Director’s Message January 2024

Welcome, 2024! What will our students and volunteers accomplish this year? We are looking forward to finding out as the months unfold.

In 2023, our volunteers continued their great work, and students achieved a range of impressive goals, big and small — all contributing to a better quality of life.

Some highlights:

• Six students earned high school diplomas.

• Two students obtained U.S. citizenship.

• Two students passed the ASVAB and enlisted in the U.S. military.

• One student graduated from the nursing program at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC). She took the required national licensing exam at the end of the year and passed to become a Licensed Practical Nurse!

• One former student earned her master’s degree.

• Students continued or started their studies at AACC.

• Twenty-six students advanced at least one level in the curriculum.

• Students worked on resumes and interviewing skills, then sought new jobs and were hired. In 2023, 18 students got new or better jobs!

• Students entered other educational or job training programs.

• Several ESL students improved their ability to communicate in English through conversation, email, and texting.

• Thirteen students reported increasing their involvement in a child’s education.

• Twelve students got library cards and began using them to check out books, log into library computers, and use other AACPL resources.

• Many students increased confidence in their abilities, gained a consumer skill, or improved an employability skill.

• Several students made a healthy lifestyle change.

• Students continued registering to vote and voting.

Our team is also celebrating these volunteer milestones:

• 44 new tutors joined us in 2023.

• We are tutoring at the Jennifer Road Detention Center and the Ordnance Road Correctional Center.*

• Collectively, our volunteers donated more than 14,000 hours in our communities last year.

Congratulations, all!

Thank you for making a difference in Anne Arundel County.

Happy New Year,

Jane