Literacy: Spanning North America
Leaner literacy groups survive, with help from TC Book
Drive
Times Colonist: 4.01.2017 by Jack Knox
It would have been dead easy to give up on Literacy Victoria. Ditto for the READ Society.
Both were volunteer-driven outfits, and volunteers want
fulfilment, not the headache of keeping a drowning charity afloat.
In fact, Literacy Victoria did go under for a while,
shutting its doors in 2014.
“It would have been so easy to stay closed,” says Susan
Reece, a volunteer tutor who ended up chairing the group’s board.
But then the impact of the loss began to be felt. How
were all those adults who struggle with reading, writing and numeracy supposed
to overcome their hurdles? “We had so many people who were upset that it had
closed after all those years.”
So Reece and a few others spent a few months huddled
around a kitchen table figuring out how to reopen the doors, which they were
able to do in 2015. Then, last year, Reece got to talking with Charlie Etchell
of the READ Society, a youth-focused literacy group that had emerged from its
own near-death experience.
The result was September’s merger of the two
non-profits, now known as the Victoria
Literacy Connection. It’s a leaned-down organization that
helps both children and adults, teaching them skills without which they would
be left behind in life. READ MORE @
Annual 'Literacy Tea' promotes the joys of reading
WLBZ-TV: 4.02.2017
by Samantha York
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The Literacy Volunteers of
Bangor have put on their annual 'Literacy Tea' for the past
five years -- it is a fundraiser that raises money for the groups adult
literacy programs and encourages those of all ages to pick up a book and read. WATCH VIDEO 📺
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Adult Learner: Patty Lopez
OTAN: 4.05.2017
Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, Assemblywoman Patty López came to
the U.S. at 12 and grew up in Pacoima. While raising her own family, she
started studying at the North Valley Occupational Center. As a
mother of four, she knew educating herself was the best way to provide a better
future for her daughters. She took basic ESL and high school classes, GED
preparation, vocational and college courses.
Patty became active in a local parent group that
worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District to help failing schools.
She gradually expanded her political and community organizing roles, and was
especially concerned by the elimination of adult education funding at the
height of the state's financial crisis.
The desire to help her community led to a decision to
run for the State Assembly in 2014. In a surprising upset, she won the election
and took office as a political novice. She has since introduced legislation in
key areas of concern to her and her constituents. Four of her bills have been
signed by the Governor. READ MORE @
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