Literacy – Spanning North America :: Reno NV :: Waterville ME :: Vernon BC :: Union MO

Literacy: Spanning North America

@NNVLiteracyCncl

Group Helps Adults Learn to Read, Earn GEDs

KTVN: 9.29.2017 by Arianna Bennett

We talk about high school graduation rates often and what the graduates are doing after they get that diploma. But what happens to the nearly 30 percent of Nevada students who don't make it to graduation?

Without a high school diploma, people are more likely to be stuck earning minimum wage, struggling to afford basic needs like rent, and more likely to end up in prison. In fact, nearly 70 percent of prison inmates didn't finish high school. But there is a non-profit organization in Reno working to help these people turn it all around.

The Northern Nevada Literacy Council looks a little bit like a private tutoring business, but this adult learning school does it all for free, helping people learn to read, learn English, and get their GEDs.

"I've been absolutely shocked to see that there are people born in America, who come to our school, and they either can't read at all, or they read at a first grade level, or a Kindergarten level," NNLC Executive Director Susan Robinson said.

The NNLC teaches about 150 local students at all levels every a day. Some dropped out of high school just a year or two shy of graduation, and some are trying to learn English as a second language. Some never learned to read to begin with.  WATCH VIDEO

Literacy Waterville

Literacy Volunteers of Waterville helps adults learn to read

WCSH6: 10.03.2017 by Rob Nesbitt

The ability to read a text message, street sign, or restaurant menu is something many can do with ease, but there are some adults who struggle with sounding out words and reading complete sentences. That's where Literacy Volunteers Waterville Area can help.

The group has been teaching adults to read through free one-on-one tutors since 1973. Each literacy volunteer tutor develops lesson plans to meet student's unique needs and goals in the speaking, listening, reading and writing of English. Mona Gagnon, 54, signed up for the program after a severe reaction to a medication caused her memory loss, taking her ability to read with it. 

"It was hard because I didn't even know my alphabet," said Gagnon. "I had to go right at the bottom of everything."

Pride might stop some, but not Gagnon. She wants to learn to read and that drive brought her to Literacy Volunteers tutor, Alan Corson. He has tutored five adults through the program, but none have been as successful as Gagnon during their lessons at the Waterville Public Library.  WATCH VIDEO 

Literacy Society

North Okanagan

New name, same services

While their mission to spread the seeds of literacy and learning throughout the North Okanagan remains the same, residents can expect some other major changes from the Junction Literacy Centre this fall.

Vernon Morningstar: 10.04.2017

While their mission to spread the seeds of literacy and learning throughout the North Okanagan remains the same, residents can expect some other major changes from the Junction Literacy Centre this fall.

It began with the transfer of operation of the Teen Junction from the society to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs in May and has culminated in a new name and location.

Under their new moniker — the Literacy Society of the North Okanagan, the non-profit society will operate out of the third floor of the People Place on 27th Avenue.

These changes, explained society president Bill Miller, come as a result of board’s desire to “purify” their services.

“Two years ago, the board of Junction Literacy Centre met for strategic planning and we identified that it was becoming more and more of a challenge for the society to do two different mandates and do them well — deliver youth services and literacy services and deliver them well for the community.” Miller said.  READ MORE >>

People Who Can Boost the Local Economy

eMissourian: 10.05.2017 by Alice Whalen, Executive Director, East Central Area Literacy Council

To The Editor:

There are more than 10,000 people in the East Central College service area who didn’t graduate high school. They are three times more likely to be in poverty, four times more likely to be in poor health and eight times more likely to be incarcerated than the rest of the population.

Right now, there are 28 adult education programs across the state trying to fix the problem, including the one at East Central College. We are seeing results. 

This year, Missouri ranked second in the nation for academic gains through adult education. According to the U.S. Department of Education, individuals who participate in Adult Education and Literacy programs have higher future earnings as a result. Children whose parents are involved with them in family literacy activities score 10 points higher on standardized reading tests.  Adult Education programs are the best available weapons against intergenerational low literacy and poverty.

The last week of September served as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week — meant to bring public awareness about the need for and value of adult education and family literacy. As director of the East Central College Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Program, I know one week of awareness isn’t enough. The demand for more educated workers isn’t going away. By 2020, 65 percent of all jobs will require some level of postsecondary education.  READ MORE >>