Please read the moving words of our student Loamir Roberio in this post. Rob is an enthusiastic English language learner, and working with his tutor, JoAnne Dement (also an AACLC trainer), has given him much more than language skills.
For years, the Rotary Club of Annapolis has funded the Literacy Council’s curriculum materials purchases through its Crab Feast Grant program. This year, we are proud to have received significant additional support from the Annapolis Rotaract Club, a Rotary-sponsored service club for young professionals. See this post for more information.
Our fifth annual BOOK FAIR will happen at Annapolis Mall on Saturday, September 27. We’re collecting books now! See this post for details. The book fair supports our free adult education programs.
Many thanks,
Jane
We Rocked the Dock with Annapolis Rotaract!
On June 5, AACLC volunteers, friends, and Board members enjoyed a celebratory evening hosted by the Annapolis Rotaract. The club chose the Literacy Council as the beneficiary of this year’s Rock the Dock fundraiser.
The event featured barbecue, an oyster bar, live music, raffles, a silent auction, and more. It was a festive and fun way to receive such generous community support. Rock the Dock raised $18,610 in support of our programs!
Thanks to the Rotaract team, AACLC supporters and donors, Rock the Dock guests, and all of the sponsors who made the event a success!
My name is Loamir Roberio. I’m 28 years old, from Brazil, and it’s been almost two years since I moved to the United States. When I first arrived, I was scared and felt very alone. I could speak a little English, but I was always afraid of making mistakes or not being understood.
During one of the free online classes at my community college, a teacher told me about a program called “I Can Read.” It offered free, one-on-one English tutoring for two hours each week. It was so good to be true and I was excited to finally have the chance to study with a particular tutor, but I was also nervous. I didn’t know who I would meet, or if I would feel comfortable being myself and having connection with someone from a different culture and language.
But I have to say: This program changed my life in more ways than I ever expected. Everything began to change when I started weekly meetings with JoAnne Dement, my tutor.
After 1 year and 8 months, I haven’t just improved my English, I’ve become a better person. Now, our meetings are one of the best parts of my week and she became one of my favorite people in the world. We talk about our lives, share our dreams, read at least two books in English each month, and have deep book club discussions I never imagined I’d be able to have. We also have presentations on different topics and learn from each other every time, always with respect and dedication.
“I Can Read” gave me more than just language, it gave me a voice. Every word I learn is power. And I’ve learned that it’s never too late to grow, especially when someone believes in you and encourages you along the way.
I’ll always be grateful for this program and everyone who makes it possible. It inspires me every day, and I hope I can support someone on their journey, just like JoAnne Dement helped me on mine.
June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and we are taking this opportunity to celebrate the many immigrant students and volunteers in our Literacy Council and local communities.
Our students come from countries all over the world, including Afghanistan, El Salvador, Jamaica, Rwanda, and Ukraine.
Many of our volunteers hail from other places too: Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, and Ireland, to name a handful of our countries of origin.
Thank you all for joining us here and enriching life in Anne Arundel County!
AACLC Selected as a Courage Project Grant Recipient
In May, the Literacy Council was awarded a “pay-it-forward” grant through The Courage Project — a recently launched initiative that celebrates everyday acts of civic bravery.
Jinny Amundson and Janice Holmes of Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse are among the first recipients of a Courage Project award for their Operation Caged Bird project that provides free banned books to Naval Academy midshipmen. They chose the Literacy Council to receive a $25,000 grant to support our work.
From The Courage Project’s website: “The initiative shines a spotlight on individuals and organizations who take principled stands in the face of adversity. It is supported by a national coalition including: United Way Worldwide, the Freedom Together Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, and CFLeads.”
We are grateful to Jinny, Janice, Old Fox, and The Courage Project for this generous support of adult education in Anne Arundel County.
Eleven new tutors became part of the AACLC volunteer team on June 14. Many of them are already matched 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 October, and it will cover tutoring in each of our programs: basic literacy, math, high school diploma preparation, and ESL. Stay tuned for a date and details.
Please continue referring neighbors or friends you think could be committed AACLC tutors to us.
Interested trainees should contact Jane at director@aaclc.org.
AACPL branches are closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
All libraries will be closed on Sundays through August 31.
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.
