Literacy – Spanning the US :: Harrisonburg VA :: Fort Wayne IN :: Findlay-Hancock Co OH :: St Lucie Co FL

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

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Skyline Literacy marks 30 years of service

WHSV3: 12.102.017 by Johnny Oliver

A valley program designed to help adults become more self-sufficient celebrated three decades of service this weekend.

Skyline Literacy celebrated its 30 year anniversary with an open house on Sunday

To mark the occasion, Skyline Literacy hosted an open house on Sunday.

John Luu, a tutor who assists in citizenship preparation, said his parents received help when they first came to America. He now feels like he is paying it forward.

"You don't have to feel like you need to change the world from one experience," Luu said. "But little things you can help out with will make a big difference."

Tutors at Skyline Literacy work to provide needs-based instruction in literacy, English and citizenship for adults.  WATCH VIDEO

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A New Mom with New Literacy Aspirations

ProLiteracy Blog: 12.08.2017 by Jennifer Paulding, Student Stories

Adult learners often must overcome heartbreak, embarrassment, and hardship to reach their goals and create a life they thought only existed in their dreams.

The issues of low literacy—unemployment, higher crime rates, more poverty, etc.—affect everyone. Organizations like The Literacy Alliance strive to educate low-literate adults through learning centers, literacy programs, and tutoring services. With determination and hard work, these adults become empowered to succeed at work, at home, and throughout their communities. 

The Literacy Alliance recently shared the story of Amber, one of its adult learners.

At 17, Amber dropped out of high school frustrated by a curriculum she struggled to understand. Mild learning disabilities left her unable to fully grasp the material, and although she tried to ask for help, Amber’s teachers didn’t have the time or the resources to help her succeed. Over the next few years, she wandered into adulthood with no real goals or sense of purpose. 

Eventually, Amber got married and became a mom. Suddenly responsible for someone else, she looked for direction. Without a high school diploma, however, she found herself with limited options until a case worker from Healthy Families Indiana introduced Amber to The Literacy Alliance.  READ MORE >>

Volunteers’ routine tasks bring remarkable results

The Courier: 12.13.2017 by Sara Arthurs

Thinking of volunteering? Consider a mundane task.

Sure, everyone wants to cuddle babies at the hospital or sell used books for a good cause, but nonprofits also need people to file papers and keep things running smoothly.

New volunteers at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library often come in and say they want to work at the book cellar downstairs. But volunteers are also needed for shelf reading, which is “not very glamorous” but very important, said Kelly Young, human resources/public relations manager. This involves routine checks to ensure that things are shelved correctly. It can be done any time the library is open, making it a good task for those who can only volunteer evenings and weekends. Young said they try to station volunteers in sections they enjoy — for example, someone who likes to read mysteries could work to ensure the mystery novels are properly alphabetized.

Young said the library’s “biggest need” for volunteers is Read for Life, an adult literacy program. Administrator Kristy Szkudlarek said the biggest misconception is that tutors are needed only for reading. While the program helps people learn reading and writing, it also helps them with ESL, GED and citizenship testing. Most people who want to teach reading “don’t want to teach quadratic equations,” so “I am constantly in need of math tutors,” Szkudlarek said.  READ MORE >>

Learn to Read student, tutor, director celebrate special moment

TC Palm: 12.12.2017 by Bess Carnahan

On Nov. 22, Valerie Johnson took off on her quest to read. She found books contained knowledge and she was ready to learn, and the library was full of books.

A year ago, Johnson came to Learn to Read of St. Lucie County. She told Learn to Read Director LuzMa Camacho that while she could read, she wanted to become a better reader in order to enjoy reading books. There is always a waiting list at Learn to Read, but Camacho saw something in Johnson that made her wait for just the right tutor.

Bess Carnahan became a volunteer tutor not long after that and Camacho saw an opportunity.  After Carnahan finished her training, she visited with Camacho who decided that Johnson and Carnahan would be a perfect match.  And they were!

Learn to Read had done an intake on Johnson, as with all new learners, and saw her as an advanced student who needed assistance.  Carnahan was given the appropriate materials for Johnson and they began.  READ MORE >>