Literacy – Spanning the US :: Bangor ME :: Guilford Co NC :: Santa Clara CA

@LitVolBangor

Literacy program working to help voters

WLBZ2: 11.05.2016 by Shawna Newcomb

According to the Department of Education, 36 million American adults cannot read or write above a third-grade level, which might make it difficult to mark up a ballot on Election Day.

The Literacy Volunteers of Bangor worked to change that Saturday by hosting a “Tool Kit for Tutors” event.

Mary Lyon, the nonprofit's executive director, says the ballot box is an intimidating place if you don't read well.

“I mean, I have difficulty reading parts of those tough referendum questions and understanding them,” she said.

But there's a solution, Lyon says.

“Some people think that their votes don't matter, but we know that every vote matters and this is the one way you can exercise your voice when you may not feel like you have one,” Lyon said.

With the help of more than 400 volunteer tutors, dozens of Maine adults are overcoming their literacy challenges and in time for the big election.

As a resource center, the Literacy Volunteers program offers the easy-to-read Voter Guide which breaks down difficult political jargon. But the tutors, Lyon says, are the real heroes here.

“They really hold some of the key pieces that can really help spark the learning for adults who come through their doors,” she said.  WATCH VIDEO 📹

@readingconnect

Guilford County program helps improve adult literacy

MyFox8: 11.09.2016 by Katie Nordeen

Cecilya Sitatr has always loved reading. But she normally does it in Portuguese.

"I love reading, but when I read a book in English it takes me a lot more time than when I read in Portuguese, so it`s not that pleasant," she said.

She's originally from Brazil and recently moved to the United States after marrying her husband.

"I learned English in Brazil, or so I thought," she said. "And when I started living here I realized that my accent was a huge problem. Americans couldn`t understand me."

A couple times a week, she works in a small group with a tudor [sic] through Reading Connections -- North Carolina's largest adult literacy program. It helps adults learn to read, write and speak better.  WATCH VIDEO 📹

Two Santa Clara City Library Associates Win Awards and Receive Grants for Read Santa Clara

Santa Clara Weekly: 11.09-15.2016  by Cynthia Cheng

One award ceremony took place during a pre-game at the Levi’s Stadium and the other occurred over 2,000 miles away from Santa Clara in Detroit, Michigan. Both awards ceremonies recognized outstanding women associated with the Santa Clara City Library and more specifically, Read Santa Clara, the library’s free adult literacy program.

Betsy Megas, former library trustee board member and current literacy volunteer for Read Santa Clara, was a finalist for the 49ers Community Quarterback Award. Nominated by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends, Megas was a guest at a Sept. 21 luncheon, also attended by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Bono. Here, Megas received a large trophy depicting a football player and the library foundation received $1,000, to be used to support Read Santa Clara. During an Oct. 2 pre-game at Levi’s Stadium, Megas and the other award winners were publicly recognized at the 50-yard line.

Also involved in Read Santa Clara is Ellin Klor, who has served as the family literacy librarian at the Santa Clara City Library for the last nine years. On Oct. 18, at the National Center for Families Learning Conference in Detroit, Michigan, Klor was recognized as the 2016 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year runner-up. She received a plaque and a $5,000 grant for Read Santa Clara. Klor was nominated by Shanti Bhaskaran, the library’s literary program supervisor.  READ MORE @