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Information and inspiration for our friends and partners. |
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Upcoming Program Improvements
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The Illinois State Library, a division of the Illinois Office of the Secretary of State, is our  main grantmaker.
They have recently appointed a new Literacy Program Specialist, Tom Huber. Mr. Huber was promoted from his former position as Maps Librarian at the State Library. He joins the literacy team with Beth Paoli and Mark Shaffer.
Cyndy Colletti has been promoted to Associate Director of the Library Development Group, and will remain Literacy Manager until the position is filled.
New leadership means continued changes to our program procedures, much like it has been with new leadership at LVWCC. Through dialogue with Tom, we have established a plan to improve two procedures related to testing.
- One important metric is our post-testing rate. In the past, learners qualified for post-testing after the completion of 50 instructional hours. This interval has now been decreased to 30 instructional hours, which means we must test almost twice as often. It means we must test at least twice per year.
Many tutors will worry that their learner will not show gains in that short amount of time, which is roughly 6 months. However, our average academic gain for learners who completed 50 instructional hours last year was 2 levels for ABE, and 1 level for ESL.
So you can actually expect to see incremental gains even after just 30 hours of instruction. However, it will be increasingly important to make up missed sessions, especially if either the tutor or learner cancels frequently.
- The second requirement we must meet is to have each continuing learner pre-tested as soon as a new fiscal year starts, every July 1st, if their last test is more than 4 months old.
This means right now we must begin to test 30 learners in September, 6 learners in
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Natalie French
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October, and 9 learners in November. Natalie French, our Learner Support Specialist will be contacting tutors to visit normal weekly sessions for post-testing if a learner is due.
We will do our best to minimize the impact of these procedural changes to our volunteer tutors, but we appreciate anything and everything you can do to help us achieve the goal of testing all 45 learners due by the end of November.
If you would like to speak with us about these improvements and how they will affect your experience in our program, please call Esther at (708) 848-8499.
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Jasmine Brown
Partnerships Specialist
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Mari Smith
Tutor Support Specialist
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Natalie French
Learner Support Specialist
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Welcome to VOCAL Americorps Volunteer, Julius Bell 
An experienced Americorps volunteer, Julius, has signed on with us for a year of full-time outreach and program work. We are very fortunate to have his enthusiasm and sense of humor at LVWCC. Julius will be starting new small group tutoring opportunities in the northwest and southwest parts of our service area.
His personal statement reflects a commitment to improving the community: "I am a person who believes helping others is the greatest thing you can do. I love to help people and put smiles on their faces. I want to be a part of a team who lets me do that and give back to the community. I am very passionate about education, voting, employment, and housing issues."
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Tutor Log Reminder
Help us make accurate and timely reports to our stakeholders; please submit your August tutor logs by September 5th:
To download a blank log, go to our website.
July Tutor Log Recognition
July was a slow month. We know everyone spends more time with family and travels when the weather is nice. It makes us happy and we definitely look forward to it, especially after the rough winter we had. We also hope to see personal tutoring hours increase in August and September as we get back to our regular schedules. As possible, please do your best to make up sessions.
Thank you to tutors who submitted July logs by the due date of August 5th, with the following hours:
| Radeshia Brown, 20 | Ruth Foley, 4.0
| Flo Jerousek, 4.5 | Kathleen Stewart, 7 | | Jolinda Cappello, 7.5 | Katie Frankle, 12 | Judith McDevitt, 4 | Jeriann Walsh, 1.5 | | Nancy Cohen, 3.5 | Mandy Gawf, 9 | Kathleen Novak, 9 | Leo Zaretskiy, 2.5 | | Tom Conway, 3 | Ira Goodkin, 9 | Leona Pitej, 2.5
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| | Mike Doman, 4 | Michelle Harris, 6 | Dick Rubin, 3
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| Joan Fiscella, 3.5
| China Hill, 4.5
| Susan Sitter, 6
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Our timely tutor log submission rate for July was 75%, which includes active personal tutors and those who reported to us that they were on break.
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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| September is National Library Card Sign-up Month |
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The Value of a Library Card
How much does a person save or benefit from using public library resources?
According to the Library Value Calculator at iLoveLibraries.org, here's a list of resources tutors and learners might use with estimated values:
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Books borrowed:
| $10 each | | Interlibrary loans: | $30 each | | Meeting room use: | $50 per hour | | Small group programs: | $10 per session | | Computer use: | $12 per hour | |
Computer instruction:
| $75 per session |
Amnesty for Library Overdue Fines
Do you owe library fines that might prevent you from using literacy materials? Some local libraries offer amnesty at a special time of the year when you can get your library fines waived. The most popular is Food for Fines; for each canned good you bring in, the library will waive $1 in fines. Call your library for more information.
The following libraries in our service area offer some type of amnesty:
| Berkeley | November, Food for Fines | | Berwyn | September 2-8, Waive Fines | | Broadview | August, Food for Fines | | Brookfield | Sept. Sundays, $1 Waives Fines | | Cicero | Varies, 50% off or All | | Elmwood Park | 1 time, 50% Waive | | Forest Park | Sept. 21-27, Food for Fines | | Stickney Forest-View | All year, Food for Fines | | Lyons | August, Back to School | | Northlake | November, Food for Fines | | River Grove | April, Food for Fines | | Riverside | Summer, Fridays |
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September's Learner of the Month is Gosia Mordel, from Poland.
