Redlands Library :: Adult Literacy Program in the Spotlight at Fidelis Iota Retired Teachers’ Meeting

Redlands Adult Literacy Program in the spotlight at Fidelis Iota retired teachers’ meeting

Redlands Daily Facts: 10.26.2017

Diane Shimota, coordinator of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, presented the program at the October meeting of the Fidelis Iota chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa.

ADK is an honorary organization for women educators, and Fidelis Iota is the retired teachers’ chapter.

Shimota has been coordinator of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, based at the A.K. Smiley Public Library, since 2016 and was a tutor for four years.

She said there are 109 learners who meet one and a half hours a week with their tutors. The free program is possible because of volunteer tutors who gave more than 6,000 service hours last year, according to a press release.

Shimota said the volunteer tutors get enrichment, make friends, and watch their learners achieve their goals.

Some learners are mothers whose children have started school. Others are retired and finally have time to work on their literacy goals. Some come to the program because there are changes at work that they want to be able to address.

Learners build confidence and gain independence in the program in addition to learning to read and write, Shimota said.

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Several Fidelis Iota members are tutors in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. They are Trudy Waldron, who helped restart the program in 2010, and Nancy Rodgers, Martha Kennedy, Jane Henry, Toni Curley and Ann Leonard.  

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Redlands Library :: Reading & Literacy: A Shared Journey

Reading & literacy: A shared journey

Redlands Daily Facts: 10.05.2017 by Don Sprould

Much like the adult learners celebrated recently on Redlands’ Adult Literacy Day at the A.K. Smiley Public Library and Lincoln Shrine, Dr. Francisco Jiménez had come a long way to share in the moment.

When the author and Santa Clara University professor emeritus recently took the podium to discuss his life and book, “The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child,” he had much in common with many of the more than 250 in attendance.

Francisco Jiménez

“The Circuit” has been a book club selection in the library’s adult literacy program. As an educator, Jiménez worked to develop inclusive and multi-cultural programs and, as an author, he embraced an audience that shared his passion for learning. “I’m a little bit emotional [at the reception] to tell you the truth,” he confessed.

Quotes posted on the wall of Contemporary Club auditorium spoke of program values and successes of participants. Beneath a sign that read, “Literacy changes lives. Thanks to the Adult Literacy Program,” placards with photos of program participants proclaimed:

“Now I am a United States citizen.

“Now I am able to help my son with his homework.

“We are advocates for our special needs child.

“I have made a new friend.

“I was able to pass my English class and now I am heading to a 4-year college.

“I can read.”

Through the library’s adult literacy program, volunteers help lifelong learners build skills necessary to join the community of readers — a journey that also opens the way to opportunities for more education and the better jobs and lives that come with it.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: Author Francisco Jiménez Speaks in Redlands about ‘The Migrant Experience’

Author Francisco Jiménez speaks in Redlands about ‘The Migrant Experience’ 

Redlands Daily Facts: 9.17.2017 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator-A.K. Smiley Library

The Redlands City Council proclaimed Sept. 7 as Adult Literacy Day in the city of Redlands. The proclamation included the finding that adults in Redlands seek to improve their literacy skills with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program so that they may get a job or advance in their employment, help their children in school and work toward their own higher education.

The council also commended the efforts of volunteers and community partners whose support is vital to the program.

Francisco Jiménez

To celebrate Adult Literacy Day, the community gathered at the Contemporary Club Sept. 7 to hear Francisco Jiménez, author of “The Circuit: Stories From the Life of a Migrant Child” and its three sequels, “Breaking Through,” “Reaching Out” and “Taking Hold: From Migrant Childhood to Columbia University.” The common theme in these four books is the transformative power of education.

Each book represents a different stage of Jiménez’s education and describes the struggles Jiménez faced and conquered.

Before Jiménez’s talk on “The Migrant Experience: A Personal Story,” many participants in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program enjoyed a special opportunity to greet him at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine and share a bit of their personal histories with him. Some said that his story is similar to the history of their own families, and others connected with his passion for learning and his struggles to become educated.

Ana Alcantar, a learner in the program, said about meeting Francisco Jiménez, “It was a magical moment that I will treasure forever.”  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: The Migrant Experience - A Personal Story :: Francisco Jimenez

The Migrant Experience: A Personal Story

Francisco Jimenez – Author Presentation

September 7th 6:00 pm

A K Smiley Redlands Library

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program invited Jiménez to speak in Redlands because of the impact his book “The Circuit” has had on students in the literacy program. In the past year, more than 150 tutors, learners and community members read the book, which was a favorite in the literacy program’s book clubs.

