Literacy – Spanning the US :: Omaha NE :: Madison Co NY :: Hamilton MT

@MidlandsLiteracy

Literacy Center keeping hopes alive

WOWT: 11.17.2016 by John Knicely

When the Literacy Center recently moved into its new location just south of Dodge on 72nd Street, some volunteer painters had already paid a visit.

A bible study group from Omaha's Calvary Chapel covered the office walls with fresh paint at no cost.

"We really try hard as a part of our body to find opportunities where we can just serve the community," said Nathan Warnock in an interview with WOWT 6 News.

And in terms of serving the community, the Literacy Center has empowered adults and families in the metro area to improve their reading skills for the last 50 years.

"We're working with people that want to change their lives," explained interim Director Christine Johnson. "I've been so impressed because they want to be here, it's not because they have to be here."

Fifty-two-year old Ali Ahmed is one of those students with aspirations to improve his life. He came to the United State two years ago and works a night shift.

"It's a good class," he said. "I'm trying to improve my language so I can have good job. I love Omaha."  WATCH VIDEO 📹

Literacy Coalition

Madison County

Literacy Coalition of Madison County celebrates success stories, plans for future

Oneida Dispatch: 11.19.2016 by John Brewer

More than three dozen members of local schools, libraries and community agencies convened at Madison Hall to discuss literacy needs throughout the county as part of the Literacy Coalition of Madison County’s annual fall meeting.

Members of the Literacy Coalition of Madison County, or LCMCNY, worked to identify key areas of focus as the coalition moves forward and shared success stories.

LCMCNY interim director Michael Drahos said in the future, members would like to have more meetings will the full coalition present and increase public awareness of literacy coalition and better broadcast the positive work being done.

“There was the feeling that we could do a better job communicating the existence and work of the coalition,” Drahos said.

Two of the programs celebrated at the fall meeting include Madison County Reads Ahead, MCRA, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, DPIL.

MCRA is a free one-on-on tutoring program for adults seeking to improve their lives through improved English language skills and the desire to earn a high school equivalency diploma. At the meeting, Gary Johnson, one of the volunteer tutors, shared the success story of one of the learners, Brandon Fowler. While in the program, Fowler overcame many difficulities [sic] as he struggled to get his equivalency diploma.  READ MORE @

@literacybitterroot.13

Literacy Bitterroot gets new home

Ravalli Republic: 11.30.2016 by Michelle McConnaha

Literacy Bitterroot has moved across the street with the Human Resource Council to 303 N. Third in Hamilton.

The signs are not yet in place and the remodel is not complete, but executive director Dixie Stark and the teachers at Literacy Bitterroot are changing the lives of their students by providing education, guidance and help in completing the necessary paperwork.

Literacy Bitterroot teaches adults who are reading below a 12th grade level to improve their skills in reading, writing and math.

The goal is high school graduation achieved with passing a High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) that replaced the General Educational Development (GED) in Montana.

In March, Literacy Bitterroot will have served students for 26 years. They typically have 150 to 200 students and 45 to 65 graduates each year.

Stark said when she started with the program she worked part-time. It had all volunteer teachers and they only worked with adults who could not read.  READ MORE  @