She has been in the U.S since 2007. She started her studies with LVWCC in September of 2012. We spoke with Gosia and her tutor Jolinda Capello to hear more about her taking the important life step to improve her English language skills.
What challenges have you faced in the U.S.?
I have trouble understanding what I read.
I have trouble writing.
I have trouble talking to people I do not know.
I have trouble with understanding when I talk on the phone.
What would you tell people who are also having trouble with English?
Watch TV (the best is movies for kids), listen to the radio, and most importantly, call Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County so they can help you.
We found out Gosia is a pretty good scrabble player. During a monthly "Scrabble Night" she and her tutor have started using the game without keeping score to improve spelling and vocabulary.
Congratulations to Gosia, we wish you much success, and we are positive that, with your continued efforts, you're well on the way to meeting your goals!
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New Partners: BEDS Plus Care, Triton College Citizenship
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One of LVWCC's newest partners is a non-profit agency called BEDS Plus Care. They are located in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 203 Kensington, in La Grange.
We will be helping each other through referrals of their clients to LVWCC as new ABE and ESL learners.
BEDS Plus Care helps individuals who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, to obtain stable, affordable housing. They also provide a great deal of additional support services.
Much like LVWCC, the BEDS Plus Care family is supported by a large group of volunteers, dedicated staff, and the community.
BEDS Plus Care services include:
- Emergency overnight shelter
- Listings for physical health, behavioral health, and veteran services
- Employment and housing assistance
- Basic needs
- Spiritual support
BEDS Plus Care serves Lyons, Stickney, Riverside, and portions of Proviso. Want more information? Contact JoAnn Boblick at (708) 354-0858, ext. 6. A listing of services available each day may be found on the BEDS Plus Care website.
For sister agencies in surrounding areas, please call (877) 426-6515.
Triton College's Citizenship Program
From the very beginning of ESL and ABE studies, learners of the LVWCC family are encouraged to set goals in the areas of family, workplace, and community. A common milestone that learners seek to reach is that of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Learners who live in the communities north of Brookfield and west of Oak Park can find assistance at Triton Community College. Two levels of citizenship classes are offered three times a year through the Adult Basic Education department. Classes meet eight consecutive weeks on Saturday mornings. Trition also offers an independent study program.
Previously located at Nuevos Horizontes in Melrose Park, future sessions of the citizenship classes will be held at Trion College's main campus located at 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, IL 60171. For questions regarding dates, times and registration requirements, please contact the Adult Basic Education department at (708) 456-0300, ext. 3259 or 3513.
Read more about the closing of Nuevos Horizontes on June 30, 2014.
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Radeshia Brown 
1. How long have you been tutoring with LVWCC?
I have been tutoring with LVWCC since May 2007. I attended tutor training in April 2007 and was paired with my first learner a few weeks after training.
2. What brought you to the organization?
For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to work in adult literacy. I can't explain exactly why--maybe being a bookworm or knowing what it's like to learn a foreign language has something to do with it. Literacy is such a vital skill and once you have it, it can never be taken from you. LVWCC is a great organization that allows me to help others increase their literacy or English skills and work with people from diverse backgrounds. They learn from me, but I also learn from them.
3. What's your favorite part of tutoring?
One of my favorite parts of tutoring is having general conversations with my learners about a wide range of topics, from sports to current events, to politics and home life. It's great to hear a person's English fluency improve and to learn about native countries, customs, and perspectives on the United States.
4. What do you find challenging about tutoring?
Teaching spelling is a challenge because how English is spelled is different from how it's pronounced. Explaining prepositions is also a challenge. A lot of times I can't explain why words are spelled a certain way or why a particular preposition is used except to say "that's just the way it is."
5. What advice do you have for people just starting to tutor?
I would advise new tutors to be very patient. Learning to communicate in another language, especially one like English with its silent letters, homophones, idioms, etc., is a marathon not a sprint. No one learns to communicate in their native language overnight, much less a foreign language, so be there for the long haul.
Congratulations, Radeshia. You are very deserving of the honor of being September's Tutor of the Month.
Lenetta Croom-Bright 
Lenetta has been tutoring with LVWCC since 2011. She has always enjoyed the aspects of her job that involve teaching others, such as orientation and trainings. When looking for a volunteer opportunity, she noticed that there were a lot of programs to help children with literacy, but not many for adults. Tutoring with LVWCC has given her what she was looking for.
Lenetta finds it especially satisfying when a learner finally grasps a concept after struggling for a while. She also mentioned how much she enjoys working with learners who are motivated and hard-working.
She finds it difficult when she is working harder than her adult learner. She spends time preparing lessons and short homework assignments, and it can be frustrating for her when learners don't put in the effort to do the homework or attend tutoring sessions on a regular basis.
Lenetta believes that it is important to teach the basics of the English language, but it's also helpful to start with a learner's interests. She asks them what they like to learn and she tries to plan each lesson to include those interests. She says that it's important to let the learner take the lead.
Congratulations, Lenetta. You are very deserving of the honor of being September's Tutor of the Month.
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Thank you for your financial support this fiscal year:
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Individual Donations
Mario K. Medina $250
Business Donations
Sara Connelly, Arden Realty $72
In-kind Labor Donations
Esther Chase $20,800
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In memory of tutor Edna McQuillan $75
Grants
IL State Library Literacy Office $34,503
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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 adult learner 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, September 22, 2014 at 7:30 pm. We invite you to share your concerns about the organization and ask questions during our open session. I f 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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