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Literacy: Spanning North America

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Nelson Woman Celebrated For Achievement In Literacy

Neslon Star: 6.18.2019 by Tyler Harper

Paulina Mason used to struggle to comprehend printed words and sentences.

Ten years later, the Nelson native is an aspiring author, a literacy advocate and the recipient of a local award that honours dedication to a task most take for granted — reading.

Mason, 28, was feted Friday by the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) with its ninth annual award handed out to an adult literacy student, while Kootenay Co-op was also recognized for its commitment to learning in the workplace.

A decade ago Mason had just finished high school when her mother Barb asked CBAL to help her daughter.

“I learn by visuals and sounds, symbols and pictures,” said Mason. “The old school way, sound this out, figure that out, I can’t do that because my brain doesn’t click to that.”

She describes her first tutor, a woman named Ellen, as a grandmother to Mason. “It’s nice to have that support other than school. Just knowing that someone wants to help you and see your progress in a good way, it was awesome.”

Community literacy co-ordinator Joan Exley said Mason has progressed from pupil to volunteer mentor at CBAL.  READ MORE >>

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Kewaunee Co

Retirees Aid Adult Literacy Efforts and See Lives Transformed

Door County Daily News: 6.18.2019 by Ben Caxton

Marge Weichelt wanted to stay connected to Kewaunee when she retired from teaching. The Kewaunee County Literacy Partnership provided that opportunity for her and, later on, for her husband, Joel. Both now serve as adult literacy tutors. Marge meets weekly with adult workers at East Shore Industries. Joel stepped up to tutor a young man from Mexico with limited English skills after his previous tutor had to quit for health reasons.  LISTEN 02:12

LVFSC

Literacy Volunteers Looks To Expand

Daily Bulldog: 6.19.2019 by Amber Kapiloff

A small non-profit is looking toward big changes ahead thanks to a recently awarded grant that is addressing the grand scheme of things, according to Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset County Executive Director Barbara Averill.

"We've come such a long way in the last year. It's gratifying to receive such a vote of confidence," Averill said.

The $36,000 Betterment Fund grant will be spread out over a three-year period- a characteristic that Averill said they were specifically looking for. The two-person staff at LV has secured $50,000 worth of grants in the last year alone, but only the Betterment Fund will be in place for an extended amount of time.

In addition to having a longer life, which offers a sense of security Averill said, the grant is also not program specific. Averill and her assistant, Sara Beech, can use the funds wherever they are needed. In Averill's opinion, that was a no-brainer.

"We want to look at opportunities in the northern region [of the county] that build collaboration. We know the need is there, but we also know that you can't just go lolling into a community and say 'here we are, come on in,'" she said.

Thanks to the grant, Averill, Beech and the 72 volunteers that make up LV have begun the process of searching for two new anchor sites for programming.  READ MORE >>

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Cape Fear Literacy Council Changing Lives By Teaching Adults How To Read

WWAYTV 3: 6.21.2019 by Jeff Rivenbark

While most people have literacy skills, a surprisingly high number of people across the Cape Fear lack these skills and are either unable to read or have extreme difficulty doing so.

Since its formation, the Cape Fear Literacy Council (CFLC) has recruited, trained and certified approximately 2,000 volunteer tutors, and has donated thousands of hours helping adult learners across the region.

Alan Perry, owner of Perry’s Emporium in Wilmington, served as a CFLC board member for 22 years.

“I’ve always had a passion for literacy because my father never got past the second grade and he didn’t ever really learn how to read,” Perry said. “This is something I’ve always been passionate about.”

Perry says an estimated 50,000 people living in Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick counties are unable to read.  WATCH 03:11