Literacy – Spanning North America :: Norfolk VA :: Dartmouth NS :: Joplin MO :: Harrisonburg VA

Literacy: Spanning North America     

@NorfPublicLib

Libraries in Norfolk now have more to work with

Southside Daily: 4.08.2018 by Joshua Weinstein

The City of Norfolk received a grant to help those learning to speak English.

The Norfolk Public Library received a $10,000 grant from the American Dream Literacy Initiative and American Library Association.

With the funding, NPL will expand current programming and resources for adult English language learners; this will include the purchase of tablets to access Pronunciator and Procitizen software at branch locations as well as increased internet access for tablets outside of the library.

The funding will also be used to buy cameras for reflection activities and group critiques during sessions.

The initiative works to develop tools and resources for libraries and library staff that provide literacy services to adult English language learners.

“Providing access and resources to everyone is a cornerstone of Norfolk Public Library,” said Sonal Rastogi, director of libraries for the City of Norfolk. “Being able to further our efforts for English language learners is another way for us to reach more members of our community with the resources they need to thrive.”

Norfolk was one of only 20 libraries nationwide that were selected for the grant.  READ MORE >>

Elizabeth Fry

Society

Program helps incarcerated women stay in touch

Truro Daily: 4.09.2018 by Lynn Curwin

Jodi Vincent valued the time she spent with her young daughter.

It was one of the things she missed most while serving time at Nova Institution for Women.

But a program run by the Elizabeth Fry Society provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen their bond.

Through the read-aloud program, Vincent could be recorded reading books, and add a personal message, that was sent to her daughter, a preschooler living in Saint John.

“It meant a lot to me because there was no other means for me to get in touch with her,” said Vincent. “After reading the books I could add a small message, like ‘Mum loves you.’ Just knowing she could hear my voice was important.”

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John brings books to the prison and allows women to choose three from which they can read. Recordings are made for children, grandchildren or any other young people they have a close relationship with. A copy of the books is also sent to the children.  READ MORE >>

Our View: Marj Boudreaux has had an eye-opening career

Joplin Globe: 4.09.2018

Some people can’t see the real picture.

They aren’t visually impaired; they just can’t read. For them, books, road signs, grocery-store labels, maps and employment ads are almost meaningless. These aren’t pre-schoolers. They are adults.

Thanks to the work of Marj Boudreaux and others who are committed to adult literacy, about 200 people — nearly two-thirds of them from foreign countries — have learned to speak and read English. Boudreaux is the director of Joplin NALA Reads and has been for the past 24 years. She is a tireless advocate for the organization that largely functions because of volunteers. We expect her advocacy will continue even after she retires on June 30. At age 83, Boudreaux says she isn’t stopping her work as a teacher, but she is going to incorporate a few more recesses into her life.

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“Being the director of NALA affords me to do a lot of things that I enjoy doing, which is writing — I like writing letters; I especially like writing grants because writing grants is what we were taught in college to do, write to your audience.”

Boudreaux is a regular contributor to the Globe’s letters section. Whether is was drumming up volunteers, explaining the problems of illiterate adults or asking for donations for the sometimes financially strapped organization, Boudreaux compels via the written word.

More than 7,000 adults in Jasper County alone can’t read. Boudreaux’s wish is that more people needing help would walk through the front doors of Joplin NALA, 123 S. Main St.  READ MORE >>

@skyline_hburg

Skyline Literacy tutoring English for citizenship tests

WHSV: 4.10.2018 by Victoria Wood

One of the most difficult parts of the United States citizenship test for some people is the 20 minute one-on-one interview in English. Skyline Literacy is offering English classes for those who want to pass the test, but need more help.

For two hours every Monday night, men and women from different walks of life meet at Waterman Elementary in Harrisonburg on a path to piece their English together, one word at a time.

"Sentences, a lot more sentences, very important to me," said student Roca Andrade.

Andrade has been in class for one month.

Thanks to the help of these dedicated Skyline Literacy English tutors, her dream is within reach.

"Important, English for me, for living in the United States and my citizenship interview. I'll pass," she said.

"Volunteer tutors, they aren't motivated by anything except their desire to help their community and to help people," said Barbie Spitz, Skyline Literacy tutor manager.

With the demand for tutors so high, the 50 volunteers they have are not enough, as the waiting list for one-on-one English tutoring gets longer.  WATCH VIDEO