Literacy – Spanning the US :: Stoughton MA :: Kingsport TN :: Upshur Co WV

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

Stoughton program helps immigrants talk the talk

Stoughton Wicked Local: 5.14.2018 by Alexandria Saunders

When Renata da Silva from Brazil first moved to this country, she couldn’t begin to make even her most basic needs understood.

“I couldn’t understand anything,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for water or order food. I went to the hospital with my husband and I needed to go to the bathroom and I couldn’t say it.”

That has changed, thanks to the Elsie Williams, her tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts.

LVM

The retired financial manager taught English to da Silva through the local chapter sponsored by the Stoughton Public Library.

A group of tutors and students celebrated their accomplishment at the library.

“If they can get to the library, they get served,” said local coordinator Smadar Gekow.

In addition to Stoughton, tutors and students come from Sharon, Brockton, Avon, Weymouth, Randolph, and Canton, Gekow said.

At the celebration, awards and recognition were given out were for citizenship, significant advancement in English, career development, outstanding effort, obtaining driver’s licenses, and purchasing a new home. Some students even received the equivalent of a high school certificate.  READ MORE >>

@LiteracyKPT

Literacy Council of Kingsport has been changing lives for more than 30 years

Times News Net: 5.14.2018 by Holly Viers

For more than three decades, the Literacy Council of Kingsport has been helping adults and qualified children achieve their goals and realize their full potential.

Whether it’s through adult basic literacy training or the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, many people in the city and the surrounding region have been impacted by the council’s free services, which are made possible by volunteers, grants and donations.

By the numbers

Dawn Blake, director of programs for the Literacy Council of Kingsport, said literacy programs are in high demand across the country. In the U.S., 36 million adults over age 16 cannot read above a third grade reading level, according to data provided by the Literacy Council.

In Tennessee, 12 percent of adults over age 16 lack basic prose literacy skills, and in Sullivan County alone, 15,400 adults have less than adequate literacy skills.

Meeting the need

In 2017, volunteers for the Literacy Council of Kingsport provided 7,790 hours of service, which is equivalent to $188,050 of paid labor.  READ MORE >>

Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County are in desperate need of a new home

WDTV: 5.16.2018 by Corie Meredijth

"They have helped me a lot, cause I couldn't read much at all," says Ronnetta Lantz, a student at the Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County.

"We offer free confidential tutoring to adult learners in the area who need help with their reading, writing, math skills" explains the Interim Director for the Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County Cortney Meriwether.

The Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County are a non-profit organization that has been serving the public for thirty-four years.

"I've been coming here for a good while and I like the people, I love my teachers, " says Lantz.

Lantz is one of the Literacy Volunteers students, and before taking classes she read below a first-grade level, but now she's able to read third-grade material.

"With her increase in reading and writing, her self-esteem, her self-image has improved," says the incoming Interim Director for the Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County Kristy Stewart.

But Lantz is only one story, these volunteers have helped over 400 students within their time in Upshur County, but now, they need your help.  WATCH VIDEO