Literacy: Spanning the U.S.
 |
Literacy
Council Gulf Coast Producing Meaningful Results
News
Press: 12.21.2018 by Sue Holman
The
Literacy Council Gulf Coast has
been providing English language education to members of our Southwest Florida
community since 1989.
Our
mission is “to assist adults and children to acquire the English literacy
skills and education necessary to improve their quality of life and enhance the
entire community.” We have been a United Way Partner agency for almost 20 years
and truly appreciate the support of the local community.
We
strive to reach the entire spectrum of ages from pre-school to seniors. Literacy Council offers programs focused on
improving the lives of those eager to learn or improve their English language
skills. These include: English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults
offered at our facility in Bonita Springs and other sites throughout Lee,
Hendry and Collier counties, GED prep classes, U.S. Citizenship prep classes
and work site literacy programs offered at area golf and gated communities
where residents serve as volunteer tutors for the community’s employees. READ
MORE >>
 |
After
Run Of Deficits, Indy Reads Retools Approach To Teaching, Finds New Funding
IBJ:
12.21.2018 by Lindsey Erdody
When
Ryan King joined Indy Reads as CEO in fall
2016, he inherited an organization that was well-respected in the Indianapolis
community—but needed some tender loving care.
The
adult literacy not-for-profit had been operating in the red since 2013, and
fundraising was becoming more difficult. The group’s one-on-one tutoring
program seemed to be working, but the organization didn’t have any data to
support that claim.
King
decided something needed to be done to right the course.
“You’ve
gotta change things up or you get stale,” King said. “We want to constantly
challenge ourselves.”
Indy
Reads launched a redesigned literacy program in fall 2017, and the board
recently approved a new mission statement and strategic vision. The new
direction broadens the scope of the organization to include job-readiness
skills, rather than focusing only on literacy and English-language proficiency.
“The
vision and the mission should be reviewed every year by the board, because the
environment we live in changes,” said Jessica White, president of Indianapolis
fundraising consulting firm Jessica White Associates. “It’s perfectly relevant
that they have revisited this and that they’re making some changes. I think
they’re good ones.”
The
changes might include a new location. The lease for Indy Reads Books, the
not-for-profit’s store on the north end of Massachusetts Avenue, expires in
August, and it’s likely the store will have to move to less-expensive space. READ
MORE >>
 |
Here’s What Members of the A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program
Achieved in 2018
Redlands
Daily Facts: 12.20.2018 by Diane Shimota, Literacy Coordinator-AK
Smiley Library
This season offers many of us the
opportunity to read treasured messages from friends and family. It can be easy
to forget that for some adults reading and writing is a challenge.
It takes tremendous courage for an
adult to enroll in an adult literacy program and admit that their reading and
writing is insufficient in meeting the goals they have in getting a new or
better job, helping their children with their education or furthering their own
learning. As the year ends, we invite you to celebrate with us the many
achievements of adult learners currently enrolled in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.
Each year adult learners set reading
and writing goals. In 2018, 92 percent of the adult learners met at least one
of their reading or writing goals. Most importantly, adult learners reported that
their improved reading comprehension gave them a sense of personal freedom and
independence. Improved literacy skills helped with fundamental life skills. For
example, Isabel Vidrio reported that the adult literacy program helped her to
better understand the mail she received; Cinderella Tran was able to fill out
forms; and Salma Marquez had a greater sense of personal safety.
Many learners have personal goals of
improving their employment or continuing their own education. This year, 22
learners obtained new jobs or promotions and eight learners reported that
improving their literacy had helped them perform current work-related tasks
better. Three learners met long-term education goals this year including two
community college graduates and one who passed her high school equivalency
exam. One community college graduate has begun work on her bachelor’s degree at
Cal State San Bernardino where she is studying to become a math teacher for
special needs children.
Nearly half of the learners who joined
the literacy program to learn how to read with their children are now able to
do so. READ
MORE >>
 |
English
for Action, Nonprofit Providing English Language Education, Ends With Pride
Providence
Journal: 12.21.2018 by Madeleine List
Proud
family members and friends clapped and cheered as their loved ones walked
across the stage at William D’Abate Elementary School on Thursday evening to
claim certificates showing they’d completed an English class with the nonprofit
English For Action.
But
the ceremony, which included tacos, cake and Latin music, was bittersweet.
“Today
is our last graduation for the organization,” said Shirley Fuertes, executive
director of English For Action, speaking from the stage in the school’s
cafeteria. “So it’s a very, very important event, and it will be very
commemorative for everyone.
“We
are leaving a legacy in each learner in the community as well,” she said. Many
quotes in this story were translated from Spanish.
English For Action, which is
headquartered on Manton Avenue in Providence, has provided English language
instruction and leadership development to immigrants and native Latinos for 19
years, and is closing its doors this year due to a lack of funding.
On
Thursday night, more than 60 adult students who had participated in one of four
classes, including beginner and intermediate English, native language literacy
and alphabetization, earned their final certificates from the nonprofit that
many said had given them so much more than language instruction. READ
MORE >>
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment