Literacy – Spanning North America :: Calexico CA :: Fort Erie ON :: Philadelphia PA :: Cañon City CO

Literacy: Spanning North  America

Camarena Library

Why Is Literacy Important?

The Literacy Place Camarena Library: Sep 2019

Literacy is important because it is the foundation upon which people are able to interact with the world, educate themselves, and thus contribute to society as well as their own well being.

This is a brief interview from one of our tutors, Mark Hurych. He is a retired teacher who is very passionate about helping others improve their literacy skills.

1. Why do you volunteer your time to help adults with their literacy skills?

“Personally I find that when I have the opportunity to support someone in meeting their needs for being able to speak their mind I feel grateful. I feel I am a better person for it.”

2. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a literacy tutor?

“I guess if your head is in it and your heart is in it, your head and your heart sort of get paid like this: I tell my students they have to SPEND time and PAY attention to improve their skill sets. In the end I feel like I'm paid in full.”

“In conclusion, adult learners, and the need for improved adult literacy, deserve our attention and efforts because these people deserve the opportunity not just to survive, but to flourish! READ MORE >>

Fort Erie
Adult Literacy Council

Future Success Comes 1 Word At A Time For Fort Erie Adult Literacy Council

Fort Erie Post: 9.30.2019 by Richard Hutton

No one can dispute the importance of literacy.

Knowing how to read, write and comprehend are necessary skills for life in order to succeed, whether it be for a job, a chance to attend an institute of higher learning or simply navigate through the day-to-days of life.

In a 2007 study of literacy levels in the Niagara Region conducted by Paul Knafelc of Community Benchmarks, it was shown that 42.6 per cent of Fort Erie’s population has achieved a level of educational attainment no greater than a high school diploma.

That same study concluded that the level of literacy skills in Fort Erie varies across prose, document and numeracy skills. On average, the community consistently exhibits a higher proportion of its population in lower literacy levels. For example, for those aged 25 to 34, the proportion of the community’s population at level one is 19.3 per cent compared to 17.7 per cent and 16.8 per cent for the region and Ontario respectively. The same observation is also relevant for those ages 35 to 44. For the 45 to 54 age group, both the community and the region approximate one another, less than a one per cent spread. However, Fort Erie significantly differs from the province. The proportion of individuals with level one literacy within the community is equal to that of the region, but higher than the province. Beyond the age of 64 however, people in Fort Erie demonstrate higher literacy levels relative to the region and approximate the provincial level.  READ MORE >>

@Center4Literacy

Center for Literacy Opens Doors To Jobs And Education

Generocity: 10.01.2019 by Melanie Menkevich, ESL Transition Coor -Center for Literacy

When Leon Santos first came to Philadelphia, he encountered a lot of barriers that made his day-to-day life difficult and his future seem grim. Then, he came to Center for Literacy (CFL).

“Before Center for Literacy, my life was really tough,” said Santos, who emigrated from Brazil in the summer of 2016. “I had many barriers with job research, and regular basic communication. I didn’t have confidence speaking in English. CFL gave me this confidence to speak without fear.”

Santos had been looking for English classes for a while, but he felt defeated in his efforts to improve his English. Every time he took a test, he was told his English was too advanced for the classes. “I was looking for an ESL class to improve my English and assimilate to the American culture and language, and also to help me find a better job,” said Santos. “CFL was the only one able to help me achieve my goals.”

Santos isn’t alone. Other immigrants in Philadelphia are considered too advanced to take a free ESL class in the city, but still seek education because they want to improve their lives.  READ MORE >>

@CanonLibrary

Cañon City Public Library Launches New Adult Literacy Program

Canyon City Daily Record: 10.02.2019 by Carie Canterbury

When Ed Pellegrini suffered a stroke seven years ago, just months after the death of his wife, he lost everything: his home, his money, his construction company, his vehicles and his ability to walk, talk and read.

Doctors told his family that the stroke was so severe that he “was done,” but Pellegrini set his mind to rebuilding his life and restoring his health.

Pellegrini, 72, now cares for himself, walks, talks, works out daily, serves on the board of directors of the Cañon City Pregnancy Center, helps veterans going through hospice, and recently he built his own garage.

The last piece of his recovery is to re-learn to read because he desires to read his Bible again, and he needs to be able to read when he’s shopping.

Pellegrini is one of the first participants in a new program called “Squash Illiteracy at the Cañon City Public Library.”  READ MORE >>