Literacy: Spanning the U.S.
Local
group looking for a new location
The Intermountain: 5.31.2018 by Sarah Goodrich
A
nonprofit organization that has dedicated years to helping community members is
at risk of shutting down if a new location is not found soon.
For
the past 30 years, Literacy
Volunteers of Upshur County has been utilizing office space
donated by the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Throughout those years, LVUC has
assisted more than 400 Upshur County residents improve their literacy skills.
Currently,
LVUC provides free confidential literacy services to adult learners in reading,
math, computers, life skills and English as a second language. Volunteer tutors
would like to expand the services offered, including literacy in financial,
auto care, healthcare and nutrition.
However,
the church recently had to make a tough decision in which they would no longer
be able to provide the space to LVUC beyond Aug. 31.
LVUC
Interim Director Cortney Meriwether and incoming Director Kristy Stewart spoke
to Buckhannon City Council recently, expressing their need for a new location.
The
duo explained the timing of the relocation is coming during a period of
inconsistent leadership and financial instability, as LVUC has had a high
turnover with directors in the past few years.
“For
three years we’ve been running a pretty big deficit,” Meriwether said. “Which
wouldn’t be the worst thing because so far we’ve been turning things around
this year. We’ve had a great 2018 so far.”
In
order to keep the doors open, the group is relying on a small budget entirely
based on fundraising, grants and community support.
“It’s
a challenge that’s coming at a bad time,” she said. “But we feel like we’re up
for it.”
Now,
the group is appealing to the community for recommendations or assistance with
finding a new location. READ MORE >>
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Flint
& Genesee Literacy Network (FGLN) receives $10,000 grant from the Dollar
General
Flushing View: 5.31.2018
The
Flint & Genesee Literacy Network was
awarded a grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for $10,000, to
support adult literacy in Flint and Genesee County.
The
grant is part of more than $8.3 million in grants awarded to nearly 1,000
schools, non-profits and organizations across the 44 states that Dollar General
serves.
“This
grant will go a long way toward helping the Flint & Genesee Literacy
Network improve literacy levels in adults. We will be able to increase the
capacity of the Adult Learning Centers and their Site Coordinators to provide
consultation, training, diagnostic screenings, webbased learning resources, and
develop individualized learning plans,” said Jeremiah White, Community Impact
Coordinator at the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network.
Adult
Learning Centers (ALCs) are a collaborative strategy of FGLN and designed to
address the individual needs of adult students through adult education programs
and activities.
Genesee
County is challenged by a silent crisis of unemployment with nearly 11% of
residents out of work. This rate doubles within the City of Flint, leaving
about 25% of residents unemployed. Often, the adults who struggle the most are
those living with low literacy skills, affecting their ability to complete a
job application, calculate change at a restaurant, or read the information on a
prescription bottle. This crisis severely limits the region’s potential for
future growth and prosperity. READ MORE >>
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Given
a promotion at work, Draft man admits he struggles to read
News Leader:
6.05.2018 by Megan Williams
Mike Mawyer has been a welder for 10 years. Recently he was given the
opportunity complete a program at work to help advance his career.
There
was only one problem. Mawyer was reading at a fourth grade reading level, not
sufficient to complete the program.
Mawyer
was pushed through the school system year after year, despite barely passing
grades and a severe lack of literacy. He has a high school diploma but could
barely read.
Instead
of allowing this to hold him back, Mawyer contacted the LEARN program. LEARN
stands for Learn English and Reading Now, Inc. an
adult literacy, volunteer organization that provides free tutoring in reading
and English in the Augusta County area.
According
to the United States Census Bureau, 28 percent of Staunton, Waynesboro and
Augusta County residents don't have a high school diploma and 12 percent of
residents lack basic literacy skills.
In
addition there is a growing population of residents from whom English is not a
first language and they want to learn. READ MORE >>
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