Literacy – Spanning the US :: Dixon CA:: W Virginia :: Dallas TX :: Los Angeles CA

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

Dixon ALP

Dixon’s New Adult Literacy Program Seeks Tutors

The Reporter: 7.26.2018 by Jessica Rogness

A new program to boost reading, writing and speaking skills among adults in Dixon needs more tutors to serve those on its wait list.

Pam Griffey and a group of about 10 fellow Dixonites banded together this spring to establish the Dixon Adult Literacy Program.

Griffey, who was a preschool teacher and director and then earned a degree in social work, said she got her start with literacy programs by volunteering to tutor Afghan refugees in Sacramento County.

Then she brought those skills home.

“I realized one day on my way home, ‘Why am I driving to Sacramento when I know we have people in Dixon?’” she said.

The Solano County Library has a literacy program that serves Vacaville, Fairfield and Vallejo and she found out they were going to have a training. The Dixon Public Library is separate from the county library system, so they haven’t been able to tie into that program.

“Vacaville was kind enough to accept Dixon people if they wanted literacy services,” Griffey said, but some were not able to drive to Vacaville.

She asked the county literacy program if she could use their training methods to start her own program in Dixon, and they were “really nice and helpful.”  READ MORE >>

Literacy Volunteers

Marion Co

Research Finds Low Adult Literacy Levels In West Virginia

WBOY: 7.27.2018 by Sarafina Brooks

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Education, 32 million adults in the U.S. demonstrate a below basic reading level, but what does that mean for the state of West Virginia?

According to the Literacy Volunteers of Marion County, one in five adults within the county can not read above a fourth grade level, and findings from the West Virginia Library Commission suggest that trend can be found statewide.

"I had a third grade reading level until I was about 21," said Dwayne Johnson.

Johnson, who is a student with the Literacy Volunteers of Marion County, is learning in his adulthood what many learn in grade school. Johnson is learning how to read.

"At the latest count, we know one in five adults in Marion County do not read above the fourth grade level," said Kay Nesselrotte, director of Literacy Volunteers of Marion County.

The startling statistic joins a handful of other counties in the state with low adult literacy levels, but the question is why?

LVMPC

The Literacy Volunteers of Monongalia and Preston Counties website indicates that 20 percent of West Virginians that struggle with low literacy levels could possibly be caused by a lack of resources in some of the states' rural areas. The group also suggests the disconnect could possibly be attributed to a history of some families having to choose between working in the coal mining field or getting an education.  WATCH

@LIFTDallas

North Texas Illiteracy Rate Is 20 Percent, And LIFT Fundraiser Is Critical

Dallas News: 7.27.2018 by Holly Haber

Twenty percent of adults in North Texas can't read this sentence, according to Literacy Instruction for Texas, better known as LIFT.

Without some serious intervention, the problem will get worse. The agency estimates that in 12 years, 30 percent of Dallas County's projected population of 3.5 million could be illiterate.

That's more than 1 million people who can't help their kids with homework or even figure out a bus map.

LIFT aims to thwart this dystopian future by educating adults in reading, English and high school equivalency.  READ MORE >>

@Carecen_LA

The New Americans Initiative Provides Free Citizenship Help

HS Insider LA Times: 7.25.2018 by Madina Safdari

Nestled in the heart of downtown Los Angeles sits Central Library, competing with the grandeur of banks and skyscrapers. Well established in comparison to other Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) branches, Central library serves as the hub for all services and resources imaginable.

“A lot of us, we go to the library to search for information, so I think it’s nice to know that the library provides additional services” Rita Orantes of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) said.

Since its inception in 1872, LAPL has grown to offer more than just book borrowing and a quiet place to study. Their free and extensive programs target community needs such as tutoring, financial guidance, veterans support, and recently an immigration and citizenship service.

Librarian Madeline Peña used the resources at the LAPL to pave her own path to citizenship. With the help of the library’s citizenship materials that preceded the new expanded program, she became naturalized in 2009.

“I checked out study materials, I studied all my civics questions. We all drive here in Los Angeles, so I used to put my CD in and listen to all the questions in both English and Spanish. Having those free resources really made things easy for me,” Peña said.

Peña said the LAPL has always aimed to serve their diverse communities.

With the launch of the New Americans Initiative (NAI) in January, the LAPL sought to support L.A.’s immigrant population with six New Americans Centers and welcome stations at all 73 branches. Their resources include, but are not limited to, second language resources, family services, “know your rights” cards, financial coaching, job opportunities and citizenship classes.  READ MORE >>