March 2022
Literacy Delaware Newsletter
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From the Desk of the Executive Director |
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It seems winter has finally come to a close and spring is in the air! Though these next few months will be hectic as we close out our program year on June 30th, they are also some of the most rewarding. Now is the time we assess and check in with learners to measure educational progress and goal completion. It is exciting to see your dollars at work along with the "fruits of our labor". I love hearing the stories that show how your generosity has helped learner’s lives change because of their improved literacy skills such as the story of Beto and some of the other learner accomplishments highlighted in this newsletter.
This is also the time when we reflect on our accomplishments, challenges, and look towards July 1st, our new fiscal and program year. This is going to be a big year as we continue our work with Delaware Libraries on our digital literacy initiative as well as helping to address the goal of a more literate Delaware through our work with the multiple stakeholders that comprise the Delaware Communities of Excellence Collaborative. Keep your fingers crossed that our AmeriCorps Adult Literacy program gets approved. In 2023, we will be celebrating our 40th year of empowering adults with low literacy and English language skills speak, read and succeed! Your support has allowed us to continue our services despite COVID-19.
Thank You and Happy Spring!
Cindy
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Welcoming New Board Member - James Spadola |
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Literacy Delaware is delighted to welcome James Spadola to its Board of Directors. Executive Director of Read Aloud Delaware, a statewide nonprofit fighting childhood illiteracy, Mr. Spadola brings more than 14 years of experience in relationship cultivation, public relations, marketing, and community outreach across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in Delaware. Elected to the Wilmington City Council to the At-Large seat in 2020, Mr. Spadola is a member of the advisory committee of the Delaware Communities of Excellence Collaborative which focuses on developing a comprehensive literacy ecosystem that promotes equity and impacts Delawareans for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in Delaware. An Iraq war combat veteran and former police officer, Mr. Spadola has also served as board chair of the Wilmington Housing Authority and was a former board member of REACH Riverside.
The addition of Mr. Spadola to the Board of Directors brings Literacy Delaware a connection to another statewide literacy organization which will help break down silos and build collaborations across the literacy landscape with the goal of empowering all Delawareans through literacy.
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YOU can help us help our learners reach their goals and better their lives through your kind support. |
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Ready for Spring! Literacy Delaware Learner Beto |
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Born in Peru, Beto works at a wholesale garden warehouse that supplies plants to a major home improvement chain. He has enjoyed this type of work for many years, moving from Pennsylvania to Delaware a few years back when his employer moved. He is a “picker” which means he unloads trucks, separates plants by type, and fills orders.
Beto has been working with his Literacy Delaware tutor Terri to come up with a plan for handling the training. Beto chooses an aspect of the job, e.g., names of the plants, loading the carts, safety on the job, etc. and writes down the training points he wants to cover. “I write sentences about the things I need for my job and she helps me with it” describes Beto. Terri and Beto then go over the sentences in class, making sure the instructions are easy to understand and working on the grammar and vocabulary, as needed. Beto’s instructions can be quite creative, describes Terri. For
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example, plants can easily get damaged when employees try to load too many on a cart. "Let the plants breathe!" he instructs.
Terri notes that Beto diligently completes his written homework assignments and writes in English well. “He had taken English classes when he lived in New York” explains Terri. “We have very interesting discussions (about English), some of which end with me shrugging and saying, “it’s just English!”. Beto continues to work to improve his English speaking, recording many of his classes with Terri so he can go back to work on pronunciation and grammar in addition to watching videos online. Beto also gets help from his friends at work whom he calls his “other teachers”. “I can write English but my speaking is not as good. I need more practice. I want to speak English perfectly” states Beto. Outside of work Beto enjoys talking on the phone with his wife, parents and family who live in Peru. He is very proud of his car which he likes to wash and keep clean. Beto enjoys the beach, goes to the gym frequently, and especially likes to swim. While he loves to cook, he tries to eat healthy “not too much rice" laments Beto.
Keep up the hard work, Beto and good luck in your new position!
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Congratulations to learner Rama who is building on her continued successes by securing a job at a local supermarket!
Rama credits her tutor Veena for encouraging her to apply for the job, helping her through the process, and ensuring she had the confidence to pursue and achieve this goal. Rama says she is very happy to have connected with good people at this job and to have another way to continue to improve her English. Way to go, Rama and Veena!
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Kudos to learner Nelsy who was recently named Employee of the Month at her job!
Her recognition stated that Nelsy is a very dedicated employee, helping co-workers when needed, having a positive attitude, and being willing to go the extra mile and work weekends. Congratulations Nelsy and thank you to tutor Susan for her work with Nelsy and for sharing Nelsy's wonderful accomplishment!
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Literacy Delaware Executive Director Featured on Panel at Delaware Reading Summit |
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Literacy Delaware Executive Director Cynthia Shermeyer was pleased to "have a seat at the table" at a recent Delaware Reading Summit held March 17th at the Wilmington Library. The panelists, representing key stakeholders including representatives from education nonprofits, legislators and state educators, were focused on solutions for improving the state's literacy rates. Legislators want to change that by integrating the science of reading into public schools, agreeing that a 95% literacy rate for Delaware’s students is possible which has been accomplished elsewhere using the science of reading and legislation to prioritize literacy.
Senate Bill 133, signed into law in June 2021, was the first of several pieces of planned legislation focused on the science
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of reading. Sponsored by Sen. Laura V. Sturgeon., D-Hockessin, SB 133 created a literacy plan to train teachers to be able to engage students in the essential components of evidenced-based reading instruction.
Cynthia Shermeyer, Executive Director of Literacy Delaware cited a number of statistics about adult literacy in Delaware. "If parents struggle with literacy, their child has a 72% chance of struggling as well," Shermeyer said.
“A struggling child results in a struggling adult,” she said, “but a struggling adult also leads to a struggling child.”
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KUDOS to the Georgetown Library! |
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We are excited to report that the Georgetown Library has recently committed to increasing their Spanish language book holdings to better meet the needs of their patrons. Part of the impetus for this initiative came after one of our Sussex County tutors took her learner to the Georgetown Library to obtain a library card. The tutor and learner then looked for books for the learner to read but found nothing appropriate. After enquiring about options to the library staff, the
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Georgetown Library Director Rachel Culver found some money for new acquisitions and immediately ordered some beginning level Spanish to English materials to better serve the needs of the community. As a follow up, our Sussex County coordinator Dale Ashera-Davis and the Georgetown Library Director are applying for some grants to increase the library’s intermediate level and fiction/non-fiction Spanish holdings. Thank you for your responsiveness to the needs of the community, Georgetown Library!
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On May 3rd, Literacy Delaware will virtually host Delaware’s first Adult Literacy Action Forum .
Inspired by the National Adult Literacy Action Plan 2021, it's time to elevate, educate, define adult literacy and create pathways for support!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Rebecca Dyer
Senior Advisor to the President and CEO
Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
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Did you know Literacy Delaware has a Facebook page?
Please "like” us on Facebook and share our posts to help us spread the news!
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Please donate to help us reach more
adults in need in Delaware.
Thank You!
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Literacy Delaware, Inc.
P.O. Box 2083
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