Events Update
May 28 First Class, Summer TAFF Program
June 15
Tutor Training Workshop
July 25 Last day, Summer TAFF Program Sep 26
5th Annual Shine a Light on Literacy
|
|
Tutors Needed for Fall TAFF Program!!
We are currently looking for dependable tutors for the fall TAFF program that is hosted at Pulaski Technical college. A dedicated tutor is needed twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) for the fall semester in the evening. Please contact Faye Graham, or Neil Jones for more information.
Faye Graham
Neil Jones
|
|
Did You Know?
Of adults in the lowest literacy levels, fifty percent live in poverty.
A majority of those in the lowest literacy levels "described themselves as being able to read or write English well or very well."
This means that the ones who need our help most may not even realize it. By being involved with Literacy Action of Central Arkansas, you are taking important steps towards increasing adult literacy levels across the entire community.
|
|
Literacy Action Newsletter June 2013 |
|
Literacy Action Skips the Lazy Days of Summer
 | | Neil Jones |
by: Neil Jones
The traditional " Lazy days of summer" newsletter will just have to wait a few more months. Things are still in high gear at Literacy Action. We are entering the third week of the Taking Action For the Future (TAFF) program. There are two tutor training workshops scheduled this summer, and we are interviewing for three new AmeriCorps positions for this fall. I will also add, tutors are continuing to work with students through the summer on basic literacy skills. Many tutors who are out of town this summer have arranged for substitute tutors to make sure their student can continue their studies. It is great to see this level of engagement with adult literacy in our community!
Even with this level of commitment, the demand for literacy instruction continues to be high. We currently have 30 adult students waiting for tutors and we will need 10 additional tutors to help with the TAFF program this fall. When you look beyond the names on the list, you will see that these students are asking for help with the basic literacy skills most of us take for granted: TAFF students are seeking admission into community college in order to access critical post secondary training opportunities; immigrants need English speaking skills to get better jobs; and adults are seeking to use new literacy skills to participate in community life. Consider Meyshana Lunon's story in this newsletter about her student, Arthur, who is using his new reading skills for the first time to read in church. What joy and courage he must feel to be able to read Sunday school material aloud to the group. Literacy changes lives on so many levels.
This issue also contains...
- Training workshops scheduled this summer. Tell a friend... It is not too late to sign up.
- Save the date for Shine a Light on Literacy for September 26. Contact Melody Sugg if you would like to help with the event.
- AmeriCorps positions are open starting in September 2013. Refer candidates to Kathy Griffin.
- Faye Graham's report on the first weeks of the TAFF program.
Are you ready to wake up the Lazy Days of Summer? Give us a call at Literacy Action and we will be happy to explore ways you can get engaged to improve adult literacy in our community.
Best regards,
Neil
|
|
New Tutor Training Workshops
The training workshop for new ABL and ESL tutors is this Saturday, June 15, 9:00am-1:00pm in the conference room on the 5th floor of the main library. Lunch will be provided.
|
|
Shine a Light on Literacy
By: Melody Sugg
 You're invited to the fifth Annual Shine a Light on Literacy on Thursday, September 26 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion! Shine a Light on Literacy is a brilliant evening featuring great guests, hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer donated by Glazers, live music, and a silent auction featuring works from local artists. Tickets are $50.
All proceeds from the event benefit Literacy Action's adult literacy and English as a Second Language tutoring programs.
We appreciate our Shine a Light Committee volunteers: Allison Stephens, Chair, Melissa Kordmeier, Katie McManners, Maegan Clark, Renee Trammel, Nola Ballinger, Bridget Farris, Pam Jones, Melissa Hendricks, Katie Keen, and Warigia Bowman.
You can help us reach our goal of raising $25,000 for Literacy! We are still recruiting Shine a Light Committee members and Host Committee members. We are looking for silent and live auction items, including art work from local artists. And, we are selling tickets! You can contact the Literacy Action office at 372-7323 to buy your tickets, sign up for the committee, or offer a silent auction item (or all three!).
|
|
A Conway Success Story
By: Meyshana Lunon, Americorps volunteer
 A few months ago, I began meeting witha student, Arthur. When I first met Arthur, he was very quiet and reserved. It was almost like pulling teeth to get him to talk, better yet read out loud. So we approached his tutoring a bit differently than I normally do with my other students. Instead of going right into testing and reading, I decided it would be beneficial to begin to build a working relationship with Arthur. We began to talk and his layers began to peel back one by one. Finally, he was comfortable enough to complete testing. Once we completed his testing, we started to read. When he read it was almost in a whisper, so our main goal was confidence in his reading. We had been working on that for about two or three weeks, when I was told exciting news.
Arthur attends the same church as my husband and I, but he has always been a wall flower. My husband knew him and told me he was in his Sunday school class. For a few weeks I had been encouraging Arthur to read during Sunday school class. One of the things that we did in tutoring sessions was read over his Sunday school lesson so I knew he was prepared. Arthur would always shrug his shoulders and say no, I don't think so. Well to my surprise and sheer delight, I was sitting down eating lunch with my husband and he said Arthur volunteered and read a scripture during Sunday school. I could barely contain myself! I was so proud of Arthur I could not wait until Tuesday to talk to him about his accomplishment.
These are the moments that remind me why I am here and why I love to do what I do. I was reminded of how important it is for me to remember not to take one moment with my students for granted, because I never know at what point they will be encouraged or discouraged.
|
Taking Action for the Future
By: Faye Graham
 The eight students in our TAFF summer program at Pulaski Tech fill my heart with joy. These adult learners come to class prepared, motivated, focused, and eager to learn. I feel blessed and privileged to be a part of this exciting and innovative new venture for Literacy Action. Four mornings a week, for an hour and a half--and an extra hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays with their tutors--I watch adults of all ages begin to fulfill their dream of a college education. I see them develop relationships with their tutors, learn new skills, and gain confidence in their own abilities.
 We began with some basics--dictionary skills, organizational skills, study skills, and vocabulary development. In just a short time we've moved on to outlining and writing paragraphs, reading the newspaper, and writing daily in a Writer's Notebook. This week we added the newspaper and books for pleasure. And each and every day, when the students arrive, they go straight to their computers, log in to Freerice.com, and begin building their vocabularies and feeding the hungry around the world. I can't think of a better way to spend a part of my day for eight weeks.
|
LACA AmeriCorps Opportunities!
Literacy Action is now taking applications for Fall 2013.
Make a difference AND receive money for you or your family's college tuition or loans by helping fight illiteracy. Three service positions are available with Literacy Action of Central Arkansas through the AmeriCorps program. All ages and backgrounds welcome. A living allowance of $6254 per year paid bi-monthly, and a $2775 educational award upon successful completion of 900 hours of service are offered through the program. Up to four AmeriCorps years/terms, and monetary awards are available. Contact laca@literacylittlerock.org or call Kathy Griffin (501)372-7323 for more information. Deadline is August 31, 2013.
|
|
|
|
|
