AACPL branches are closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
We’re excited to announce that our fifth annual BOOK FAIR will happen at Annapolis Mall on Saturday, September 27. See below for more information.
The book fair supports our free adult education programs. The need for Literacy Council services continues…
Fifty-nine million adults in the United States read at the lowest level. Anne Arundel County’s low-literacy rate among adults 16 and older is 15%.
Why do so many of us, about one in three nationwide, struggle with this challenge? Among the causes are poverty and learning differences, even a lack of diagnoses. Read findings and insights on the causes of low literacy on ProLiteracy’s website.
A 15% low-literacy rate in a county where schools are known for excellence is not something we have to accept. This is why we assess and welcome new students to our programs week after week.
Thank you for helping us reach and tutor more students every year.
Best summer wishes,
Jane
Our next tutor training session has been scheduled for June 14 at Woods Church in Severna Park!
We’re always looking for new, dedicated tutors. We have a waiting list of eager adult learners hoping for a tutor. Please consider referring neighbors or friends you think could be committed AACLC tutors.
Email Jane at director@aaclc.org to sign up. Space is limited.
Above is a snapshot of our student demographics for FY25
As of April 30, we know that AACLC tutors have worked with 178 students so far this fiscal year, which closes on May 31. We assessed 71+ new or returning students throughout the year.
In addition to these students, we evaluated and tutored 83 students at county correctional/detention centers.
In a few weeks, when we add up all the Literacy Council volunteer hours donated in 2025, we’ll likely surpass 16,000. Translated to a simple monetary value, these hours contributed more than $540,000 to Anne Arundel County communities where assistance is needed most.
Student Achievements Through April
Five AACLC students earned high school diplomas this fiscal year!
Seventeen students got a job or promotion, three entered other educational or training programs, 24 improved an employability skill, ten increased their involvement in a child’s education, two obtained citizenship, one passed the ASVAB exam, and 41 improved their ability to communicate in English!
The impact of our work reaches beyond our students and extends to their children, families, workplaces, and communities.
Tutors, assessors, and volunteers — thank you for all you are doing to help improve lives in Anne Arundel County!
After a six-year hiatus, we held our annual Appreciation Dinner at Woods Church on May 1. The evening was a success. About 150 people attended the buffet dinner and celebration.
Maryland Delegate Dana Jones (District 30A) gave the keynote address. She was joined at the event by our students, volunteers, and special guests, including Councilwoman Lisa Rodvien (District 6), representatives from the Annapolis Family Support Center, Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, the County Executive’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, Seeds 4 Success, and the Maryland Department of Human Services, Anne Arundel County.
Several students movingly shared about their experience with tutoring.
Thank you to all who attended and the volunteers who helped plan, put on, and provide desserts for the event.
Huge thanks to Woods Church for the generous donation of space and staff time to host the dinner.
Rock the Dock
Thursday, June 5, 6 – 10 pm
Hosted by the Annapolis Rotaract Club
at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.
A fundraiser benefiting Literacy Council programs.
Tickets are just under $82 each, plus fees.
Purchase here.
Please consider donating an item to the silent auction for the event — anything fun imaginable. Please email me if you have something to donate or want more information.
Adult Literacy Resources and Activities May 2025
Starting May 25, all libraries will be closed on Sundays through August 31.
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, completing coursework at AACC, becoming a U.S. citizen, and much more.
AACLC volunteers have donated their time, talents, and care in working with our wonderful students.
Please check out some other posts on our website on to learn more about our activities and impact.
Many thanks for all you do,
Jane
Annapolis, Maryland – May 20, 2025 – The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) recently awarded the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council a $6,500 grant to support adult literacy. The funds are part of a record-setting, one-day donation in the Foundation’s history of more than $13.2 million to support adult, family, and summer literacy programs in the 48 states in which Dollar General operates.
“For over 30 years, the Foundation has been investing in literacy and basic education programs in our hometown communities,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “Today’s grant announcement is a celebration of our unwavering commitment to student and teacher success. We are grateful to all the grant recipients for their commitment to advancing education and helping students thrive.”
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction, and inspire a love of reading. Each year, DGLF awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs. The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam. Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.
The Foundation also plans to launch its sixth annual The Yellow Glasses Project campaign on July 21, 2025, in which customers can purchase yellow sunglasses at Dollar General stores for $2 each to benefit the DGLF.
About the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council
The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council (AACLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free one-on-one tutoring to low-income adults and out-of-school youth (18+) who seek to improve their lives by learning to read, earning a diploma, or learning to speak English. We provide free books and materials to our students, and all our tutors are volunteers. Students and tutors meet for lessons at local libraries — our volunteers also tutor at Jennifer Road Detention Center and Ordnance Road Correctional Center. We have been helping adults with literacy in Anne Arundel County since 1977. There are more than 200 active volunteers in our membership, and they collectively donated 16,000+ hours of their time in our communities last year.
About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $271 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 23 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma, or English proficiency. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides financial support to schools, nonprofit organizations, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores and distribution centers. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or apply for a literacy grant, visit www.dgliteracy.org.
Matthew Gallagher Joins Our Staff
In March, Matthew Gallagher, Literacy Council tutor and trainer, joined our staff as an ESL Student Coordinator.
Matt grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, where he lives today. He graduated from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York.
Matt taught in schools in New York and Washington, DC, before starting work with the American Red Cross, during which he worked at the national, regional, and local offices. He also did earthquake relief in the former Soviet Republic of Armenia for five months. While at the Red Cross, Matt was an instructor in various health and disaster preparation courses.
In 2001, Matt returned to Maryland. He earned his Master’s Certificate in Government Contracting from George Washington University and has worked as a contracting officer for various government departments, including the Library of Congress.
Matt has been an ESL instructor at St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis since 2018. He started with the AACLC in 2024 as an ESL tutor and is very happy to be a part of such a wonderful organization.
Welcome, Matthew!
