lva powerpoint 2010
DESCRIPTION
PowerPoint Presentation describing the services and mission of LVATRANSCRIPT
Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta
Without reading, where would you be?
404-377-READ (7323) http://www.lvama.org
OUR MISSION Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta’s (LVA) mission is to
increase adult and family literacy primarily through volunteer tutoring. Our vision is to enhance the lives of individuals in their roles as family members, workers,
and citizens through the power of literacy.
Literacy Volunteers of America National History
• Founded in 1962 in Syracuse, NY by Ruth Colvin
• 1971, LVA received a three-year grant from the US Office of Education
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) was developed in 1974
• October 2002, merged with Laubach Literacy International to form ProLiteracy Worldwide
Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta (LVA)
• Founded in 1986, LVA was run by volunteers out of free office space
• In 1988, LVA was awarded a grant to hire staff and start a library for the students and tutors
• ESOL was added in 1991 and the Family Literacy program was added in the 1990s
• LVA was granted accreditation in November of 2000 by ProLiteracy Worldwide
• In 2002, LVA moved to a new office and also opened a 10 person computer lab
• LVA merged with Project Read, Inc in 2003 • LVA has met strict guidelines in order to receive official
accreditation from ProLiteracy Worldwide
National Literacy Statistics • 93 million Americans are at or below a basic literacy
level. (National Coalition of Literacy)
• 67% of Americans who struggle with literacy are native English speakers, and 50% are high school graduates. (National Institute for Literacy)
• 5 million adults holding jobs are considered low-literate. (Nation’s Business)
• 75% of unemployed adults have reading and writing difficulties. (National Institute for Literacy)
• 90 million Americans have inadequate health literacy skills. (National Adult Literacy Survey)
• A child with at least one low-literate parent is twice as likely to be low-literate. (Laubach Literacy Statistics)
Metro-Atlanta Literacy Statistics • 800,000 metro-Atlantans read at Level 1, the lowest
of five levels. (National Adult Literacy Survey)
• Low literacy costs metro-Atlanta $2.6 billion each year. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• 225,000 low-literate employees in metro-Atlanta cost their employers $840 million annually in remedial training, safety lapses, lost time, poor performance, and job turnover.
• Low-literate workers in metro-Atlanta incur medical expenses at up to 4 times the rate of literate workers. (Public Broadcasting Atlanta)
Student-Centered Programs – Adults (18yrs +) who read below the 5th grade level (Basic Literacy) or
who have limited to no English proficiency (ESOL) in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties
– Families through our Family Literacy Program which encompasses Family Mentoring, Early Childhood Education, Basic Literacy and ESOL Programs
– Employees at various worksites throughout Metro-Atlanta with Workplace Literacy skills– a combination of ESOL, financial and health literacy
– Currently, we have over 1000 students being served
– No charge to students for any LVA programs
The LVA Difference – Working One-on-One
• Students work toward their personal literacy goals
• The materials used in tutoring are ProLiteracy-approved and focus on students’ self-determined goals
• Work to increase student confidence and self-esteem
• Provide referrals to other programs and services
• Access to small group classes, computer lab with literacy software, lending library with books and other materials
• Our services are free of charge to all students
LVA’s Strategy
• Train volunteers to become tutors, teachers, and classroom assistants
• Match tutors with students
• Place volunteer instructors in on-site and off-site classrooms
• Provide support services and resources
The Programs LVA Offers• Provides student-focused one-on-one tutoring and small group classes to over
1000 learners per year in 4 Metro Atlanta counties
• Basic Literacy provides one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction for adults reading below the fifth-grade level
• ESOL provides one-on-one and small group tutoring to adults with limited to no English language proficiency
• Workplace Literacy helps employers to train employees and also helps with employee recruitment and retention, improving communication with employers, and increasing productivity on the job with Basic Literacy and ESOL
• Family Literacy combines the components of Early Childhood Education, Adult Education, and Parent Support to ensure that the next generation has the tools to succeed. Our curriculum is student-centered, and based on each student’s individual needs and goals.
• Small Group Classes in basic math, spelling, and introductory computer skills are available for students to support their learning process and their personal goals.
Volunteers and Students at work
Volunteer Opportunities
– Basic Literacy and ESOL tutoring
– Teach/assist with a small group class (ESOL and Basic Literacy)
– Work with children and/or parents through the Family Literacy program
– Teach/assist with a Workplace Literacy class
– Assist with fundraising events
– Office support
– Schedule an LVA presentation for your social or civic group
The Volunteer Experience • Expect to work hard
– Tutor training – Minimum 1 year
commitment for at least 2 hours each week
– Additional time investment• Travel• Lesson planning • Student assessments
• Results take time! It takes 100 hours on average to see a student advance to the next grade level.
This is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a volunteer!
– Relationship building
– Seeing your student succeed
– Improving literacy in Atlanta
LVA Locations
• Basic Literacy – MUST Ministries (Cobb)– Salvation Army– Lanier Tech
• Family Literacy– Decatur Housing Authority– DeKalb County Parks and
Recreation– Briarwood Recreation Center
• Workplace Literacy– A & D Linens – Georgia State– Georgia Tech
• ESOL– Decatur Library– Brookhaven Library– Clarkston Library– Doraville Library– Dunwoody Library– Tucker Library
• Main Office (Decatur, GA)
The Students
Each one is an individual, all 1000 – Teaching adults can be a challenge – Students sometimes expect to see
results quickly – Some students have special needs – Start with realistic, achievable goals– Personal motivations – Barriers to literacy – All programs are student-centered
Student/Tutor Matching
•Based on Volunteer Application•Availability/Time Commitment•Preferences•Program of Choice
•Based on Student Intake/Assessment•Student Schedule/Location•Transportation•Needs and Goals
**Think about your expectations and what your personal boundaries are**
EVENTS
Edible Book Festival
LVA’s Edible Book entry
Annual Meeting
“Nanny” Birk
Basic Literacy Student
Young Ju Ahn
ESOL Student of the Year
LVA Donor Event
ESOL Student, Shimul Islam (pictured with his wife) and his tutor, Steve Reidy
Aaron Hampton (LVA Staff Member), Karen Woods (Basic Literacy Student of the Year and Poet), and her tutor, Anita Brownlee
LVA Staff Victoria KingslandExecutive [email protected]
Julie BookmanDevelopment [email protected]
Aaron HamptonOperations [email protected]
Michelle HolmesStudent Support [email protected]
Mary Elizabeth GlassFamily Literacy [email protected]
Morgan KoukopoulosWorkplace Literacy [email protected]
Erika AllenStudent Services [email protected]
Aimee Castenell Communications [email protected]
Haley RussellAgnes Scott [email protected]
Michael WallLead Teacher for Basic [email protected]
Angela GreenLead Teacher for Basic [email protected]
Dana DeLassusLead Teacher for [email protected]
Kimberly FairmanLead Teacher for [email protected]
Community Partnerships
A&D Linens, Inc.
Briarwood Parks and Recreation – Chamblee
City of Decatur
City of Decatur Parks and Recreation
Culture Connect
Decatur Housing Authority
DeKalb County Public Library System
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Lanier Technical College
Literacy Action
MUST Ministries
Raksha, Inc.
SafeHouse Outreach, Inc.
Salvation Army
Technical College System
Volunteer! Decatur
Do you have more questions?
Phone: 404-377-READ (7323)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lvama.org