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Information and inspiration for our friends and partners. |
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LVWCC is $10,000 Stronger
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Your commitment and dedication to our mission and vision has made all the difference. Read more in our Leadership section.
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Kathy Moran
Learner Support Specialist
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Welcome New Adult Learners
Welcome to Yesenia, Aviva, Leroy, Cecilia, Travis, and Annie, new learners who started instruction with us in June.
Group Learning Opportunities
Recommended Resources
Sensitivity: The Other Half of Communication
 This video focuses on communication between instructors and students in adult literacy programs and demonstrates how what we intend to say isn't always what the other person hears.
It is an "oldie but goodie" and is perfect for all types of tutoring. Watch more videos at ProLiteracy EdNet.
Library Cards
One of the most important things we can do for our adult learners is to make sure they have library cards that get used.
- "When I was young, we couldn't afford much. But, my library card was my key to the world." --John Goodman, actor
- "A library card is the start of a lifelong adventure." --Lilian Jackson Braun, author of "The Cat Who..." mystery novel series
Intermediate learners and all tutors should use a public library card to check out learning materials; consumable workbooks are available only for low-level learners. Make it a goal to have a library card that gets used by September! Do you need information or help with a library card? Email kmoran@lvwcc.org.
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 Farewell Natasha Neal Natasha, who recently became our Tutor Support Specialist, has decided to return to her first love, which is social work. We feel very fortunate she shared her time and wisdom with us. Natasha will be helping Jasmine with outreach this month, while Esther interviews and gets tutor files ready for a new support specialist. We wish you all the best, Natasha. Tutor Log Reminder
Help us make accurate and timely reports to our stakeholders; please submit your tutor logs by July 5th: Online, by email: echase@lvwcc.org, by fax: (708) 848-9564, or by postal mail: Esther Chase/LVWCC, PO Box 4502, Oak Park, IL 60304. To download a blank log, go to our website. Training Opportunities
Tuesday, July 1, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St.
Join us for a workshop at the Oak Park Library with Therese Hogan, Associate Professor of Education at Dominican University. Dr. Hogan will answer two questions relevant to many of our tutors:
- What teaching strategies should be used at beginner reading levels?
- What should tutors do when they suspect a learning disability?
According to a testimonial on RateMyProfessor.com, " Dr. Hogan is an absolutely fabulous professor. She is very professional and knows her subject well. She focuses her instruction on the practical side of teaching and does not bore her class with a lot of textbook material. She is quite entertaining and keeps you engaged in learning at all times. I give her A+++++!" Barbara A. Raispis Literacy Collection
The Raispis Collection has been streamlined and relocated to the Berwyn Public Library. To better serve tutors of low-level ABE and ESL students, we have compiled the most essential tools and resources on teaching beginner ABE and ESL, including phonics and beginner speaking.
The Raispis Collection is not kept in the public area; please call Esther at (708) 749-6328 or send an email to echase@berwynlibrary.org if you would like to browse. Browsing hours are by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm, and Thursdays from 1 to 9 pm.
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Learners of the Month: Seong Jae Kim and Ji Yun Jung
Seong Jae and Ji Yun, a husband and wife couple from South Korea, have been in the U.S. for about two years. They have been learners with us just under a year.
Seong Jae works with tutor Tom Conway, and Ji Yun works with tutor Andy Byrne. They say the hardest thing about learning English has been listening comprehension. "I think there could be several reasons," says Seong Jae. "My native language is quite different from English in word order of sentences and the way to pronounce words. So it is not easy to quickly notice the meaning during conversations." They also note that different ways of thinking for people from different cultural backgrounds make it challenging to learn English.
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Written by
Kathy Moran
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When asked to describe an accomplishment they've made that wouldn't have been possible without their tutors, Ji Yun and Seong Jae talk about their improved confidence. Their tutors have encouraged them to speak out in English and to not hesitate until their language is perfect.
Advice that they give to someone just beginning to learn English is to never give up. They acknowledge what a hard journey it is, but that it is worthwhile. Ji Yun and Seong Jae will return to their native South Korea next month. But they are not stopping their English study.
Seong Jae plans to use English for research for his job, and they both hope to teach Korean students who are eager to learn English. We wish them all the best in their future work and study.
Tutors of the Month: Michael Warnock and Adele Cannell
Compiled by Natasha Neal
We sadly say farewell to two fantastic LVWCC tutors. Michael has been retired for some time, but Adele recently became retired as well, so they have decided to return to their native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Michael's thoughts on being a literacy tutor can be found in an essay he wrote a few years ago. Below are Adele thoughts, along with some of Michael's, which we asked them to share for this article.
 1. What made you want to be an LVWCC tutor? Adele: I have always been interested in adult education and have had many opportunities throughout my professional career to train, mentor and coach co-workers. Michael: l found out about LVWCC through my wife, who is an LVWCC literacy tutor. l signed up for the winter training in 2009 and was assigned a learner at the end of March of 2010. 2. What do you enjoy about tutoring? Adele: I love the interaction with our learners. Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone learn and become more confident in their personal and professional lives. Michael: I have enjoyed all aspects of LVWCC's program, including preparing lesson plans, working one-on-one with learners, and Conversation Café. My most recent primary role with LVWCC has been coordinator of the Conversation Café. I really enjoy it. I've found the Cafés to be a lot of fun, and I've met many interesting people through my work with these groups. When I reflect back on working with my learners, I think about how we had fun sharing anecdotes about work and family, and our experiences with everyday life in Chicago. We were serious about our time together and our purpose, but we also shared laughs and had a little fun.
