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I joined Literacy Connexus . . .
In the spring of 2009, the Tarrant Literacy Coalition board of directors took the bold step of opening an office and hiring its first Executive Director. I had a history with literacy issues, having served as the founding board chair of the Wichita Adult Literacy Council in my hometown of Wichita Falls some 25 years before. But the new literacy coalition for Tarrant County had a slightly different mission - to work with other literacy providers to improve the quality and increase the quantity of literacy programming in and around Tarrant County.
Naturally, Literacy Connexus was an early friend and partner. Lester Meriwether extended a helping hand to the new organization and both groups began to collaborate. One of our earliest projects together was the distribution of more than 2,000 children's books, contributed by First Book, into the hands of local literacy groups. It was a partnership that continues to this day.
Since that time, the Tarrant Literacy Coalition and Literacy Connexus have worked together to co-sponsor the annual Metroplex Literacy Conference, which has provided training for hundreds of literacy volunteers from faith based literacy organizations all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The two organizations have worked together to organize book donations for children and have helped distribute thousands of books to families in Tarrant County. In fact, this summer, Literacy Connexus and Tarrant Literacy Coalition will participate together in summer feeding programs organized by the Texas Hunger Initiative to help provide books to children while offering information about literacy programs to their parents.
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Making sure that children and parents are reading together is important to develop early literacy skills. I still remember when my son was young and we would read together each night before he went to bed. I loved our time together, just the two of us, when we would spend some quiet time before he fell asleep. I want every child to have that experience. Working with Literacy Connexus to get books into the homes of the adults we serve through the Coalition is a great way to help make that happen.
The Tarrant Literacy Coalition not only offers training to literacy volunteers, it also sponsors GED classes for adults two nights a week. Most of the adults are parents and grandparents who are struggling to make ends meet while attending classes to prepare for the GED exam. These families love to receive books and the Coalition volunteers work hard to provide the adult students with opportunities to gain literacy skills that they can use with their children.
We look forward to continuing to join Literacy Connexus in addressing the literacy needs of our community.
Kathryn Thompson, Executive Director
Tarrant Literacy Coalition
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 "Every man should make up his own mind that if he expect to succeed, he must give an honest return for the other man's dollar."
Edward H. Harriman, 1848-1909
How do we give an honest return for every $10 donated to Literacy Connexus? Take a look at Ten Things $10 Will Buy.
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Lester Meriwether, Executive Director
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Trivia Challenge
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1. A runcible spoon might be described to an ESL student as an instrument employed for dining on:
a) condiments that may require stabbing rather than scooping
b) English trifle
c) mince and slices of quince
d) MRE (Meals Ready-to-Eat) pouches
2. June 28 is Insurance Awareness Day (believe it or not). In 1895, the very first car insurance policy was written. This occurred in:
a) France
b) Germany
c) Italy
d) the United Kingdom
3. Juntos num só ritmo
is Portuguese for "All in one rhythm." This is the official slogan for:
a) Brazil Airlines
b) protection of the Amazon Jungle
c) the city of Rio de Janeiro
d) 2014 World Cup Soccer
Problem accessing the answers? Reply to this email and we'll shoot them your way.
These instructional links may help:
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TEX Trainings
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Here is our line up of fall Basic ESL Trainings for New ESL Teachers of Adults Students.
Click on each location for more information.
Aug. 8-9, 2014
Aug. 15-16, 2014
Aug. 22-23, 2014
Sept. 5-6, 2014
Sept. 12-13, 2014
Sept. 20, 2014
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