Hello All!

I want to take some time to introduce myself. My name is Pushti and I officially began my service at the DLC through AmeriCorps this past week. I recently graduated from University of NC at Charlotte with a BS in Biology and Psychology. I plan on continuing my education with Masters in Psychology; however I wanted to take a year off to serve. The Durham Literacy Center is a perfect match, and I am very delighted to be here. So far the experience has been nothing, but positive. I am very grateful to be working with people that are nice, caring, and passionate. Lastly, I want to thank Lark for all her help. I know that I have big shoes to fill, but I am ready to take on the Challenge. I am very ecstatic about joining the DLC and looking working to a wonderful year head

Pushti

Jermaie Harden – Olympic winner!

Jermaie Harden won four medals in Powerlifting at the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games. He won gold medals in the bench press, deadlift, and triple combination competitions and a silver medal in the squat competition. Congratulations, Jermaie!

Literacy: just words?

Hi friends! This is Yashna, visiting guest blogger, and DLC fan for life. 

I got inspired to blog here today because a a blogger friend of mine told me about this very interesting blog called Capitol Words. 

This is from their About page:

“For every day Congress is in session, Capitol Words visualizes the most frequently used words in the Congressional Record, giving you an at-a-glance view of which issues lawmakers address on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Capitol Words lets you see what are the most popular words spoken by lawmakers on the House and Senate floor.” 

So, I searched for some of the words I care most about. I searched for farmworkers for my new job at the National Farm Worker Ministry (we support farmworkers as they organize for justice).  And of course, I searched for ABE, literacy, GED, ESOL and ESL. You can search for only one word at a time so I couldn’t type in “adult literacy”. 

These movements that I care so much about, just boiled down to a few words in Congress, proves to be not so important to our leaders. Over the last two years these words were mentioned: 

ABE 46 times nationally (0 times in NC)
Literacy 405 times  (12 in NC)
GED 24 times (0 in NC)
ESOL 7 times (0 in NC)
ESL  13 times (0 in NC)

as compared to: 

Oil 8442 times

I believe this is an accurate reflection of how our congress views the importance of Literacy Education. So how do we change this? How do we bring not just the words, but the movement of Literacy Education to our chosen leaders? I am not sure of the answer. If you have any ideas, please share them here. 

Thanks again for doing the great work you do. To me, your effort is more then just words.

Veleda’s Speech

Here is a video of the inspiring speech Veleda T. gave at the DLC’s 2008 Leaders in Literacy breakfast, which was held at the Washington Duke Inn.

Student and Tutor Perspective

Listen to these inspiring stories from Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County NY:

Student’s Story:

Tutor’s Story:

Gladys’s Essay on Harriet Tubman

Emmett’s speech at the RBC Center (April 2008)

Emmett Jackson, DLC adult literacy student and advocate, was the guest speaker at the Triangle United Way (TUW) annual awards event at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC in April 2008. The event honored companies who helped support the TUW’s annual campaign. Mr. Jackson received a standing ovation from the audience of more than 300 people. Read more about Mr. Jackson here.

Our students on NPR!!!

Lucy & Kiasha

Two dedicated DLC students, Lucy and Kiasha Collins shared their inspiring stories on the nationally syndicated radio show, The Story. Kiasha enrolled in the DLC’s Adult Literacy program over a year ago and then encouraged her grandmother, Lucy to join as well. The Story is hosted by Dick Gordon and produced by NC Public Radio.  Listen to their story here!

Thank You!

The DLC program staff, tutors, and students would like to extend a huge thanks to the DLC’s Executive Director, Reggie Hodges, and the DLC Board of Directors for the countless hours they have spent sustaining this wonderful community over the years. Every new phoneme learned, book read, citizenship test passed, vote cast, parent-teacher meeting attended, and job promotion earned is a victory based in no small part on your work. Please know that we are truly grateful for all of the work that goes on behind the scenes to empower individuals, families, and communities through literacy. We wish that we could share every victory with you directly so that you could feel the daily impact of your efforts as we do. It really is amazing!

The DLC Board Members are Susan Springer and Ann Gale (Co-Presidents), Trina Allen, Mary Ellen Walkama, Rob Matheson, Mary Clayton, Lizzie Ellis-Furlong, Arnold Dennis, Alexandra Dupont, Gail Faulkner Hudson, Elizabeth Feifs, Brian Schneiderman, Sy Mauskopf, Monika Winchester, Jonathan Blitz, Mary Cay Corr, Jennifer Lohmann, Teddy Brown, Julia Fairley, Hubie Mercado, Leslie Wilson, Audrey Boykin, LeRoy Walker, Jr., Ed Wolf, Boris Hartl, Peggy Hardy, Cindy Cho, and Kim Mayo. Ex Officio Members members include Dale Stouch, Janet Hill, and John Hope Franklin.

My Main Goals

One of my goals is to stop working my second job and spend more time with my family. But first, there are some things I have to do.

I have to work on my finances by making sure I have a budget plan and have money in the bank. I think that when I have a budget plan and money in the bank it will be easier for me to focus on my reading and writing skills.

One of my most important goals is to get my drivers license, but first I have to pass the test for my learners permit.

I need my license because sometime I get caught in difficult situations when my husband is not available to take me places.

My other most important goal is becoming an American citizen. To get my citizenship I have to work on my reading and writing skills.

I am working hard on these skills. First I signed up for a literacy program and then later I hired a tutor to speed up the process.

Soon I will be sending my citizenship application along with the money I saved up. Once I do that I will wait for immigration to contact me.

In the mean time I am studying for the U.S history and government test.

I am feeling good about where I am right now. I am happy with the progress that I am making and the people that I am working with.

I think that by 2009 I will accomplish all my goals.

by Carol