Dr. Shlomy Kattan Speaks About Adult Literacy :: Do Good Podcast

Dr. Shlomy Kattan Speaks About Adult Literacy

Do Good Podcast: 6.14.2017 by Shlomy and Marc

@dogoodpodcasts

Shlomy reveals how big of an issue adult low literacy.  He discusses both the profound societal effects of adult literacy and the devastating toll it takes on those who have to cope with it.  He discusses what is happening in the public and private sectors to alleviate it and the associated challenges.

This is a fascinating conversation about an issue that does not get a lot of press yet affects millions of adults in this country and across the world.

Adult Literacy Overview

Globally, there are more than 780 million adults who lack basic literacy skills - that is 1 in 6 adults around the world.

In the United States, it is 36 million adults, which comes out to be 15% of the adult population.  The United States ranks in the bottom third out the countries in the OECD in adult literacy levels. Half of the county reads at or below and 8th grade level.

What are the causes of adult low literacy?

Number 1 internationally is access to education.  There are 60 million children that have no access to education and 260 million children that have very limited access to education.

Dr. Shlomy Kattan, Senior Director of the Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE and co-host of The Do Good Podcast speaks about adult literacy.  LISTEN

Literacy – Spanning the US ::Crawford Co PA :: Wichita Falls TX :: Santa Maria CA

Nine so far participating in county jail's GED program

Meadeville Tribune: 5.26.2017 by Keith Gushard

The general education diploma program at the Crawford County jail has nine active students since it restarted in late March, according to Kenneth Saulsbery, the jail's warden.

The GED program helps a person obtain a general education diploma, which is equivalent to a high school diploma.

There are five inmates currently enrolled within the GED program while another four are in the pre-GED program, Saulsbery told the Crawford County Prison Board at its meeting Thursday at the jail.

County inmates in the GED program who are released from jail prior to completing their studies may continue the program through free classes in Meadville or Titusville offered by the Crawford County READ Program. The READ Program runs the local adult

runs the local adult literacy program in the county.

Nine inmates initially were in the GED program and seven initially were in the pre-GED program when it restarted, Saulsbery said.  READ MORE @

Literacy Council

Literacy Council

Lompoc Record: 5.29.2017 by

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The Bi-Lingo program focuses on a curriculum of basic, conversational language acquisition for each language, and will feature two to three topics per event. Each meeting will begin with a permanent topic called “Greetings” to get participants comfortable with traditional greetings once they’re out communicating in the public.  READ MORE @

The Business Case for Upskilling: How Companies Benefit When Service Workers Improve Their Skills

The Business Case for Upskilling: How Companies Benefit When Service Workers Improve Their Skills

National Skills Coalition: March 2017

Limited math, reading, and technology skills are a widespread challenge among US workers, as documented in NSC’s Foundational Skills in the Service Sector report. But companies that invest in their workers’ skill building can see payoffs not only for the workers themselves, but for the business bottom line.

THE CHALLENGE: DEDICATED EMPLOYEES WITH LIMITED SKILLS

Data from a rigorous international assessment show that low foundational skills are prevalent across the service sector: 62% of American workers in the target occupations have low English literacy skills, 74% have low numeracy, and 73% have limited digital problem-solving skills.1 At the same time, many workers with skill gaps are loyal and dedicated employees. A majority (58%) have been with their current employer for at least three years, including 36% who have been with their employer for at least six years.

THE SOLUTION: INVESTING IN SKILLS

Companies can capitalize on their employees’ interest in upskilling by facilitating their participation in learning opportunities, including through reducing logistical and other barriers to participation. Businesses that are successfully addressing skill gaps in their workforce are doing so through a variety of tactics. Many involve partnerships with community colleges, nonprofit organizations, or other training partners. Some businesses offer on-site training to workers during the work day or after their shifts, while others support the ability of their employees to attend classes off site. Examples of employer skill-building investments include:

• Sponsoring an apprenticeship program for nursing home workers

• Informing the design of a community college program for customer service specialists

• Offering a blended learning program that allows restaurant workers to participate in both in-person and online classes to obtain their high school equivalency and earn industry-recognized credentials.

READ MORE @

Literacy – Spanning the US :: S Sarasota Co FL :: Florida :: NY NY

Literacy Volunteers

So Sarasota County

Amazing Suncoast Woman - Jan Gallas, President of Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota Co.

