Literacy: Spanning the U.S.
Manitowoc
library offers citizenship resources
Herald Times Reporter: 2.11.2017 by Meredith Meier, adult
services associate at Manitowoc Public Library
In the past
three years, 35 percent of learners in the One
to One Literacy program have become U.S. citizens.
Manitowoc
Public Library was awarded a grant to provide a safe place for Manitowoc County
immigrants to have equal access to citizenship resources. The grant benefits
adult immigrants in Manitowoc County who experience barriers as a result of
poor English literacy skills, insufficient resources and lack of support to
become U.S. citizens.
The grant also
provides training and materials to those helping immigrants, like English
language tutors and other community members who seek to assist area immigrants
directly and ensure Manitowoc is a welcoming community for all new Americans.
Manitowoc
Public Library is so thankful for those already engaged in helping immigrants
in Manitowoc County become U.S. citizens and adjust to living in America.
Through the
grant, I had an opportunity to go to Chicago to attend a training on the
naturalization process — and my eyes were opened to the whole process from
start to finish. I learned so much, and I am excited to share my knowledge.
The benefits of
being a United States citizen are worth it, and now that the library has
citizenship resources in the Citizenship Information Center, the process should
feel less daunting. READ MORE @
 |
| @LAIAtlanta |
Literacy Action
teaching life, career skills to undereducated
MDJ Online: 2.11.2017 by Bill Baldowski
There are about 800,000 illiterate or
low-literacy adults in metro Atlanta, which accounts for about 20 percent of
the area’s total population.
In addition, that percentage is
nearly equal to the portion of the population living beneath the poverty level
in the area as well as being a major cause of it.
This is how Literacy
Action Executive Director Austin Dickson
views the literacy problem in the metro area and why his organization continues
to expand its mission to teach low-literacy residents not only how to improve
their reading skills, but also teaches life and work skills to the individuals
seeking its help.
However, Dickson said, the alarming
factor is the illiteracy and low-literacy rates have stayed about the same, as
he termed it, “for decades.”
“Literacy Action serves about 2,000
adult students each year in the 20 locations we have in the metro area,” he
said, referring to the organization’s main office on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta
as well as its satellite locations in libraries, at Boys and Girls Clubs and in
public schools. “We have a large number of people who seek us out through word
of mouth as well as through the relationship we have developed with the justice
system and human service organizations.”
READ MORE @
Literacy Is Essential for Success
Public Slate: 2.11.2017 by Cathy Milne
Few tools in life are as important as the ability
to read, write, and cipher simple mathematical problems. Without these skills,
it is practically impossible to navigate through one’s day. Fortunately, there
are literacy programs, which will assist people in obtaining the tasks that are
essential for having success in life.
Everyone measures success in different ways.
However, the scale favors those who have the ability to read, write and do
arithmetic; the 3Rs.
In Chicago, there are several programs to help
adults learn these necessary skills. Many individuals do so well that they can
finish high school, graduate college, or successfully pass the General
Education Degree (GED). For some, being able to write their name, understand
their household expenses, and follow written instructions is enough.
 |
The Illinois State Board of Education, Children’s
Literacy Foundation, and Chicago’s
Citywide Literacy Coalition have compiled statistics that are
distressing.
> Approximately 30 percent of Chicago’s adults have
little to basic proficiency in the 3R’s, according to the literacy alliance.
> Only 46 percent of school-aged children in the
city read at the required level for their grade level.
> The study also found that as many as, 61 percent
of low-income households do not own any children’s books.
The first hurdle is to know that they are not
alone. Embarrassment tends to keep people from admitting they have problems
with literacy. There are stories of people who were able to hide their 3Rs
deficit from their families, at least for a while.
Finding Literacy Help in Chicago
 |
In Chicago, anyone interested in locating a
program to aid in their 3Rs proficiency can do so by contacting various centers
around the city.
Literacy Chicago
offers classes in Basic Adult Education, GED, both beginning and intermediate
English as a Second Language (ESL), Citizenship, Conversational ESL, and Adult
Literacy. These are held in various public libraries. READ MORE @
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment