Literacy – Spanning the US :: Indian River co FL:: Kerrville TX :: Monterey Park CA :: Rockford IL

Literacy: Spanning the US       

Literacy Services

Indian River County

All’s Read And ‘Write’ In The World At Love of Literacy Event

Vero News: 3.21.2019 by Mary Schenkel

Being able to read and write is often taken for granted. And yet, according to Literacy Services of Indian River County, one out of five adult residents struggles with substandard literacy skills. Another 13.5 percent speak a primary language other than English.

At the annual Love of Literacy Luncheon last Monday at the Quail Valley River Club, two dedicated individuals were honored for their commitment toward improving their own literacy skills as well as those of their children.

“This organization has a tremendous history,” said Jessica Schmitt, executive director, in her welcome to the 150 guests, thanking them for their support of the organization’s vision to end generational illiteracy. She also recognized guests Nat Jackson, Ann Hamner, Gertrude Terry, Kathryn Moss and Helen Brackins, some of the founders of the organization in 1971.

Michelle Servos, immediate past president, said more than 295 students were able to improve their lives this past year with the assistance of 190 volunteer tutors.

“As a result of what our students and their tutors are accomplishing, their lives are enriched, and our community is better for it,” said Servos. She noted that students have been able to become U.S. citizens; obtain jobs, driver’s licenses, bank accounts and GEDs; attend college, trade schools and adult education classes; and have become more engaged in their children’s education.  READ MORE >>

Families & Literacy

Families And Literacy Volunteer Obtains U.S. Citizenship

Daily Times:  3.21.2019 by Donna Provencher

Carolina Jaramillo Sosa is a real-life Wonder Woman: a bilingual, first-generation immigrant raised by a single mother, a soon-to-be Schreiner University graduate, a kindergarten teacher, a volunteer English as a second language instructor — and, as of Jan. 24, a citizen of the United States who credits her success in large part to Kerrville nonprofit Families and Literacy.

Families and Literacy, founded in 1996, is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose stated mission is “to educate Hill Country adults to be active contributors in the life of the community,” according to its literature.

The organization aims to help individuals improve proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English, as well as problem-solving skills, to help them function on the job, in the family and in society.  READ MORE >>

@MontereyParkLib ‏

Literacy for All of Monterey Park (LAMP)

Asian American Studies, Claremont College

Working with Pitzer College’s Community Engagement Center and funded by the Weingart Foundation, Professor Kathleen S. Yep initiated a partnership with Literacy for Allof Monterey Park (LAMP) starting fall 2009. LAMP was founded in 1984 with funding by the California State Library and through the efforts Michael Eng.

Claremont College students provide LAMP students citizenship coaching, covering aspects of the citizenship exam ranging from history and government facts of America to dictation of specific English sentences and mock interviews.

In addition, the Claremont College students offer English-As-A-Second-Language tutoring.  Lastly, college students take Asian American Studies classes alongside LAMP students that involve social autobiography and other forms of critical pedagogies.  Co-taught with artist/educator/activist Traci Kato-Kiriyama, a spring 2011 combined class created poetry, an anthology, and a web site.

The college students and LAMP learners distributed over 60 free copies of their anthology and gave a reading at a public presentation with over 100 people in attendance.  READ MORE >>

Literacy Council

Education Matters: The Literacy Council Serves To Educate The Community

My Stateline: 3.27.2019 by Mimi Murphy

More than 44,000 people in the Rockford area don't have a high school diploma or GED.

Research shows a high number of uneducated adults translates to elevated crime rates and increasing prison populations. The National Institute for Literacy reports adult illiteracy costs the country billions each year.

It estimates, 60% of inmates in U.S. prisons can't read or write a letter. 70% of state prison inmates never finished high school.

That's why the Literacy Council in Rockford offers free programs to people in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties.

“That's our roll, to help them read, so they can get a better job or help their child with reading in school their homework,” Executive Director of the Literacy Council Sheryl Thogerson said.

The non-profit offers one-on-one tutoring for adults, English as a second language classes.and various computer programs.

“There are many adults who come through our doors who never learned to read past the 3rd or 4th grade,” Thogerson said.  READ MORE >>