Literacy – Spanning the US :: Sonoma Co CA :: Delaware Co PA :: Horry Co SC

Health Literacy 

Sonoma County Library has your health in mind with comprehensive program

Bohemian: 1.18.2017 by Charlie Swanson

Want to kick off the new year on a healthy note, but don't know where to start? Check out your local library.

The Sonoma County Library is currently hosting an ongoing series, "Healthy Living at Your Library," at all 12 locations through May. Aimed at educating people on healthful eating and cooking as well as physical fitness, the free classes range from cardio-focused kickboxing workouts to meditation and yoga to cooking demonstrations.

Headed by library division manager Jaime Anderson, the series is part of the library's plan to create a much broader program that touches on more aspects of life. "Most people think of libraries as places to read books, and we have a literacy program where we teach people to read," Anderson says. "But this idea of a comprehensive services program goes beyond that."

The healthy living series was designed around the 2016 Sonoma County Community Health Needs Assessment, which found that healthful eating and physical fitness are top priorities for county residents. The library also looked at the county's recent Portrait of Sonoma report, which documented health and wellness needs in the county down to the neighborhood level. The report found that these issues are largely preventable through education.

"We thought, 'Wow, we could help with that, fill some of that gap,'" Anderson says.

Funded with a federal grant administered through the California State Library, the series is especially helpful for low-income communities, Anderson says, who otherwise would not be able to afford gym memberships or who struggle to find nutritious food options.  READ MORE @

Delware Co Literacy

Literacy council celebrates volunteer’s 89th birthday at exhibit

DelCo Times: 1.17.2017

On Jan. 6, Carol Reich of Ardrmore picked up her mother Marie Reich in Drexel Hill, telling her they were going to do something different to celebrate Marie’s 89th birthday. She told her mother their destination was a surprise.

The Delaware County mother was unable to guess where her daughter was taking her. “We played 20 questions, and 20 turned into 40, and I still didn’t get it,” said Marie. “All I was able to figure out was that we were going to a photography exhibit,” she added.

Carol surprised her mother by taking her to the opening reception for DCLC’s “Faces of Literacy” photography exhibit in Swarthmore Borough Hall. Both Marie and Carol were past math tutors for the Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC), and Marie is featured in one of the 24 photographs in the exhibit.

Volunteer tutors, adult literacy students and community leaders involved with the literacy council over the last 41 years appear in the inspiring “Faces of Literacy” photographs. Each photograph is accompanied by a short essay on the impact of the literacy council’s work providing free literacy services to local adults.  READ MORE @

Horry Co Literacy

Literacy Council seeking committed volunteer tutors

Myrtle Beach Online: 1.17.2017 by the Editorial Board

Increasing literacy has major societal benefits as well as helping individuals function in a complex world. Literacy directly impacts education and employment — and fewer people turning to crime and perhaps spending much of their lives in prison.

Illiteracy is fixable, “like any other ailment, such as a broken arm,” in the description of Al Wendler, president of the Horry County Literacy Council. However, acknowledging the problem is not easy. “People are embarrassed to admit they can’t read — it’s very touchy.”

And on the solution side, “a lot of people can’t relate to literacy like they can to cancer,” says Pat Bush, director of the Literacy Council. This has an impact on recruiting volunteer tutors. “We never have enough volunteers,” Bush says. Being a tutor requires a commitment of two hours a week. “To do work like this, you have to make a substantial commitment,” Wendler says. “You have to want to do this.”

Bush and Wendler feel there are people throughout the area who do want to help, and are willing to learn the Barton Reading and Spelling system, which takes several one-hour sessions. While being a tutor is different from other volunteer work, there is much satisfaction in helping youngsters or adults learn how to read.

The council’s focus since 2010 has been screening and tutoring using the Barton system. The council also has programs for adults and teens in English as a Second Language and in earning their GED after having dropped out of school.  READ MORE @