Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US
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WIVB: 10.26.2020
The COVID-19
pandemic has affected many organizations in WNY- including the sole provider of
free, one-on-one adult literacy services in Erie and Niagara counties.
More adults need to
learn to read- but there are fewer volunteers to help.
Amy Mortiz, literacy coordinator at Literacy Buffalo Niagara “stopped by” News 4 on Monday to talk about how you can get involved. WATCH 04:38
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Revived 10 years
ago, it sparkles in city’s crown of jewels
If Redlands is the
Jewel of the Inland Empire, then the A.K.
Smiley Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program is
one of the brightest jewels in the city's crown.
For a decade, the
program has changed lives and opened new vistas for hundreds of community
members with its team of volunteers who provide one-on-one confidential
tutoring in reading and writing to help learners in the Redlands community
reach their literacy goals.
And it’s free.
“All it takes is a
desire to improve your literacy skills and a commitment to meet with your tutor
once a week for six months,” said Diane Shimota, coordinator of the Adult
Literacy program.
“For many folks with
low-literacy skills, there is often the stigma of embarrassment and lack of
confidence. We provide a safe, non-threatening and confidential learning
environment with a caring tutor who is focused solely on literacy goals.”
An added bonus is the
learning venue. The beautiful architecture of the historic A.K. Smiley Library
provides peaceful aesthetic settings for learner-tutor sessions.
Coping with COVID
The library reopened
on Sept. 9 on a limited basis after being closed for more than six months
because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This did not stop the literacy program. Learners
continued to meet weekly with their tutors via Zoom or on the telephone. Now
they can return to the library by reserving space in advance and adhering to
COVID-19 guidelines.
Adult learner Guillermina Rangel met her tutor Katherine Gifford in person for the first time during the interview for this feature story. Until this physically distanced meeting in the library garden on Tuesday, Oct. 20, they had been meeting over the telephone. READ MORE ➤➤
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Castlegar News: 10.30.2020 by Betsy Kline
The Columbia
Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) has come up with a number of ways to
continue offering services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We got creative,”
said Castlegar CBAL literacy coordinator Rhonda Palmer.
“Instead of just
shutting everything down, we decided we were going to still have our programs.”
CBAL is a
non-profit literacy organization offering services throughout the region.
CBAL usually offers
services at their office, in schools and at the library, however a lot of their
programming moved to Zoom throughout the spring and summer.
Early childhood
programming now includes things like take-out craft and project kits, followed by
Zoom meetings for the parents and kids to participate in together.
English language classes and tech learning for seniors have both moved to in-person services again.
Immigrants wanting to improve their English skills can access services on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Castlegar and District Library, but participants must register for the service to ensure COVID-19 related protocols can be kept. READ MORE ➤➤
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