Literacy – Spanning North America :: Hendersonville NC :: Tillsonburg ON :: Boston MA

Literacy: Spanning North America        

Blue Ridge Literacy

Community encouraged to “Be the Key” at Blue Ridge Literacy Council lunch

Blue Ridge Now: 4.17.2019 by Rebecca Walter

Supporters of the Blue Ridge Literacy Council were urged to keep finding ways to unlock community success through literacy efforts at the nonprofit’s annual Be the Key lunch and fundraiser on Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church.

An engaged public that goes beyond the basics is one of the keys, according to Executive Director Autumn Weil.  “That is what ensures a community’s success,” she said.

A part of that success was displayed by a video presentation, which included adult learner Ryan Edwards detailing how the council has helped further his reading skills. The council’s main focus is to improve literacy and English communication skills for adult learners.

Edwards said his tutor, Ted Connors, believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself.

With the help of Connors and the literacy council, Edwards was able to go from a 2.5, or second-grade, reading level to 7.6. His goal is to continue working with the council and obtain college-level reading skills.

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In 2017-18, 134 volunteers served 302 adults and 45 children at the Blue Ridge Literacy Council, donating 12,724 hours. That is the equivalent of $314,156 or six full-time staff members, according to the council.  READ MORE >>

@multisercen

Become a volunteer tutor

Tillsonburg News: 4.17.2019 by Chris Abbott

The Adult Literacy & Essential Skills Program in Tillsonburg is recruiting volunteer tutors.

And being a teacher – past or present – is not a requirement to become a volunteer tutor, said Wendy Woodhouse, Adult Literacy & Essential Skills Program Coordinator at the Tillsonburg Multi-Service Centre (MSC).

Barb More, a teacher who worked at the elementary and secondary levels and as a consultant, agreed. More has been a volunteer tutor in Tillsonburg for the past two years.

“I am always saying, it has nothing to do with me being a teacher because the materials that are available here are so user friendly that people from any walk of life can come in and be a teacher,” said More. “All you have to do is be able to read and write yourself. If you can read and write… you can teach non-readers to read and write using these very specialized materials.”

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LITERACY FACTS

* The relationship between literacy skill level and the likelihood of living in poverty is strong. In Canada, 46% of adults at the lowest literacy levels (Levels 1 and 2) live in low income households. Only 8% of adults in the highest literacy levels (Levels 4 and 5) live in low income households.

* 10.4% of all Ontarians (2016) have not attained their high school diploma.

* The impact of low literacy levels on health is a serious issue. Canadians with the lowest levels of literacy are more than twice as likely to be in poor health compared to Canadians with higher literacy skills.

* In 2016, 55% of Canadians ages 25-64 who did not complete high school were employed compared to 82% who had obtained a college or university credential.

* The demand for high-skilled workers has gone up 19% since 1998 in Canada, while low-skilled worker demand has declined 11%.  READ MORE >>

@FirstLiteracy

First Literacy Training

WBZ AM: 4.17.2019 by Doug Cope

Each month, “WBZ Cares” highlights a worthy non-profit organization and tells the story of what that organization does for the community. This month WBZ is profiling First Literacy in Boston, ensuring adults with low-literacy or limited English proficiency have high-quality educational opportunities that enable them to thrive.

One of the missions of First Literacy is to train teachers on how they can better teach English language skills. Danielle Mendola is among those instructors who have benefited from First Literacy's training.

“So by helping an adult learner learn English, learn a new language, it’s an amazing experience. They’re so dedicated and they have so many dreams and so many potentials, so when you see them making progress there’s nothing like it because you actually see the doors opening, you see them getting jobs, you see them being able to talk to their children’s teachers, doing things that they wouldn’t have been able to. So to be part of that, be part of that community and with somebody that is so motivated, there’s nothing like it,” said Mendola.  LISTEN 01:00