The Circuit

As a child, Francisco Jiménez emigrated from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, to California, where he worked for many years in the fields with his family.  Despite the struggles in his formative years, he became an educator and award-winning author of The Circuit: Stories from the Life of A Migrant Child and its three sequels: Breaking Through, Reaching Out, and Taking Hold.  Dr. Jiménez will share his personal story with a backdrop of images from his youth.  He will discuss his reasons for writing, the importance that education played in his life, and the value of the immigrant experience in our diverse society.

Redlands Library :: Hear Author Francisco Jimenez Speak on Migrant Experience :: Sep 7

Hear author Francisco Jimenez speak on ‘Migrant Experience’ in Redlands

Redlands Daily Facts: 8.19.2017 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator-A.K. Smiley Public Library

The Circuit

Have you ever had the chance to meet the author of one of your favorite books? Meeting the author can be like meeting a best friend for the first time.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program at the A.K. Smiley Public Library invites you to hear Francisco Jimenez, who wrote the autobiographical book “The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child.”

This year, more than 150 local literacy tutors, learners and community members have read Jimenez’s book and were moved by reading of the obstacles Jimenez overcame in his quest for an education.

Jimenez will speak on “The Migrant Experience: A Personal Story” at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka St., Redlands. Doors open at 5:30. Those who plan to attend are asked to register at www.akspl.org or by calling the A.K. Smiley Public Library at 909-798-7565.

“The Circuit” is the first of a four-book series by Jimenez. This autobiographical series follows Jimenez from his childhood, when he immigrated with his family to California from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, and through his experiences at Columbia University where he received his master’s degree and doctorate in Latin American literature.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: Find Out How to Choose the Right Book at A.K. Smiley Public Library Presentation

Find out how to choose the right book during at [sic] A.K. Smiley Public Library presentation

Redlands Daily Facts: 7.08.2017 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator-A.K. Smiley Library

What are your some of your favorite things to do in Redlands during the warm summers? Do you enjoy reading a book or discovering a new favorite author?

How do you choose a book to read? Selecting just the right book can be a challenge for any reader.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program serves as a gateway for adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills so they can select and read books they will enjoy.

Recently, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program welcomed guest speaker Carrie Scott of the Carlsbad Literacy Center to its second annual tutor/learner roundtable meeting. Scott has been involved with literacy programs for 29 years and she is co-chairman of the annual adult literacy Writer-to-Writer Challenge in which a learner reads a book and writes a letter to its author.

At the roundtable meeting, more than 50 tutors and learners were eager to learn from Scott how to choose books they will enjoy.

Scott stressed the importance of picking books that are of high interest to the reader. She suggested that readers adopt the following strategies in selecting books.

Start by finding several appealing books in an interesting subject area. Hold the books and compare them side by side. Look at the cover images, and read the back cover and inside flap to get an idea of what the book is about.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: Literacy Program Helps Persistent Learner Achieve Success

Redlands literacy program helps persistent learner achieve success

Redlands Daily Facts: 5.06.2017 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, AK Smiley Public Library

The inability to read and write stops many people from achieving their dreams, whether those dreams are getting an education, acquiring a job, communicating with others or even finding a partner on a dating website.

Did you know that some people refuse to date a person who cannot write a proper sentence, or that a basic level of literacy is necessary to send text messages? Cryptic as they often are, these little bits of language still need to be understandable.

The mission of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program is to provide professional and confidential tutoring in reading and writing to help people in the Redlands community reach their literacy goals. More than 100 learners have participated in the literacy program this year, each working hard with a tutor to achieve a unique set of goals.

Let me introduce you to one of our hardworking learners.

Desmond Davis is a creative person who is skilled at building things. Recently, he designed and built his own Snookball table, a giant pool table that sits on the ground.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: SCLLN Writer To Writer Award Winner

Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library

Facebook: 3.09.2017

Saturday, February 25th SCLLN Southern California Library Literacy Network held their 17th Annual Writer to Writer Awards brunch.

The Adult Literacy Program is proud that so many learners and tutors took part in the contest. Recognized at the event was Rosio Perez, First Place Winner in the Beginning Writer category. She read the book “Who Was Harriet Tubman” and wrote a letter to the author describing how the book influenced her life.

Also recognized with participant certificates were Willaim Acuna, Sonia Gutierrez, Lastenia Rozo, and Monica Sanchez. We were also honored to have four judges selected from our program – Martha Romo, Ana Alcantar, Wensung Hsu, and Tanya Kaufman.

Congratulations to Rosio and all our participants.

Redlands Library :: Adult Literacy Program Grows with Help of Community Partners

Redlands Adult Literacy Program grows with help of community partners

Redlands Daily Facts: 3.04.2017 by Diane Shimota,

adult literacy coordinator-A.K. Smiley Public Library

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program is grateful to its community partners who provide services that extend the mission of helping adults in our community improve their reading and writing.

