What a year!
In May, we review the Literacy Council’s accomplishments over the previous 12 months. Our fiscal year runs from June 1 through May 31.
Students have achieved many goals this year. These include earning a high school diploma, getting a job or promotion, improving English language skills, reading a book to a child, getting a nursing degree, and much more.
AACLC volunteers have donated their time, talents, and care in working with our wonderful students.
Please read on to learn more about our activities and impact.
Don’t miss Maria and Laura’s account of their tutoring time together, during which they practice English and work toward important goals.
Many thanks for all you do,
Jane
Jane Seiss, Executive Director
Anne Arundel County Literacy Council
Our next ESL Conversation Group is scheduled for May 31 at the Seeds 4 Success office in Eastport from 5 pm until about 7 pm.
The group is most suited to Spanish speakers, and space is limited to 15 people. The evening features a welcoming atmosphere, enjoyable conversation, games, and light refreshments.
AACLC tutor Mary Waters facilitates. Mary has experience as an ESL tutor with the Literacy Council and with Catholic Charities, where she volunteered as an ESL teacher for many years.
Thanks to Seeds 4 Success for hosting the group!
Literacy Council tutors or students should email Wendy if they plan to attend.
Our ESL tutor training session has been scheduled for June 22 at Woods Church in Severna Park!
We’re always looking for new, dedicated tutors. We have a waiting list of eager English language learners hoping for a tutor. Please consider referring neighbors or friends who you think could be committed AACLC tutors. Current tutors are also welcome at this session.
Email Jane at director@aaclc.org to sign up. Space is limited.
Please welcome Caroline Cañas to our Board of Directors. Caroline was elected to the Board on March 20.
With a background of diverse administrative experience, Caroline has developed strong skills in project coordination, task management, and fostering meaningful connections. In her most recent role as an Executive Assistant at The Arc of the Central Chesapeake Region, she became a resource for Spanish-speaking families and has supported her team through project coordination and execution while also supporting day-to-day administrative tasks. In her previous roles in the Fair Practices Department at the Administrative Office of the Courts and as a bilingual paralegal at Jezic & Moyse, LLC she first gained insight into ways she could help the challenges faced by minority communities. As someone who had benefited from ESL programs in her youth, it ignited her interest in providing resources and support to underserved populations.
Fluent in Spanish and motivated by opportunities to create positive change (particularly for those confronting language barriers), Caroline is excited to contribute to the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council with a proactive approach to problem-solving and a dedication to inclusivity. She would like to leverage her skills to promote equitable access to education and hopes to find resources to advance the impact of the ESL program.
To learn more about our Board of Directors, visit our website.
Happy National Volunteer Month!
The posts from our newsletter this month are dedicated to each of our AACLC volunteers.
We couldn’t do this without you!
Thank you for all you do,
Jane
Jane Seiss, Executive Director
Anne Arundel County Literacy Council
CLICK HERE to learn more about our volunteers.
The Literacy Council’s volunteer body includes people living in the county and outside it, married couples, neighbors, former colleagues, retirees, and working men and women.
Our volunteers are:
- tutors who helped students pass the citizenship test, get a driver’s license, register to vote, read to their children, earn a high school diploma, sign up for a library card and use it, get a better job, pass the ASVAB test to enter the U.S. military, and much more.
- a team of people who welcome, assess, and assist students receiving our services.
- people who train and coordinate with our tutors.
- the great folks who manage everything from student progress tracking to reporting, governance, and resources.
- and people who help out at events like our book fair.
Here’s a brief overview:
Volunteers come to Literacy Council work in various ways, but they all have one thing in common: a desire to make a difference in someone’s life in the communities where we live.
Thank you for volunteering!
Save the Date
Our fourth-annual fundraiser BOOK FAIR will be on Saturday, September 28, at Westfield Annapolis Mall. The mall kindly donates its Community Room and Crate & Barrel Court space for this wonderful event.
We’ll share news on book donations, sponsorships, and plans soon.
Join our book fair team
We need even more volunteers as the event grows and grows — please be on the lookout for detailed sign-up opportunities coming via email this spring.
We will form a book fair planning committee in the weeks ahead. Let us know if you’d like to be part of the fun leading up to September 28!
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month at Local Libraries
April is Arab American Heritage Month. AACPL is celebrating all month with events, book lists organized by reader age group, and STEM activities. Visit the library’s website for full details.
Glen Burnie Library to Host Trade School Fair
On Saturday, April 20, the Glen Burnie Library will host a Trade School Fair from 11 am until 2 pm. Several organizations will be represented. Attendees can explore options, including apprenticeships and training certifications. High school juniors, seniors, and adults are welcome. Please visit this webpage for more information.
Fifteen new tutors joined the AACLC team of volunteers on March 2 at our spring tutor training session. Many of them are already working with students. Thank you to our training team, these eager new volunteers, and our hosts, Woods Church in Severna Park.
The next session will be scheduled for June, and it will focus on training new ESL tutors. Stay tuned for details.
Please continue referring neighbors or friends who you think could be committed AACLC tutors to us.
Interested trainees should contact Jane at director@aaclc.org.
We’re Launching an English Conversation Group in Eastport
On Friday, March 29, from 5 until 7 pm, the Literacy Council is hosting a conversation group at the Seeds 4 Success office in the Eastport Shopping Center. Participants will be welcome to meet other adult English language learners, practice English in a friendly environment, and enjoy games and light refreshments.
The group is most suited to Spanish speakers, and space is limited to 15 people.
AACLC tutor Mary Waters will facilitate the evening. Mary has experience as an ESL tutor with the Literacy Council and with Catholic Charities, where she volunteered as an ESL teacher for many years.
Thanks to Seeds 4 Success for hosting this fun event, which we hope to continue offering on the last Friday evening of every month.
Literacy Council tutors or students should email Wendy if they plan to attend.
