January 2019 Newsletter

Student Spotlight: Robert Hanson's Poetry

One of our Detention Center students, Robert Hanson, has been a very dedicated student who is determined to improve his literacy skills so he can better support his family. He has also shown quite a talent for writing poetry. While enrolled in our classes, Hanson learned about the stock market, studied grammar concepts such as subject/verb agreement and paragraph development, and improved his basic reading comprehension. When he post-tested in December, he made two level gains in reading, one level gain in math and demonstrated significant improvement in language. We attribute his progress to his hard work in class as well as his independent studies. Each week he would come to class with new poems to share with his tutors. We hope you enjoy reading some of his work. Click here to read his poems.

Invite Your Friends to Learn About Us

Our Literacy Leadership Breakfasts are coming soon and we need table captains to help us fill the seats. All you have to do is invite 9 friends to join you for a delicious breakfast and informative program. It is a fun way to share your enthusiasm about Reading Connections with your friends, co-workers and neighbors. If you are interested in serving as a table captain at our High Point or Greensboro Breakfast, please email us or call (336) 230-2223.

Lots of Smiles At Our Winter Potluck

We had a wonderful time at the Winter Potluck. It's one of our favorite events because we get to share delicious food and learn more about each other's cultures. A special thank you to the incredibly generous West Market Church for providing a beautiful space for us to gather and celebrate the new year.

Thank You For Your Continued Support

As we wrap up our annual appeal, we want to thank everyone who has supported Reading Connections this past year. Because of your generosity, Emily was able to earn her GED, our Family Literacy parents were able to read more with their children, and Kelly and Robert were able to secure jobs that help them support their families. We hope you will continue to support us this year as we strive to improve adult and family literacy in our community. How can you help? Volunteer to become an adult literacy tutor or career coach Make a monthly donation Follow us on social media Donate online Attend one of our Literacy Leadership Breakfasts Encourage your friends, neighbors and coworkers to get involved We look forward to working with you to build a stronger, more literate community. Thank you!

Saturday Tutor Training

We are excited to announce our first Saturday tutor training. Participants can complete our three-part training in one day!

Welcome New Staff

Mary Lin Brewer is stepping into the role of High Point Coordinator. She is a native of High Point who worked as a speech pathologist for 23 years and served as the executive director of the Piedmont School. She retired in 2005 but remained busy working with nonprofits and authoring Legends of Graham Mansion , a historical fiction series. Mary Lin is happy to be working with students again at an organization that has a mission and vision that she is excited about. "There is nothing like being a part of an amazing team that changes lives, one student at a time." Debra Carabantes will be serving as Program Assistant. She will be working in the High Point office as well as working with Islamic Relief students. She comes to us with eight years of experience in the field of education. She has worked as an elementary school teacher and parent educator, as well as a tutoring director in the Latino community in Winston-Salem. In her new position, Debra will be working with English language learners. "I am excited to have the opportunity to continue working alongside families that are learning English as a second language."

Part-Time Bookkeeper Wanted

We are looking for a part-time bookkeeper to support our accountant with recording income and expenses using Quickbooks. Responsibilities include writing checks, recording deposits, processing time sheets, and assisting with grant reporting. A flexible schedule is available. We are looking for someone 10-15 hours per week. Proficiency in Excel required. Please send your resume and cover letter to Jenny Gore at jgore@readingconnections.org.

Book Recommendations Needed

If you would like to share a book recommendation with us, please send a brief write-up to info@readingconnections.org. We would love to hear what books you are enjoying and why you think others will enjoy reading them too. We will share your review in our newsletter and on social media.

February Tutor Training

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to work with adult learners in Greensboro and High Point. If you are available two to four hours a week and have a passion for supporting adults in improving their literacy, please join us for our next free, three-part tutor training. Where:  High Point Public Library located at 901 N. Main Street in High Point When:  Orientation:  Monday, February 11 at 5:00-7:00pm Session 1:  Wednesday, February 13 at 5:00-8:00pm Session 2:  Wednesday, February 20 at 5:00-8:00pm If you're interested in volunteering, please call (336) 230-2223 or  email us  for more information. Please  visit our website  to read our tutor job description and find out more about tutor requirements.

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