Literacy:
Spanning the U.S.
Volunteer
tutors boost adult literacy in Allegheny County
A math
lesson is under way Thursday morning in Jewel Method's classroom. As Helen
Poole works to solve fraction problems printed on the whiteboard, Deborah
Russell tackles problems on a worksheet.
“Working
with the students is rewarding,” said Method, a volunteer with the council for
about a year. “Adults want to be here, they want to learn, and they look
forward to coming to class.”
Despite
having more than 400 volunteers who are willing to teach, the center has a
waiting list of 120 prospective students hoping to enroll in adult basic
education and English-as-a-second-language lessons, said executive director Don
Block.
The
prospective students have been through orientation but are waiting to be
enrolled in a class or paired with a tutor — a process that can take four or
five months, Block said. READ MORE !
Empowering Adults through Literacy
We are
very proud of Alma and the other adult learners who spoke at our annual
luncheon. Please watch her story and share this video with others. The 2015
Giving Challenge will be on Sept. 1 - 2 Noon to Noon.
The READ
Center
Reading
and Education for Adult Development
Enrolled
in special education classes throughout his formative years of schooling, as an
adult, Richard made his way to The READ Center
to improve his literacy skills.
A major
challenge for the young man, according to teacher Kay McCall, was overcoming a
severe vision problem. Thanks to a partnership with Pearle Vision in Richmond,
Richard was fitted with glasses. Once he could see, Richard relaxed in class
and began participating and collaborating with his classmates at The READ
Center. “He was sure in the knowledge that he was not alone in his struggle to
read. His natural gentle and happy nature came out as he encouraged his
classmates and was encouraged by them,” McCall said.
The READ
Center was founded as the Literacy Council of Metropolitan Richmond in 1982.
For more than thirty years, the organization has helped adults with low-level
reading develop basic reading and communication skills through classroom
instruction and one-to-one tutoring.
“This
year, more than one hundred and fifty students have registered for services,”
said Karen La Forge, executive director of The READ Center. “With eight
locations in Metro Richmond and Petersburg and twelve classes, The READ Center
is small, but the need for literacy enhancement services in the region is
great.” READ MORE !
A fresh
start: Craven County woman learns English, becomes a US citizen
Earlier
this month, Gloria Aranda of New Bern became reborn.
No, she
didn’t find religion. She already subscribed to the belief in a higher being.
Aranda was “reborn” because she proudly pronounced the Oath of Allegiance,
thereby becoming a naturalized citizen during a ceremony in Durham.
-
Since
leaving Cali, Colombia, in 2004 to be with her husband, Aranda has devoted much
of her time to mastering the English language. Her determination to communicate
more effectively was driven by a desire to help her daughter succeed in the
classroom.
Realizing
she needed to hone her own skills in order to assist in her child’s academic
success, the Craven County mother decided to seek help from the Craven Literacy Council.
While
initially focusing on English proficiency, Aranda decided to pursue another
goal — achieving citizenship status. For more than two years, a volunteer
dedicated time teaching her the nuances of the English language while also
supporting Aranda’s ambitious goal of becoming a citizen. READ MORE !
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