Community partnerships have allowed the program to provide adult literacy services at multiple locations — Clement Middle School, Lugonia Elementary School, Family Service Association of Redlands and Redlands Community Center — in addition to the A.K. Smiley Public Library. Generous grants and donations allow the Adult Literacy Program to provide one-on-one tutoring for adults, the program’s primary mission, and to offer computer classes, buy literacy software and offer book clubs to foster reading comprehension.

We recently asked leading community partners why they supported adult literacy in Redlands. We would like to share their insights, with gratitude for their ongoing support.

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The most important partnership is with people in the Redlands community who support adult literacy through direct donations and volunteering. Funding from local supporters and the Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library, Alpha Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa Gamma, Kiwanis, Zonta and the Contemporary Club further expanded the opportunities for program enrichment and demonstrated the local support for adult literacy.  READ MORE @

To learn more, join us at the next Tutor Orientation, on April 10th, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at the A. K. Smiley Public Library Assembly Room.   Please call the Redlands Adult Literacy Program office at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org

Redlands Library :: Literacy Program celebrates 2016 achievements at A.K. Smiley Public Library

Redlands Adult Literacy Program celebrates 2016 achievements at A.K. Smiley Public Library

Redlands Daily Facts: 12.31.2016 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator-A.K. Smiley Library

The beginning of 2017 gives the Redlands Adult Literacy Program the opportunity to celebrate its 2016 achievements and highlight plans for the new year.

The mission of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program is to help adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills. This mission is achieved through the hard work of adult learners, their dedicated tutors and community support and partnerships.

Throughout 2016, learners expressed their gratitude for the adult literacy program. Their gratitude is reflected in the following:

Salma Marquez is grateful that she can now help her children with homework and communicate with their teachers. Marquez’s long-term goal is to obtain a nursing degree.

Veronica Leon celebrates using her new reading and writing skills to correctly fill out forms for her job.

Derek Rodriquez said that the adult literacy program helps him motivate his daughter to do well in school because she sees him working hard at his lessons every day.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program served nearly 100 adult learners in 2016. Every learner has a unique story about how the literacy program helped them, but all learners showed increased confidence as a result of their improved literacy.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program relies on its dedicated volunteer tutors. Each adult learner is matched to an individual tutor volunteer, who meets weekly with the learner. -Tutors know the importance of adult literacy.

Tutor Vicki Shaw said, “If you can read, you can learn to do almost anything.” This sentiment was echoed by tutor Mary Bailey, who said, “Adult literacy impacts every area of life. It opens windows of opportunity for jobs, becoming a citizen, helping others in the home, schools and community. Adult learners have a new future with improved literacy skills.”

In 2016, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program responded to requests from adult learners by adding new learning opportunities — book clubs, a weekly literacy class at the library and new computer classes.

Book clubs for adult learners were formed using local donations and a matching grant from Modern Woodmen. Book club members read biographies of Harriet Tubman and Helen Keller and an autobiography, “The Circuit” by Francisco Jimenez.

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Perhaps you are making resolutions for 2017. Would you like to volunteer with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program? A tutor orientation is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Assembly Room of the A.K. Smiley Public Library, 125 W. Vine St., Redlands.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: Literacy Program at Smiley Public Library Shares Success Stories

Redlands Adult Literacy Program at Smiley Public Library shares success stories

Redlands Daily Facts: 10.29.2016 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator -A.K. Smiley Library

In 2015, the A.K. Smiley Public Library was awarded a grant from California Library Literacy Services, which supports many adult literacy programs in the state of California.

The state supports literacy because of the tangible benefits realized at the local level when people improve their reading and writing. In Redlands, this translates to higher employment rates, better income levels, increased awareness of local issues, better health literacy and more support for education in the home.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program is pleased to share the following fiscal year 2015-16 achievements that were recently reported to California Library Literacy Services.

Adult learners completed 3,640 hours of instruction with their tutors. Learners expressed that working with their tutors improved their reading and writing skills and gave them an increased level of confidence.

Seventy-six percent of the learners in the Redlands Adult Literacy program have achieved reading a book, writing a letter, learning to use a computer, searching the internet and/or helping children with schoolwork. Several learners found new or better employment and others spoke in public forums about the importance of adult literacy.

The personal impact that tutoring has brought to each learner is evident as they met their goals and their confidence soared.

The following stories highlight the importance of the adult literacy program to adult learners.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: How to volunteer with Redlands Adult Literacy Program

How to volunteer with Redlands Adult Literacy Program

Redlands Daily Facts: 8.27.2016 by Diane Shimota, adult literacy coordinator at the A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands.

Do you have a passion for reading or writing? Would you like to help someone learn to read?

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program provides an opportunity for you to pursue your passion with a purpose by becoming an adult literacy tutor. Volunteer tutors are the foundation of the Adult Literacy Program because they donate their time to support learners in their quest for reading and writing competency.

Let me introduce you to a few of these wonderful volunteers.

