A Dream Deferred

 

What happens to a dream deferred?

 

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
and then run
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

 

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

 

Or does it explode?

-Langston Hughes

 

 

Roger
by Pratt Remmel

 

In first grade, Roger fell behind in reading, possibly struggling with a learning disorder.  He was never able to catch up, a problem that his divorced mother probably did not notice, and a problem that his teachers did not have time to correct.  Roger was embarrassed by his lack of reading skills and was afraid to ask for help.  He struggled academically, but he was athletic. 

 

By 7th grade, Roger was pushed by school coaches to try-out and participate on various teams.  He was their star, but his own coaches crippled him.  Ironically, he was encouraged by his coaches to sit next to the "Einsteins" and cheat, a behavior that would ordinarily be challenged by coaches. This was humiliating for Roger, but he was just a kid.  He was afraid to challenge the adults that continued to pass him to the next grade level year after year, yet he was stuck with concepts he could not comprehend or understand.  By 11th grade, he dropped out of school, got a job, and began supporting himself and later a family of four.

 

Roger has very good mechanical skills and managed to get good jobs without adequate reading skills.  Due to the recession, his latest full time job downsized, and he was laid off..  "Now was the time," thought Roger.  "I have to learn how to read." 

 

Roger, 41, contacted Literacy Action.  He was tested and was reading on a 3rd grade reading level.  Roger and I began working together in November 2011.  In our first meeting, we discussed his primary and secondary goals.  

 

His primary goal was to learn to read.  After a couple of months, he felt as though his reading was improving, but he still needed more help with general grammar and spelling.  Roger and I began working through a series, Patterns in Spelling.

 

Roger and I have been working for the last 3 months, and he has been very pleased with improved reading and comprehension skills.  He told me recently that he finds himself reading billboards and signs along the highway that he would have never looked at before because of his earlier inability to read.   

 

Roger's secondary goal was to get a good job.  In January, he tried to get a job with a telecommunications company, but he could not pass the timed written exam.  His reading was too slow.

 

He was waiting for a mechanic's job callback with a railroad company that never came, but was able to land a job with a sub-contracted company installing energy saving meters.

 

Roger, a good citizen, father of two, home owner, and voter, now has a job again.  He also has a new library card and is planning to continue his reading progress.  Reading well has been his dream, long deferred, and now, with Literacy Action on his side, he is working hard to make his dream come true. 

AmeriCorps Members Pictured (left to right):  Holly Villines, Meyshana Lunon, and Tamonica Sanders

Energetic, committed, and successful individuals who are passionate about making real change in the community.

A living allowance of $6,254 per year will be paid bi-monthly and a $2,775 educational award upon successful completion of 900 hours of service are offered through the program.  Persons 55 and older can pass on their education award, which can be used to pay for college and books, repay student loans, and for qualified continuing education to a child, grandchild, or foster child.

If you are interested in serving with Literacy Action of Central Arkansas, please fill out the application, and e-mail your application AND resume to Shana Beal at sbeal@literacylittlerock.org or call (501)372.7323.

AmeriCorps application

 

Gracie Starr (left) pictured with her mother, Rene Starr (right).  Rene and Grace was our first mother-daughter volunteer team.

Deborah Davis, our first office volunteer!

Office volunteer, Nancy Roy

Gail Brown (left) is pictured with her daughter, Briana Brown (right).  Gail and Briana was our second mother-daughter volunteer team!