Ann Arbor, MI. Washtenaw Literacy, a non-profit organization founded in 1971 with a goal to end adult illiteracy, is expanding its community outreach efforts with its first annual Call to Action breakfast. Leaders of faith-based organizations in Washtenaw County are invited to attend this complimentary breakfast to learn more about the Washtenaw Literacy and its role in serving low-literate adults.
The breakfast will be held in the Morris Lawrence Building (4800 E Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor) at Washtenaw Community College at 9:00 am on Wednesday, February 22. Space is limited so please RSVP to Development Director Ebani Lowery at lowery(at)washtenawliteracy(dot)org or (734) 879-1320 by February 10.
“Our faith-based community has so much to offer low-literate adults. Whether providing space to meet with tutors or creating awareness among their congregation about our services, religious leaders are uniquely positioned in the community. We welcome the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with these important leaders to promote literacy,” Executive Director Amy Goodman explained. “The agency has served over 15,000 learners and trained and fully supported over 6,500 volunteer tutors over the last 40 years, yet the need continues to grow.”
During the coming year there will be many opportunities to get involved in this goal to end illiteracy. These events include a variety of training events, Support Literacy Now in May, World in a Basket 2012 in October, and much more. There are many ways to help…tutoring, financial contributions, committee work, corporate sponsorships, and in-kind support. It will take all of this and more to help end adult illiteracy in Washtenaw County.
To explore how you can join the fight against illiteracy, please go to http://www.washtenawliteracy.org.
About Washtenaw Literacy
Washtenaw Literacy’s purpose is straightforward: we help adults change their lives through literacy. Since 1971 our organization has been devoted to helping men and women improve their reading, writing and English- as- a- Second- Language skills.
Our core program is one-on-one tutoring. This is the approach our first volunteer tutors used in 1971. The reason we still use it today is because it works. Over 90% of adults in our one-on-one tutoring program reach one or more of their goals. Part of this success stems from our “designer tutor” approach. We train each of our volunteer tutors to plan lessons according to the learner’s strengths, needs and goals. Adult learners in our program are motivated because they are setting, and meeting, their own standards for success
This focus on individual goals makes our program unique in the county. Washtenaw Literacy is a critical part of our community’s educational continuum. Someday we hope to have no need for our services. Until then, we’ll support our volunteer tutors as they help low-literate men and women improve their skills and their lives.
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Beth Dempsey
Washtenaw Literacy