Martha Kennedy, a retired teacher from Redlands High School, has tutored with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program for five years. Kennedy, with Sharon Regalado, leads the off-site adult literacy program at Lugonia Elementary School where six tutors meet one-on-one with their adult learners each week.

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Rebecca McCurdy, who formerly worked for a private company, has been a tutor with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program for more than three years.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: An Honest Tale

Redlands Adult Literacy Program

An Honest Tale

Welcome to the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, whose mission is to provide free, professional, and confidential tutoring in reading and writing to help learners in the Redlands community reach their literacy goals.  One-on-one tutoring services, adult literacy computer classes, and other literacy services are available to adults 18 years and older and youths 16 and 17 years old, who are not currently enrolled in high school.  Tutoring services are provided at no cost.  Lessons are individualized, confidential, and goal-oriented.

Redlands Library :: Redlands Adult Literacy Program launches its first book club

Redlands Adult Literacy Program launches its first book club

Redlands Daily Facts: 6.25.2016 by Diane Shimota

Do you belong to a book club? Many of us enjoy the thrill of discussing a great book with fellow readers.

Using funding from generous donors, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has launched its first book club tailored to adult learners. The inaugural book is the inspiring story “Who was Helen Keller?” by Gare Thompson.

Who was

Helen Keller?

Book club members are adult learners who have chosen to attend the Adult Literacy Summer Program, which had its first meeting June. The summer program runs through July and invites learners and tutors to meet weekly at the library so that learners can continue to work on their reading and writing skills when summer vacations can interrupt weekly tutoring meetings.

Adult learner Ana Alcantar recommended the book about Helen Keller, saying, “Helen Keller is a wonderful role model for everyone, but for adult learners in particular. Because of her determination and strength of spirit, Helen Keller overcame the obstacles of being both deaf and blind.

“She learned to read, write and speak. She also became a successful author. Helen Keller showed how to live a successful life in spite of her disabilities. Her story is a wonderful example of how all of us can overcome significant obstacles in life,” Alcantar said.

“Not being able to read or write is a significant obstacle that we work to overcome in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program,” she said.

Perhaps you know someone who struggles to improve his or her reading and writing. Studies show that 20 percent of the U.S. adult population has difficulties with reading and writing.  READ MORE @

Redlands Library :: Literacy FUNdraiser :: " 2 Across "

Have Fun & Support Redlands Adult Literacy

 “2 Across” by Jerry Mayer

May 1, 2016

Reception and Performance

The fun begins at 2:30 pm with a dessert reception and a Redlands Adult Literacy Open House. Visit with Redlands Adult Literacy supporters, tutors, learners and lovers of reading and crossword puzzles.

The reception will be followed at 3:30 pm with a performance of “2 Across,” a poignant and witty 90-minute, one-act play written by Jerry Mayer. Local thespians, Deborah McFatter and Jeff Richards star in the play, directed by Kerry Jones.

Redlands East Valley High School

Blackstone Theater

1000 Colton Avenue

Redlands

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the A.K. Smiley Public Library or by contacting literacy@akspl.org. Checks may be made payable to Friends of A. K. Smiley Public Library, Attn. “2 Across.”

DONATION NEWS

Modern Woodmen of America has agreed to match any donations up to $2500 so that Redlands Adult Literacy can start an adult literacy book club.

Redlands Library :: Redlands Adult Literacy Program Learners Enter Challenge

Redlands Adult Literacy Program learners enter Challenge

Redlands Daily Facts: 2.20.2016 by Diane Shimota,

Adult Literacy Coordinator-AK Smiley Library

Writing is a core element of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.

Recently, seven adult learners from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program entered the Writer to Writer Challenge, which is sponsored by the Southern California Library Literacy Network. The annual Writer to Writer Challenge invites adult literacy learners throughout Southern California to write a letter to an author, living or dead, whose book has inspired them.

As Carrie Scott, community outreach supervisor the Carlsbad City Library and chairman of the Writer to Writer Challenge, explained, this activity is a “goal bonanza.” It provides the opportunity for learners to obtain a library card, select a book, check out a book from the library, read the book, write a letter, edit the letter and submit it for review.

Participants can attend a conference with fellow learners and describe their experiences in writing to an author.

Scott said that she loves that “every now and then, we get a letter where a learner writes about reading a book to his or her child.”

One of the Redlands entrants, Crystal Moreno, wrote to Malala Yousafzai, author of “I Am Malala.” Moreno’s goal in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program is to improve her writing. She said she wanted to challenge herself by entering this contest and she found that her writing improved as she worked through several drafts of her letter.

Moreno was able to connect with the author because she also believes in the power of education for women and girls.  READ MORE @

Beginning Category - Runner Up

Lucila Campa, A. K. Smiley Redlands Library

TheBreadwinner by Deborah Ellis