My Suncoast: 5.23.2017 by Linda Carson

People walk thru these doors at the North Port Library not speaking a word of English, or reading English . They meet Jan Gallas, she introduces them to her Literacy Volunteer Program and that opens a whole new world for them. the literacy volunteers teach english as a second language.

Jan says, "Our motto is "Literacy Changes Lives". We work with students from Osprey to North Port , and we teach adults to read write and speak English. "

Last year their 171 Tudors served 315 very motivated students from 51 countries.

Jan says, "They came to the United States and they want to be part of the community . They want to learn to speak English, pronounce better, they want to learn grammar, they want to learn all the idioms. We have plenty of those. They just want to better themselves. They want to fit in, they want to be part of the United States."

You don't have to speak a foreign language to be a Tudor, and you don't have to be a teacher. Jan wasn't.

She says, "I worked in a school district 40 years, I worked in public service office helping students, parents and teachers better themselves."  READ MORE @

@FloridaLiteracy

Florida Blue Foundation Sponsors Statewide Health Literacy Grants Program

PR.com: 5.25.2017

Fourteen programs across the state of Florida have been awarded a one-year grant, up to $5,000, for the implementation of a health literacy program to benefit their Adult Education, ESOL, and family literacy students.

These mini-grants, awarded by Florida Blue Foundation and the Florida Literacy Coalition, will integrate health and nutrition information into the programs’ curriculum. The focus is to help students acquire the knowledge, literacy skills and resources that will help them navigate the medical system and make informed health decisions. More than 15,000 students from programs throughout Florida have benefited from this Initiative since 2009.

There is a growing recognition among health care providers and adult educators around the country that limited English language and literacy skills can have a significant impact on one’s health. According to the National Adult Assessment of Literacy, 14 percent of Americans cannot comprehend basic health information. The study indicates that health illiteracy is especially prevalent among: 1) adults who did not complete high school, with 49 percent having below basic health literacy, and 2) foreign-born adults who have English as their second language.

People who lack literacy and health literacy skills are much more likely to take medications incorrectly, be hospitalized and spend more time in the hospital than people with higher health literacy, and are four times more likely to have poor health. The potential for savings and better health are significant. Adult education, literacy and family literacy programs can play an important role in helping people to acquire these skills.  READ MORE @

@LitPartners

Joanne Lipman honored at Literacy Partners’ Gala

USA Today: 5.25.2017 by Staff

Literacy Partners recently honored Joanne Lipman, Gannett’s Chief Content Officer and editor-in-chief of USA TODAY and the USA TODAY NETWORK, at its Evening of Readings Gala. The event, held Wednesday the 24th at New York’s Cipriani 42nd Street, honored Lipman for her “devoted work in literacy and philanthropy.”

The fundraiser was held to further Literacy Partners’ mission to “end illiteracy, one adult at a time,” and the funds will assist in the expansion of the organization’s community-based literacy programs. Since its establishment 44 years ago, Literacy Partners has provided the greater New York City area with literacy services including free classes, serving upwards of 25,000 adults.

"As a program that helps working immigrant mothers learn English and improve their literacy skills, we were thrilled to salute Joanne at our gala dinner this year” says Anthony Tassi, Executive Director of Literacy Partners. “Not only is she one of the most important editors of our time, she is a woman of extraordinary vision and integrity.  Her commitment to an inclusive and well-informed society is so inspiring to us and resonates deeply with our educational mission. READ MORE @

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Westbrook CT :: Albuquerque NM :: Monmouth Co NJ

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READ MORE @

@ReadingWorksAbq

Jimmy Santiago Baca is keynote at literacy event

Albuquerque Journal:  5.23.2017 by ABQJournal News Staff

Jimmy Santiago Baca will be the keynote speaker at Reading Works’ Fifth Annual Luncheon for Literacy on June 25.

A Place

To Stand

Reading Works provides free tutoring to adults in reading, writing, math, computer skills and English language acquisition. Luncheon for Literacy raises money to support those programs.

The luncheon begins at 11 a.m. at Hotel Albuquerque. Individual tickets are $70, and a table of ten is $600. They are available at www.reading-works.org through June 15.

