Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas

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1 Summer NEWSLETTER July 2014 Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas Catherine s Bistro Host Annual Board of Director s Meeting Left to right: Kerron Simpson, Chair; Sue Frazier, Treasurer; Rebecca Hiatt; James Utsey, Vice-Chair; Charles Elliott; and Mary Colvin, Secretary Literacy Coalition s annual Board of Directors meeting was generously hosted by board member, Christie Glaze, owner and operator of Catherine s Bistro, on Thursday, June 12. The organization proudly began its 6 th fiscal year on July 1, In addition to closing out previous business year, board and staff members met to discuss its strategic plans for improving continued advocacy and services in adult and family literacy for fiscal year Sha Rhonda Rochell was acknowledged by the board and director for her outstanding AmeriCorps service. LCSCA Summer Activities Literacy Coalition will be closed for summer break August Due to the lack of support and resources, the Summer Youth Reading project in Stephens ended unexpectedly early on July 10. The project was an extension of the Family Together Family Literacy program, and was to encourage youth ages 4-15 to maintain, or boost their reading skills over the summer months. Family Together Family Literacy will resume September 3 in Camden, Stephens, and Fordyce. Adult residents interested in receiving services through LCSCA should call Sha Rhonda Rochell Don t Miss it! Bargain Shopping Begins at 7:00 AM Saturday, July 26 at Literacy Coalition s GARAGE & BAKE SALE Parking lot across from DHS, 222 Van Buren NW Come Early!

2 Summer 2014 Page 2 Congratulations to Ouachita Industries, Inc. Recipient of Arkansas Literacy Council s 2014 Innovative Project Award Exemplary Partners in Adult Literacy Accepting the award at Arkansas Literacy Councils Annual Conference and Meeting on June 5 at the Clinton Conference Center in Little Rock left to right: Larry Chavers, AR Reads AmeriCorps Member, Sha Rhonda Rochell, OI Instructor, Malee Clark, and Rachel Hodges Congratulations Letters to Literacy Contest Winners Literacy Coalition awarded first place winner, Allen Glover of Conway, with a weekend get-a-way and spa treatment in Hot Springs. Second place winner, Jennifer Norton of Russellville, was awarded a $100 Visa Gift Card and a set of stationary. Their submissions to the Letters for Literacy Contest, along with others, revealed some most intimate thoughts of appreciation for adult literacy that will be shared with communities through an upcoming souvenir booklet release. The contest was open to adults across the state and ended on May 31. Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas congratulates Allen Glover and Jennifer Norton on winning letters to Dear Adult Literacy. Allen Glover with Kelly Bullington Jennifer Norton Learning to read gives you a sense of security Allen Glover Reading opens doors to the whole world Jennifer Norton

3 Summer 2014 Page Literacy Volunteers Needed Literacy Coalition is a community-based, volunteer-managed 501(c) 3 organization providing no-cost adult and family literacy services to Calhoun, Dallas, and Ouachita County residents. Literacy Coalition operates in pursuit of its annual goal in assisting adults with becoming economically self-sufficient, employable, and able to move on to higher levels of education. Volunteers make it possible for the organization to provide its services to community residents at no-cost. Literacy Coalition is currently seeking literacy volunteers for the upcoming years. Residents interested in meaningful volunteer hours are invited to register with Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas, and attend a free webinar, Maximizing Volunteerism in Adult Literacy, on August 5 that will allow potential volunteers to have their important questions about both volunteering in adult literacy, and volunteering with Literacy Coalition answered. To register for the webinar, or express an interest in becoming a literacy volunteer, lnelson@sautech.edu or call PLEASE SHARE WITH AMERICORPS MEMBERS & ALUMS The Camden Chapter of AmeriCorps Alums invites all area AmeriCorps Alums and current AmeriCorps members to a Life After AmeriCorps Social on Saturday, July 6:30. To reserve a seat, please camden@americorpsalums.org, or call Linda at Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Gifts Award to LCSCA Project Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas was once again a recipient of an Arkansas Black Hall of Fame grant award for The grant will support Literacy Coalition s VISUAL (Volunteers Intensifying Services Underscoring Adult Literacy) project, which is an outreach for young adults to participate in the raising of basic foundation skills necessary to enter or sustain employment, and/or maintain success in post secondary education. Literacy Coalition was among 19 Arkansas non-profit organizations receiving $45,000 in grant awards from Executive Director, Charles O. Stewart of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame at the reception held at Mosaic Templar on June 3. Arkansas Black Hall of Fame is fully supported by Arkansas Community Foundation.

4 Summer 2014 Page 4 LCSCA Members Attend 2014 Conference on Volunteerism & Service Points of Light 2014 Conference on Volunteerism & Service was held in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia Congress Center June Literacy Partners in Atlanta, left to right: Linda Nelson, LCSCA Executive Director; Nancy Leonhardt, Executive Director Arkansas Literacy Councils; Belinda Sanders, ALC Program Director; Sha Rhonda Rochell, AR Reads/LCSCA AmeriCorps The conference offered an array of professional development sessions such as the above entitled Storytelling in Volunteer Engagement Volunteers from Across the Nation Gather at Opening Plenary to Engage in panels: Chelsea Clinton-Social Change 2.0 with Mayor Dayne Walling, Grandson of Nelson Mandela, Kweku Mandela, Partner/CEO of Out of Africa, and Bethaney Wright of GA Teaching Fellows; Dr. Bernice King-Lessons from History Makers to Change Makers with Ambassador Andrew Young, Congressman John Lewis, and Reverend C.T. Vivian; Hear speeches by Atlanta Governor, Nathan Deal, POL Chair Neil Bush, Mayor Kasim Reed, POL President, Tracy Hoover, UPS CEO/COO David Abney, and Filmmaker/Philanthropist Tyler Perry; and Watch performances by The Delta Sigma Theta Steppers, Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, and Booker T. Washington Marching Band. Opening Plenary was titled Accelerating Social Change.

5 Summer 2014 Page 5 Arkansas Literacy Councils Host English Forward Training Nine new instructors were trained in the English Forward Curriculum through a workshop facilitated by Certified Trainers, Kelly Bullington, Director of Literacy Action of Central Arkansas Conway, and Linda Nelson, Director of Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas June The workshop was hosted by Arkansas Literacy Councils, which is licensed to disseminate the curriculum in Arkansas. English Forward is a communicative language curriculum designed by the Literacy Coalition Central Texas in collaboration with Heide Spruck Wrigley, PhD. Dr Wrigley is a Senior Researcher and President of Literacywork International, a small independent social science research firm focused on education and training for vulnerable youth and adults. The English Forward Curriculum is now in its 3 rd edition, and has been proven to aid English Language Learners learn the language necessary to function in everyday life within the English speaking environment. The English Forward Curriculum training is available to those who offer instruction to non-english speaking residents and immigrants in the workplace, schools, churches, and non-profit organizations. Agencies interested in the English Forward Curriculum may contact Literacy Coalition, or call Arkansas Literacy Councils at Literacy Coalition-South Central Arkansas 237 Jackson Street SW, Camden, AR or