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Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

Literacy News

Jesse White announces spotlight awards for outstanding literacy students and tutors

River Bender: 4.30.2018

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White honored the winners of the 2018 Spotlight on Literacy Awards, which recognizes participants in Illinois literacy programs. Ten students received the Spotlight on Achievement Award and ten volunteer tutors received the Spotlight on Service Award during a ceremony at the Illinois State Library in Springfield.

“I am honored to congratulate these outstanding students for their hard work and determination to attain lifelong reading and learning skills,” said White. “Many of them have had to overcome great difficulties and personal obstacles to reach this level of achievement. I am also proud to recognize our outstanding volunteer tutors for their generosity and encouragement in helping literacy students achieve their utmost potential.”

This year, 89 programs are supporting adult, family and workplace literacy efforts statewide. Last year, with 48 literacy programs statewide, 5,941 adult students were served by 3,278 volunteer tutors.  LISTEN

Literacy Vol’s

Monmouth Co

Asbury Park man learns how to read and write — at age 63

APP.com: 4.30.2018 by Jerry Carino

For years, Kim Davis did not drive long distances. And not because he feared driving.

“I would never try to take a trip, because I’d get lost,” he said. “You’ve got to read the road signs to get there.”

Davis is 63 years old, and he’s finally reading the road signs. The lifelong Asbury Park resident is learning how to read and write with help from Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County, a nonprofit that mentored 578 adults with 123 tutors in 2017. Most of the folks who seek help are immigrants, but not all.

There are people out there trying to get by without a skill most of us take for granted. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 32 million adults in the United States can’t read — more than 10 percent of the population. Davis wants them to hear his story.

"In the world today, you have to learn how to read and write,” he said. “If not, you’re going to get left behind. It’s not going to be easy. It’s hard.”  READ MORE >>

@readtosucceed

Read To Succeed honors Lisa Mitchell, volunteers at annual lunch

Murfreesboro Voice: 4.30.2018 by Literacy Matters

Read To Succeed held its annual a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, April 26 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

"Read To Succeed has many wonderful volunteers," new Executive Director Jolene Radnoti said about she introduced the Outstanding Contributions to Literacy Award honoree former Executive Director Lisa Mitchell.

Mitchell led Read To Succeed for seven years. As a champion for literacy in Rutherford County, she established partnerships with organizations throughout Middle Tennessee, resulting in new funding, original programming and increased community awareness.

Mitchell was a dedicated team leader, always the first to offer assistance when a staff member needed help. She gladly wore many hats, ranging from public speaker and funding solicitor to information booth representative and back-up adult literacy instructor. She did it all with a genuine smile and generous heart for our community.

Read To Succeed also honored those who truly epitomized the word volunteer. The gathering included tutors, ESL teachers, learners, community leaders, school groups and churches that have dedicated their time to celebrating literacy and raising literacy awareness in the past year.  READ MORE >>

@LiteracyPgh

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council rebrands as Literacy Pittsburgh to highlight services beyond reading

Pittsburgh City Paper: 5.02.2018 by Sabrina Bodon

Literacy is more than just the ability to read and write. It’s the ability to help a child with their math homework, understand a doctor’s prescription and fill out government forms.

For the past 35 years, the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council has provided the Pittsburgh region with free educational programming and workplace resources. On May 2, the GPLC rebranded as Literacy Pittsburgh with hopes to better market its services and reach a wider audience.

“Our new brand and name is more inclusive and more encompassing of what we’re already doing,” said Literacy Pittsburgh Board of Directors President Gary Singery at the press conference. “We’re far more than an adult education program.”

Literacy Pittsburgh hosts General Equivalency Diploma (GED) tutoring, English as a Second Language classes and offers immigration and refugee support, among other programs. Last year, volunteers helped more than 4,500 families in the region, according to Literacy Pittsburgh Executive Director Don Block.  READ MORE >>