Literacy: Spanning the U.S.
Transforming
lives via literacy
BlueRidge Now: 6.10.2018 by Dawn Kucera
First,
welcome to my column, and thank you for reading it. Every month, I hear from
some of you. Since the beginning, I’ve made it a policy to answer every email I
get — and to the best of my knowledge, I have, thanking each person for reading
my column and taking the time to write.
But
I also know there are readers who haven’t written, so I couldn’t say thank you
to you. I get to do that now. I feel honored that you read what I write and
humbled that you think I might have something worthwhile to say.
Now,
let me direct your attention back to the salutation, and focus on the word
“reader.” I’m sure you didn’t think much about it — you’ve been reading since
kindergarten, or before.
But
I want to ask you to consider those to whom that word cannot apply — people
whose life journey did not allow them the chance to learn to read. Imagine
having to shop for food by the pictures on the package, not understanding road
signs, or not being able to fill out a simple form or read a story to your
child. It must be a bewildering and frightening way to live.
Fortunately
for Henderson County, some folks thought about all this a long time ago. In the
late 1970s, the Appalachian Regional Commission issued a grant of $45,000 to
fund a two-year program to teach reading. It continued as a true grass-roots
effort and grew, with little structure or staff — just a core of dedicated
volunteers trying to make difference.
In
1989, the Blue Ridge Literacy Council (BRLC) was
incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Blue Ridge Tech (now Blue Ridge
Community College) provided offices (it still does). Around this time, BRLC
added English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to the curriculum. READ MORE >>
SC
program helps incarcerated fathers connection with children through books
WACH Fox57:
6.13.2018 by Andrea Butler
Kirkland Correctional Institution held its first "A Father's
Voice" program Tuesday.
As
an extension to the "A Mother's Voice" programs at Camille Graham and
Leath Correctional Institutions, the program was the first to be held at any
male facilities.
The
program allows for incarcerated parents, who meet certain criteria such as good
behavior while in prison, to record themselves reading a children's book that
will be sent to their children so that they can listen to their parents' voice
reading to them.
To
add more of a personal touch, parent's can prompt their children to do things
such as brush their teeth, clean their room, say a prayer and more.
“It
is easy to forget that when a parent is sentenced their children are forced to
pay for that crime as well through no fault of their own," said SCDC
Director Bryan Stirling.
"It
is vitally important to help maintain a connection between that offender and
their family, so that children back at home know that their parents still care
for them.” READ MORE >>
New
citizens celebrate achievement on Flag Day
Winchester Star: 6.15.2018 by Brian Brehm
All
Luz Guerrero wanted was the right to vote.
The
54-year-old El Salvador native has been a legal resident of the United States
since 1984, but her failure to obtain citizenship blocked her from the polls.
This
year, Guerrero decided to do whatever it took to gain the right many Americans
take for granted.
She
and her husband, Pedro Ramirez, 57, worked with Literacy Volunteers
Winchester Area for 13 weeks to gain the civics and history
knowledge needed to pass the U.S. citizenship test.
On
Thursday afternoon, the newly minted Americans were among nine immigrants from
countries including Mexico, Thailand and the Philippines to be celebrated for
earning their citizenship with the assistance of the local Literacy Volunteers
organization.
“People
typically think that all we do is teach people how to read and write. We do so
much more, and I think this shows that,” Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area
board President Bobby Herndon said at the start of the nonprofit group’s first
citizenship celebration, which was timed to coincide with Flag Day. “We will
help anybody do almost anything when it comes to learning and literacy.” READ MORE >>
Read
all about it! Literacy Council needs your help
Star News Online: 6.16.2018 by StarNews Editorial Board
The
Cape Fear Literacy Council’s annual
fundraising luncheon was another sellout, and thank goodness. It didn’t take
long to see the good this non-profit has been doing for nearly half a century.
Originally
launched by the Wilmington Baptist Association in 1970, the organization’s
trained volunteers offer one-on-one tutoring to adult students in basic
literacy and reading skills. Last year, some 176 tutors worked with nearly 500
students.
The
council has branched out over the years, offering training in math, GED
preparation, English as a second language and even computer literacy.
There’s
certainly a need. By some counts, more than 14,000 adults in New Hanover County
alone lack basic literacy skills. Another 40,000 or so function at only the
most basic level, well below that expected of a high school graduate.
Why
the school system wasn’t able to help these people when they were children is a
complex issue and a question for another time. The vital issue now is to help
these folks learn to read. READ MORE >>
No comments:
Post a Comment