According to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, 130 million adults in the U.S. lack proficiency in literacy. Explore the relationship of literacy to health, income, and education at the Foundation’s updated Gap Map: https://map.barbarabush.org/, where visitors can also see literacy scores in Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas.
What does adult literacy look like in Maryland?
20% of adults have low literacy, and Maryland ranks 28 out of 50 states in adult literacy rates, where 1 is best — with fewer adults dealing with low literacy (New Hampshire) — and the 50th state has the most adults living with low literacy (Texas). Adults in Pennsylvania and Virginia have slightly better adult literacy scores than in Maryland. The ramifications of low literacy flow into all areas of life, including health, household income, and outcomes for children. See Maryland’s “
Adult Literacy Gap Snapshot” for more information.
(source: Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy)
In January, we received a thoughtful and generous gift from the employees of Sandy Spring Bank. Through a special workplace giving program, employees were recently invited to donate to the Literacy Council, and they very kindly did, helping to fund our programs. Thank you, Sandy Spring Bank!
Explore the Civil Rights Era in Anne Arundel County
A new virtual tour of the local Civil Rights era is now available online.
From the county government’s press release: “This online story map features more than 50 oral history interviews collected from residents across the County, and is presented as a tour of local places, people, and everyday experiences during a time of segregation. It documents spaces of leisure and recreation, where people of color could gather and enjoy solidarity and empowerment; places like stores, ballfields, beaches, juke joints, movie theaters, beauty salons, and barber shops.”
We hope tutors and students will check this wonderful learning tool out here.
New Civics Test App
USCIS has created a free app to help students prepare for the citizenship test. The “Civics Test Study Tool” is available on the Apple App Store & on Google Play. More resources, including a Citizenship Resource Center are online at uscis.gov.
Free Tax Preparation Help for Students
The School of Business and Law at AACC is providing a free service to anyone who needs help preparing their tax return. This program is offered through the College’s annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). Appointments will be available beginning in February and ending in April. Visit the VITA webpage for more information: VITA – Anne Arundel Community College (aacc.edu).
COVID Vaccines are Available at Pharmacies and Clinics Throughout Anne Arundel County
Visit
aahealth.org to see vaccine clinic schedules and to sign up for a vaccine or booster. The website also answers COVID FAQs and provides information on testing sites.
Get Free At-Home Rapid Tests
Visit
COVIDtests.gov to order up to four kits per household. Tests and masks are also distributed at local libraries. Visit
aacpl.net for more information.
Our thanks to the Rotary Club of Annapolis for its support of our free tutoring programs for adults. The Rotary Club provided a grant from the proceeds of its 2021 Crab Feast so that we may buy math materials for students living in Annapolis.
On February 23 from 7 pm until about 8:30 pm, the Literacy Council will offer an evening Tutor Roundtable via Zoom to discuss adult learning and working with students during challenging times. We’ll talk about in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats for tutoring. What’s going well, ways we’ve adapted, how to be flexible, and how to address difficulties. Tutors will be encouraged to share their experiences. Please email Wendy to reserve a spot.
On March 26, we will host a day-long Tutor Training Workshop for new tutors interested in working with literacy, ESL, math, and high school equivalency students. The session will happen at Woods Church in Severna Park from 9 am until about 3 pm. Space is limited, please email Jane to inquire about attending.
Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is a member of the international literacy nonprofit, ProLiteracy. Launched in 1961 as Literacy Volunteers of America, by volunteer and advocate, Ruth Colvin, the organization was started to address functional illiteracy in Syracuse, New York. Ruth was moved by the number of people unable to read reported in the 1960 U.S. Census, and she decided to act.
Last year, Ruth turned 105. At the end of 2021, she wrote a blog post about literacy in America, her work on the issue, and her life. It is an inspiring read.
Besides the wonderful student successes of 2021, our team is also celebrating these volunteer milestones:
- Last September, we held our first in-person training since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Through that workshop and virtual sessions, staff trained 37 new tutors in 2021.
- Last year, AACLC volunteers recorded more than 10K hours in service to our students.
- Our volunteer tutors returned to Jennifer Road Detention Center and Ordnance Road Correctional Center.
- In 2021, a USNA Midshipman joined our tutoring team to work with local ASVAB students.
Congratulations, all!
Thank you for joining us in our mission to teach adults and out-of-school youth the reading, math, and English language skills that promote self-esteem and independence and strengthen family literacy.
AACLC Receives Koons Annapolis Toyota Donation
Our thanks to Koons Annapolis Toyota for its continued support of adult literacy in Anne Arundel County. The AACLC received a $5,000 check from the West Street dealership in December. Koons Toyota’s contributions to our work over the years have helped hundreds of low-income men and women pursue their educational goals.
Please spread the word or join us for a Volunteer Tutor Training Session on Saturday, March 26 from 9 am until 3:30 pm at Woods Church in Severna Park.
We will provide training for literacy, ESL, math, and high school diploma prep tutoring.
Anyone interested in becoming a tutor should email Jane at director@aaclc.org to sign up.
Space is limited, so please be sure to RSVP.
