay in the Madison-Monroe Building at 424 S. Monroe Ave. will be off-limits the next several weeks. Walls are coming down, carpeting is being ripped out, and it’s out with the antiquated way of teaching adult learners with chalkboards in confined classrooms and in with the new of instructing and empowering them with modern-day comforts.

“We’ve had all of the same stuff for 20 years. So, it was time,” said Kathy Cornell, executive director for Literacy Green Bay. “Furniture, the classroom setups, everything was the same from 20 years ago.”  READ MORE @