Looking forward to an exciting year ahead…
Dear Friends of The Literacy Center,
There has not been a dull moment over the past six months and I can safely say that our staff and volunteers have learned as much as our students during this public health crisis. But despite everything that has changed, I am extremely proud of where we are as an organization.
Over the course of the 2019-2020 academic year, TLC provided adult education services to 614 individuals from 66 countries. In March, we transitioned to virtual learning but we did not slow down. Sixteen of our classes continued to meet online – including Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced English language classes, computer classes, and high school equivalency classes.
We were thrilled to see attendance remain stable and cheered on our students as they rose to meet the myriad challenges they faced. Thanks to the generosity of The Greater Attleboro Stronger Together Fund, the United Way, and the Massachusetts COVID Fund, The Literacy Center was able to provide more than $90,000 in rental and bill pay assistance to close to 100 families that found themselves in financial crisis when the economy shut down.
As we look forward to our fall semester, we continue to think of ways that we can better serve our adult learners and their families. To that end, we will be launching our first ever English Immersion Program on September 14th which will provide an opportunity for English language learners to study up to 25 hours per week with us.
We have hired a new staff member, Viergelie Gaston, to oversee the program and are thrilled to have her on board.
To ensure equitable access, we are providing technology to students and helping students get connected to internet services.
We are committed to doing everything we can to help the families we serve get back on their feet, locate employment, improve their skills, and stabilize their situations.
It is going to be a lot of work, but I know I speak on behalf of all TLC staff and volunteers when I say we are up for the challenge.
Until there are significant improvements in the public health situation, we will be keeping our building closed to protect the health of the many vulnerable individuals that we serve.
However, while our doors may be shut, our classes, tutoring, and support programs are fully operational. In addition, Virtual Tutor Training will launch on September 8th and we are excited to be able to welcome tutors from far and wide now that tutoring is online. This will greatly expand our volunteer pool and allow us to train more individuals who can support our students. If you know anyone who can commit an hour or two a week to help someone learn, please send them information about tutoring.
Thank you for your continued support of our mission. We need your help now more than ever. If you are in a position to donate to help us provide technology to students and support families in need, you can make a contribution online by clicking here
May you be well,
Amanda Blount, MSW
Executive Director