I joined Literacy Texas . . .
Ordinarily, in our newsletter we focus on how individuals, churches, and organizations join Literacy Connexus in addressing literacy needs. We're launching the newsletter today from the Literacy Texas Conference in San Marcos. This is a personal reflection about "joining" and "literacy," but flipped around a bit.
I joined Literacy Texas in the summer of 2004. I found out about the organization the same way that most people do--through a friend. He told me about what was then the Texas Association of Adult Literacy Councils.* I participated in my first conference that summer. The next year I became a member of the board of TAALC. What I want to capture in these few lines is how that association helped me personally and helped launch a similar statewide literacy initiative: Literacy Connexus.
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Literacy Texas Board of Directors
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"Personally" is the key word. That first summer conference was all about making new friends in the literacy field. These friends have helped me do my work as we have collaborated for a larger purpose. I have been blessed by many people through Literacy Texas. My field of vision has been stretched beyond my own background, religiously and otherwise. I have come to appreciate new perspectives and new ways of addressing a common purpose--helping people with literacy needs.
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While Literacy Connexus focuses on working through churches, Literacy Texas works with community-based groups as well. Those community-based groups include literacy coalitions and councils as well as libraries and independent literacy providers. Someone once said, "Working together, we can do more." I believe it.
Literacy Texas has facilitated training for many church-based literacy programs through a unique arrangement with the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning. The Volunteer Training Initiative has helped many attend the Literacy Texas Conference as well as other events around the state. Training offered by Literacy Texas and affiliated organizations strengthens church-based literacy programs. We have benefited significantly from our partnership with Literacy Texas.
My service on the Literacy Texas Board is finished as of this past Sunday, but I'm excited to continue with Literacy Texas as an active member. I encourage you to join today!
* Note: In 2008 the Texas Association of Adult Literacy Councils became Literacy Texas. The purpose was to become more inclusive, to include literacy organizations that were not councils and to include literacy across the age spectrum--beginning with early literacy. Literacy Texas is the statewide literacy coalition connecting and equipping literacy programs through resources, training, networking and advocacy.
Lester Meriwether
Executive Director, Literacy Connexus
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We're here . . .
Stop by the Literacy Connexus display and grab a poster, hot off the press:
Contact us for a free copy (and take several to share)!
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ESL Teacher Training Opportunities
Over the next two months, we have workshops planned for:
Midland Garland Wichita Falls
Houston Georgetown Fort Worth Tyler
Rio Grande Valley San Antonio Kingwood
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Lester Meriwether, Executive Director
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Trivia Challenge
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1. Baklava, baqlawa, or baaklawa--whatever spelling you choose--is a pastry of rich layers of crispy dough and nuts drenched with honey. It originated in about the 8th century B.C. in:
a) Turkey
b) Lebanon
c) Assyria
d) Greece
2. A child born outside the U.S. may become a U.S. citizen through his parent or parent's birth or naturalization. This is called:
a) derivative citizenship
b) naturalization
c) extension citizenship
d) citizenship by proxy
3. Someone who smuggles people across the border, often for great personal profit, is known as a:
a) badger
b) polecat
c) cougar
d) coyote
Problem accessing the answers? Reply to this email and we'll shoot them your way.
These instructional links may help:
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