According to the organization, more than 100,000 adults in the greater Albuquerque area need literacy services.

Baca was illiterate at the age of 21 when he faced five to ten years behind bars for drug possession. While in prison, he taught himself to read and found his poetic voice.  He has received the American Book Award, Pushcart Prize, International Hispanic Heritage Award, and International Award. His acclaimed memoir, A Place to Stand, has been produced as a documentary film.  READ  MORE @

@literacynj    

Two Monmouth residents honored at conference

Central Jersey.com: 5.23.2017

Two Monmouth County residents – one from Howell and one from West Long Branch – were honored for their efforts to advance adult literacy at Literacy NJ’s annual conference on April 22.

Literacy NJ, which provides free adult literacy programs and U.S. citizenship classes in eight counties, presented the awards at its annual Literacy for Life Conference at Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, according to a press release.

The event brought together 200 students, tutors, adult educators and board members from across the state for a day of professional development.

Adult literacy tutor Susan George of Howell received the 2017 Award for Tutor Excellence.

George started LV-Monmouth’s Project Success program in 2013. The program helps adults gain the skills needed to enroll in a General Educational Development (GED) or Adult Basic Education (ABE) course at the local community college.

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Adult learner Justin Farro of West Long Branch received Literacy NJ’s 2017 Student Excellence Award.

Literacy Volunteers

Monmouth Co

Farro struggled with learning difficulties as a child, but never lost his desire to learn. He came to Literacy Volunteers-Monmouth in 2015 to improve his writing and math skills. Farro recently achieved his goal of writing a letter to a friend using correct spelling and punctuation, according to the press release.

Literacy NJ’s statewide network provides free instruction in reading, writing, math and speaking English to more than 5,700 adults each year.  READ MORE @

A New Literacy Paradigm :: ProLiteracy

A New Literacy Paradigm

ProLiteracy Blog: 6.01.2017 by Jennifer Paulding

Recent proposed reductions in federal funding for adult education are bringing about an even more challenging environment for our programs and students.

Make a Difference ! ! !

Write Letters to Local Representatives

Urging Them to Support Adult Literacy !

Piecing Together the Puzzle for Adult Literacy

While we continue to hear verbal support for the issue of adult literacy, we continue to see limited or diminished funding for our programs. Everyone recognizes the need for adult literacy and supports the cause, but fewer are willing to fund the programs needed to ensure students get services.

It is not only the lack of federal and state funding but the ever-increasing competition for limited private-sector resources that is making it more difficult for local programs to raise the funds necessary to meet the growing demand for service. This trend puts even greater pressure on the volunteers and staff to “do more with less”.

Traditional funding sources such as United Way, the Combined Federal Campaign, and others are looking at broader collective impact models that are difficult for traditional literacy programs to integrate into on a sustained basis.

As a result of these and other trends, we as a network of community-based programs will need to adjust and respond to these new trends and strategic directions of funders.

The Essential Role of Adult Literacy Programs

In addition to pressing our case in terms of the importance of adult literacy to the workforce, families, community, and democracy, we will need to look at new ways to describe our program benefits and our approach.  READ MORE @

Find your Elected Official

Literacy – Spanning the US :: New Jersey :: Temple TX :: Guilford NC

@literacynj

Millburn Woman Earns ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award From Literacy Group

Millburn Patch: 5.08.2017 by Eric Kiefer

Adult literacy provider Literacy NJ recently honored Millburn resident Perrine Robinson-Geller with its 2017 Harry van Houten Award for Lifetime Achievement during its annual Literacy for Life Conference at Mercer County College.

Here’s why Robinson-Geller deserved the award, Literacy NJ stated:

“Perrine Robinson-Geller is a devoted advocate of adult literacy services. She joined the board of Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey in 2010 and has generously shared her expertise and her time with the Literacy NJ network.

“Perrine served two terms as board president and provided invaluable leadership as the organization began to explore a merger with its affiliates. Perrine never lost sight of the primary goal of expanding and improving services for low literate adults. After the merger, Perrine served as a member of the founding board of Literacy NJ and then as its first board president.  READ MORE @

Temple Literacy

Dollar General Literacy Foundation

@readingconnect

Adams and Carr are both in their late 50s. Neither of them could read well and decided if they wanted to truly succeed in life, they needed to be better at reading.  LISTEN