Literacy:
Spanning the U.S.
Roanoke group helps
immigrants celebrate their new country
New U.S. citizens, and
hopefuls, come together at a Fourth of July cookout.
Roanoke Times: 7.03.2015 by Amy
Friedenberger
Hawa Mansaray moved to
the United States in 2009, but on Saturday she’ll celebrate her first Fourth of
July as a U.S. citizen.
Mansaray, a native of
Sierra Leone, started taking English lessons in 2013 through Blue Ridge Literacy. The Roanoke regional
nonprofit organization helps about 500 people, representing 44 nationalities,
learn English literacy or prepare for the U.S. citizenship test. For Mansaray,
the test was tough, but worth it.
“I’m happy because I’m
free to say whatever I want, and I can vote for whoever I want,” said Mansaray
, who became a U.S. citizen in March.
Mansaray and about 50
of her peers , friends and family gathered at the main library on Jefferson
Street on Thursday for a traditional American Fourth of July cookout to
celebrate their citizenship and support those still working toward becoming
citizens.
Newly minted Americans
and citizenship hopefuls ate hot dogs and beans, and their children, clutching
mini U.S. flags, sucked on red, white and blue popsicles as they listened to Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, talk about his
own parents’ path from the Palestinian territories to the United States, where
they set up a convenience store in Roanoke.
“To get elected, with
the last name Rasoul, in Southwest Virginia, I’m really living the American
dream,” he said. READ MORE !
Women Who Care donate
$5,000 to Winnebago County Literacy Council
The Northwestern: 7.03.2015 by Connie Drexler,
Reader
In early June, three
non-profit organizations presented information about their work and how funds
donated by Women Who
Care would be used to benefit the Oshkosh community. Winnebago
County Literacy Council was ultimately chosen by a majority
vote to be the recipient of a $5,000 donation, the aggregate funds contributed
by the 43 Women Who Care members in attendance.
The Winnebago County
Literacy Council is a not-for-profit organization, not funded by any local
government, that provides English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, one on
one literacy tutoring, and a Road to Work (RTW) program for refugees seeking to
start a new life. Classes are taught by professional instructors who are paid
by WCLC, however all services are offered at no charge to the learners.
Located at the Oshkosh Public Library, the Literacy
Council continues to experience a significant increase in the number of
refugees and immigrants needing ESL tutoring. Low English-literacy skills are
the number one issue for their learners and more learners are re-enrolling in
the programs. WCLC also attracts ESL learners who have spent months or years in
our community, unaware of the services available until one of the current
learners referred them. This kind of growth and referral system within the
refugee community continues to escalate as new family members and friends are
resettled in Oshkosh. READ MORE !
Literacy Council
provides tutoring
Temple Daily News: 7.14.2015 by Janice
Gibbs
About 50 students are
receiving free tutoring services through Temple Literacy
Council, a non-profit organization supported entirely by
donations by individuals, groups and organizations as well as grants from
foundations.
The funds are used to
maintain an office, provide curriculum, train volunteer tutors, and general
operational and administrative expenses.
Specifics in the
application propose that Temple Literacy Council will fulfill the theme of
“Expanding Our Horizons.” Executive Director Don Stiles listed projects that
include recruiting at least 15 more adult literacy students, expanding use of
iPad training tools, offering citizenship training to at least five students,
hosting at least six in-service training meetings for tutors, and increasing
coordination with the Temple Public Library’s Children’s library services.
One of the focuses of
the literacy council is to engage parents who are being served with the
Children’s Library Services.
“We want parents to
know they can get involved through the children’s services at the Temple
Library,” Stiles said.
Some of the parents are
hesitant to find out on their own about library services that could help their
children, he said. It’s easy enough to go with them to meet the staff.
“We’re going to try to
serve 115 students this year,” Stiles said.
Temple Literacy Council
currently has 50 students meeting with volunteer tutors. Stiles works part time
and is assisted by Pattie Marek, who tests the students to determine their
level of reading skill and progress made in the program. READ MORE !
Helping
Hands: Literacy leads to employment
Centre Daily Times: 7.15.2015 by Amy
Wilson and Lisa McMonagle
“John” never learned to
read. As an adult, he struggled to find work to support his family. The jobs he
got were often dirty and dangerous. After getting injured, he came to Mid-State
Literacy Council feeling desperate. He worked with his tutor faithfully for
about four years. John is now employed full time with benefits. Due to his work
ethic and ability to read, he can support his family. Literacy leads to
employment.
“Maria,” an immigrant,
was referred to Mid-State
Literacy Council in February. Maria knew only a handful of
words when she began a combination of classes and intensive English tutoring.
Between classes and tutoring, she received about twenty hours per week of
English instruction and practice. Maria’s goal was to find employment to help
support her young children.
By May, she began work
in an entry-level position. Because she can schedule tutoring sessions around
her work schedule, she continues to meet with two tutors to refine her English
skills with the goal of advancing her career.
Statistical analyses
show that legal immigrants who are proficient in English earn between 13 to 24
percent more than immigrants who are not proficient in English, which
positively affects the economy because legal immigrants make up close to 16
percent of the civilian labor force in the United States. According to reports
from the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, when immigrants have access
to language and literacy instruction, they assimilate more quickly and
effectively and become more engaged in communities. READ MORE !
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