Literacy for Life 2011
We had a great time at the 2011 Literacy for Life Conference!
Conference Program
Outstanding Affiliate- LV Salem/Cumberland
Student Excellence Award- David Velasco
Student Excellence Award- Jefferson Vidal
Tutor Excellence Award- Marilyn Meyerowitz
Volunteer Excellence Award- Clark Doran
Conference Sponsors
2011 Award Winners
Alice M. Leppert Award for Outstanding Affiliate Achievment
Presented to Literacy Volunteers of Salem/Cumberland Counties
Mike Cudemo, VP of Planning at Gateway CAP (LV Salem/Cumberland's parent organization) accepts the award on behalf of the LV program.
At the end of 2009, LV-Salem-Cumberland was all but extinct. Only two tutor/learner pairs remained. tutor training and referrals were virtually non-existent. The literacy program barely had a pulse. Fortunately, a vice president in the umbrella organization is a former tutor with a passion for literacy. Under his guidance, the program has risen from the ashes and become a thriving, growing affiliate. A part-time coordinator position was created. As with any affiliate, volunteers have stepped up to help resuscitate the heart of the organization.
LV-Salem/Cumberland has transformed from an affiliate that many did not know existed to an organization that welcomes and supports its volunteer base. They are now looking forward to strengthening and enhancing their support system as they continue to grow. They have revised their referral system to include relationships with other agencies who may be better equipped to help certain learners. By establishing these relationships, they can feel confident that anyone calling them for help will not hit a dead end. While their numbers may be small compared to other affiliates, their growth has been phenomenal. They are excited about their upward path and anticipate even greater gains in the coming year.
Visit the Gateway Community Action Partnership website: http://www.gatewaycap.org.
Award for Volunteer Excellence
Presented to Clark Doran - Literacy Volunteers Association of Cape/Atlantic
LVNJ Board Member Henry Goldsmith presents Clark Doran his award.
Clark began his long association with LVA as a volunteer tutor over twenty years ago. The experience so affected him that he sought a larger role with the organization and was subsequently elected to the Board of Directors. He has been an active and dedicated Board member whose many contributions include overseeing the acquisition of the building that is now the home of the LVA office. He has been an unfailing supporter of every aspect of the organization’s mission participating in everything from property maintenance to fund development.
Clark has been a hands-on supporter of all of his affiliate's programs, a spirited fundraiser and a reliable attendee at any and all conferences, workshops and meetings related to the well-being of LVA. He has also used his presence in Cape May County to expand the availability of services into those areas of the county with the highest demand. Those of us in the world of non-profits governed by volunteer Boards of Directors know how often commitment can be a casual and fleeting thing. Good intentions are frequently overwhelmed by the demands of career and family life. We also know that strong leadership is the life’s blood of the work that we do and that our survival depends upon it. Thank you, Clark, for all of the work you have done for the many people your affiliate has served.
Visit the LVA Cape-Atlantic website: http://www.lvacapeatlantic.com.
Award for Tutor Excellence
Presented to Marilyn Meyerowitz - Literacy Volunteers of Union County
Marilyn Meyerowitz accepts her award from Henry Goldsmith.
"It has been an honor to work with Marilyn over the years. Her generosity is inspirational." -Elizabeth Gloeggler, Executive Director of LV-Union County.
As a tutor for the past 12 years, Marilyn takes “READING, WRITING, LISTENING and SPEAKING” to heart. Her advanced students read and discuss everything from culture and holidays to social and political issues. After they discuss something, they write about it. Marilyn is not only a tutor, but a longtime friend to Literacy Volunteers. Her commitment to the other tutors in the LV-Union network is unfaltering. Marilyn is a veracious contributor to their newsletter, sharing tips and activities. Marilyn’s “Holiday Cultural Exchange” is legendary within the affiliate. Every December her students bring holiday food and stories to share. The evening is full of eating, singing, sharing and of course learning.
In addition to sharing her expertise with others at in-service trainings and through newsletter contributions, Marilyn and her students have helped spread the word about literacy issues. For years Marilyn and her troops spoke at public hearings for local Community Block Grant funding. As their fearless leader Marilyn talked about her experience as an instructor, the students talked about all they had accomplished and how much their Tuesday night class helped. This helped open some eyes about the plight of so many Elizabeth residents and helped secure funding to support more students.
Visit the LV-Union website: http://lvaunion.org.
Award for Student Excellence
Presented to David Velasco - Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County
David accepts his award from LVNJ Board Member Leigh Freeman.
You can listen to David's acceptance speech at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfDLI1WMIWo&feature=youtube_gdata_player.
Over the past 2 ½ years , David has memorized dialogs, learned songs, told jokes (even entertaining the crowd at LV Monmouth’s Annual Recognition Dinner), solved crossword puzzles, read aloud to his tutor in English from a favorite book, “Folk Tales from Mexico”, and studied our national holidays. David meets his tutor at least once a week for two hours and they focus on improving David’s listening and speaking skills. David also commits himself to one hour a day of English practice by using computer programs, watching English-language television shows and listening to the radio stations that play popular English songs. David constantly quizzes his tutor about things he has seen or heard but not understood.
David’s achievements in speaking and understanding English have helped him in many ways. He has advanced at his job, he is able to communicate in English and be understood, and he is able to participate in activities at his church and within his community. David is the first to say that learning a new language is not easy and that constant repetition and practice is essential to making progress. No matter how tired or busy he is, David always finds time to do his homework and listen to English being spoken or sung.
Award for Student Excellence
Presented to Jefferson Vidal - Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County
Jefferson Vidal accepts his award from LVNJ Board Member Leigh Freeman.
Jefferson Vidal, from the English speaking country of Dominica, started with Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County in 2005 reading at a first-grade level. Along with his goal to read and write, Jefferson wanted to get a driver’s license and green card. Over the past two years he achieved both these goals. His newest goal is to get his U.S. Citizenship and he is working diligently with his tutor to accomplish this.
With his new driver’s license Jefferson is now able to drive to his tutoring sessions or to work and he has become much more independent. Being able to read and write has also opened up new learning opportunities. He is currently participating in LV-Monmouth’s independent computer learning lab on Monday evenings so that he can improve his computer, reading and writing skills.
Jefferson is special because he is a great example of what can happen when a student is able to increase their reading and writing skills to such a level that they are able to improve their life by getting a driver’s license, learning how to use a computer and applying for new job opportunities. With Jefferson’s new found confidence in his ability to learn he jumps at the chance to tell both students and tutors what the program can do. Jefferson’s engaging smile, positive attitude toward learning, along with his life story, all work in helping to recruit volunteer tutors and students for our literacy programs.
Jefferson was recently interviewed for May 2011 edition of The Literacy Tribune. You can read the article at www.theliteracytribune.org.
Conference Sponsors
LVNJ’s 2011 Literacy for Life Conference was co-sponsored by the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Literacy Education in the College of Education and Human Services, Montclair State University and funded with support from MetLife Bank and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
