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Community Literacy Outreach
The Community Literacy Outreach provides a confidential, no cost, student-centered learning environment. The mission of the Community Literacy Outreach is to ensure that adults acquire reading and English language skills so they may reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their family and community. The goal is accomplished through the following actions: providing direct instruction to adult learners, promoting public awareness of adult literacy and English as a second language issues, and partnering with other agencies to maximize the effectiveness of all people who address these issues. With the Aberdeen Area Career Planning Center and trained volunteers, the Community Literacy Outreach provides assessment and tutoring to any student, age 16 and older that is not enrolled in school.
Title II of The Workforce Investment Act defines literacy as, “An individual’s ability to read, write and speak in English, compute, and solve problems, at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual, and in society.” Ask an adult who has been through a literacy program what they gained from learning to read. Here are the kind of statements gathered:
I can read stories to my children.
I can be a better teacher to my children.
Literacy is important to my health. I have been taking my medicine.
Today I can be more involved in my community, in my state, in the United States. I can vote.
I found a job I can feel satisfied at.
I have been able to get off welfare.
I earn enough to support myself.
I can support my family.
This is the best thing I could have done for my self-esteem.
Being able to read, write, and understand has made so much more available to me. I am up-to-date, productive, and more relaxed.
Volunteers are absolutely vital to the Community Literacy Outreach of Northeastern South Dakota. The program is designed to function largely on its volunteer literacy tutors. From mid January 2004 to November 2004, volunteers have served 540 hours! Volunteer tutors are fully trained and supported. Other volunteer roles within the Community Literacy Outreach include but are not limited to: advisory council members, media design, library management, and funding assistance. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this a success!
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