 3. What do you find challenging about tutoring? Adele: Many of our learners have so many responsibilities in their own daily lives that they are not often able to devote as much time to their studies as they would like.
4. Do you have any suggestions for tutors who are just starting out? Adele: Spend some time getting to know your local library. There are far too many resources to list them all, but libraries can help you find the right tools. For ESL tutors, I would suggest to sit in on Conversation Café and experience the very relaxed atmosphere.
5. Is there anything else you'd like to share? Adele: Keep in touch with and share best practices with other tutors. It helps us all grow and give our learners the best experience. Michael and Adele, you truly deserve the honor of being July's tutors of the month. We wish you much happiness and prosperity.
Partner of the Month: Collaboration for Early Childhood
LVWCC staff members network with and visit a vast array of nonprofit organizations in our service area. One such agency is the Collaboration of Early Childhood Education located in Oak Park, IL.
The Collaboration for Early Childhood develops programming for parents, and facilitates professional development opportunities for early childhood professionals. Their goal is to foster high-quality early care so that all children will have the opportunity to develop their full potential, to feel loved and valued, and to grow up in a caring, diverse community.
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Written by
Jasmine Brown
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Why do LVWCC learners and tutors need to know about the Collaboration for Early Childhood Education? Many of our learners have children and the Collaboration offers a wealth of information and resources especially for them. Particularly helpful is their comprehensive resource guide, which lists local family agencies for child care, health care, and much more. It also includes tips and suggestions on developing reading and literacy skills with children.
We encourage you to visit the Collaboration for Early Childhood Education's website to download a copy of our local resource directory.
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We would like to take the opportunity to recognize financial support for our program in FY14. Unrestricted giving totaled over $10,000! We could not have done it without every single gift you gave. Nonprofits are best known for their programs, but no organization can truly sustain itself without a diverse group of individual, business, and foundation donors just like you.
Thank you for investing in our neighbors and for helping us achieve the needed financial stability that makes it possible for us to keep working toward our shared mission and vision for western Cook County.
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Individual Donations
Adele Cannell $1,200
Jolinda Cappello $182
Krystyna Ciura $50
Nancy Cohen $100
Laura Jane & Myron Colber $50
Esther Chase $750
Joan Fiscella $50
Katie Frankle $50
HuaYi He $300
Jinbao & Anna Huang $50
Oksana Karpenko $50
Margaret Kessler $50
Erik Krueger $250
Sheila McDonnell $75
Mario K. Medina $125
Claudio Antonio de Oliveira $200
Virginia Olsen $50
Dick Rubin $25
Susan Sitter $50
Betsy Snyder $200
Kathleen Stewart $50
Rob & Rebecca Streit $100
Beth Venzke $50
Cristen Vincent $119
Jeriann Walsh $100
Michael Warnock $30
Dorothy Wilz 25
Anonymous $12
Anonymous $500
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In-kind Labor Donation
Sara Connelly & Arden Realty $1,096
Whole Foods River Forest $747
Memorial Donations
In memory of tutor Edna McQuillan $1,315
Grants
IL State Library, A Division of the Office of the IL Secretary of State $33,243
Literacy For Adults Partnership & the Grand Victoria Foundation $1,387
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LVWCC Board of Directors
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Name
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Resident of
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Since
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Current Role
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Esther Chase
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Berwyn
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2010
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Board President
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Mario K. Medina
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Berwyn
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2011
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Board Member
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Jolinda Cappello
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Elmwood Park
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2013
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Board Member
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Would you like to serve on our board of directors? Board members must:
- live in our service area, and
- attend 6 board meetings per year, and
- have at least 2 years of volunteer tutor experience with us, or
- be a current student with professional experience we need, or
- have extensive non-profit directorship experience.
Please send an email to echase@lvwcc.org for more information.
Board Meetings
Board meetings are held every other month. Our next board meeting will be held on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 7:30 pm. We invite you to share your concerns about the organization and ask questions during our open session. If you would like to join us, please send an email to echase@lvwcc.org for the location details.
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 LVWCC has been developing literacy skills with adults in the near-west suburbs of Chicago since 1987. We provide free customized tutoring to adult learners through a network of trained volunteers.
Our unique service area includes disadvantaged communities where 25% of residents have not completed high school, in addition to well-educated communities where 99% of residents have completed high school. Together, we are literally changing lives. Learn more.
Our program is made possible by a grant from the Illinois State Library, a division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds designated for literacy. We are thankful that the State of Illinois continues to invest in our program. Find out more about how public libraries play a key role in the provision of literacy services.
Additional support for the work of LVWCC is made possible through an annual competitive grant from the Donley Foundation, which helps us achieve our organizational mission in western Cook County. We appreciate the legacy established by Edward and Inez Donley and we are proud that the Foundation considers us a partner in their effort to help adults advance in life and contribute to society.
LVWCC Literacy Lines E-Newsletter Archives
Looking for previous editions of our e-newsletter? Click here for the archives.
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Donate
Would you consider a monthly donation to our program? Small dependable gifts from friends like you help sustain our program each year while the state of Illinois works to release annual competitive funding. If you have already sent us a donation, thank you. Your support helps us train more tutors and reach more learners who need us.
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Volunteer
Helping an adult improve literacy skills can be a rewarding process for both you and your adult learner; the effects can last a lifetime and impact generations. More than reading, writing, or mathematics, improved literacy leads to greater self-confidence, engaged parenting, increased employability, and a desire for lifelong learning.
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Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County (LVWCC)
Mailing Address: PO Box 4502, Oak Park, IL 60304
Office Location: 1010 W. Lake St. Suite 603, Oak Park, IL 60301
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