Literacy Day: May 18 - California African American Museum

“Heads Are Turning, Children Are Learning”
Literacy Day: May 18
11am – 4pm

California African American Museum

600 State Drive
Exposition Park

Come enjoy a day of FREE fun-filled learning and share your passion for reading at The California African American Museum!

Literacy Day features author, illustrator, and Caldecott Medal winner, Kadir Nelson, along with celebrity readers Debbie Allen, Malcom Jamal Warner, and Deidrie Henry. The event also features various local LA authors for book signing and readings of their work.

Monrovia Library - Amazing Literacy Services Fundraiser

Amazing Literacy Services Fundraiser
Monrovia Public Library: May 4, 2013

Our fourth annual Tea in the Garden last Sunday was no demure gathering. It rocked. We had the CSU-Northridge Flute Quartet set the tone with lively selections. The Loose Teas Cafe & Gifts donated a nice variety of teas and Sally Adkins Catering did a superb job of setting out delectable sandwiches, scones, fruit salads, and desserts to tempt the pickiest palate. People milled and bid on beautiful silent auction baskets. Three compelling speakers, Miga Wang, Susana Hutcheson and Aleacia Widdows, talked about what the Literacy program has done for them and how it has improved their lives. That's not all. The live auction featured an iPad, and iPad mini, a signed Galaxy Soccer jersey (David Beckham's signature and all), and a seriolithograph by Norman Rockwell. Sierra Landscaping helped make the garden theme real with large potted azaleas and trees, which were purchased at the end of the event.

Who helped out with this tremendous undertaking?
Well, the Volunteer Management Team did a fine job of coordinating, planning and plotting to make it work. Teen Advisory Board and Youth Commission volunteers provided much-needed help waiting on tables, helping people carry their auction items, and generally being useful. Table hosts set fine tables which transformed the Library, and other individuals donated time, money, and auction items to make the day very special. Thanks to everyone for a job well-done.

Not to mention that everyone had a really, really good time.

Centro Latino for Literacy - April Newsletter

Centro Latino for Literacy
May 2013 eNewsletter

April was quite busy - we're coming up for air. I'm excited to share Centro Latino's involvement in the community with you. Thanks to our great partners for spreading Literacy First!
Saludos,
Mari Riddle, President & CEO

Manufacturers Bank sponsors Centro Latino's Open House &; Volunteer Recognition during National Volunteer Week and Financial Literacy Month. Current and former volunteers met for the first time and shared what it means to volunteer. Ms. Nancy Huntington of Manufacturers Bank invited attendees to spread and support Literacy First!

AnaMaria Ruiz, VP Customer Relations, and I spoke to Latino professionals attending the ALPFA Los Angeles Leadership Summit where Centro Latino was a community partner. Congratulations to Carmen Palafox, ALPFA-Los Angeles Chapter President on a successful event!

Centro Latino and Leamos were very visible at the 22nd Annual National Conference on Family Literacy in Kentucky. AnaMaria presented an English and Spanish workshop on Leamos: Pre-ESL Online Literacy Solution and I was a panelist with national colleagues on Bringing in new Resources and Collective Impact: Great Cities Model.

Congratulations to President &; CEO, Mari Riddle, on her recent Nonprofit Leadership Impact Award! Thank you to all supporters!

Center for Nonprofit Management

SCLLN Literacy Tutor Training Calendar: May 2013

READ SD Computer Lab

SCLLN Tutor Workshop Calendar: May 2013

For Local, California and National

Literacy or Library Conferences and Events

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Calendar

May is "Get Caught Reading Month"

May 7 Literacy Tutor Orientation - Carlsbad Library 12p
May 7 Literacy Tutor Training = READ/San Diego 6p
May 8 Literacy Learner Orientation - READ/San Diego 5:45p
May 11 Literacy Tutor Training - San Diego Co Library 10a
May 16 Literacy Tutor Orientation = Carlsbad Library Library 6p
May 18 Duck-A-Thon = Huntington Beach Library @ The Pier
May 20 Literacy Learner Orientation - READ/San Diego 9:45a
May 21 READ Tour = Ventura County Library 6:30p

Info about local Tutor Training Workshops is always Scrolling in the Right Frame.

CA & National Literacy & Library Calendar: May 2013

Literacy & Library Calendar: May 2013

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- local, California and National -

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

May is Get Caught Reading Month

Southern California and California Literacy Events: May 2013
May 1+ BOOST Conference, Palm Springs
May 2+ Village of Tales Storytelling Festival, Ojai CA
May 4 Inland Empire Latino Book & Family Festival, CSU San Bernardino
May 4 Catesol Regional - Northern California, Mt. Diablo Adult Education
May 8+ Health Literacy Conference, Irvine CA
May 13+ Children's Book Week "A great nation is a reading nation."
May 17+ Bay Area Storytelling Festival, Richmond CA

National & International Literacy Events: May 2013
May 6+ Adult Learner Leadership Institute - VALUE Washington DC
May 7+ National Library Legislative Day, Washington, D.C
May 8+ Health Literacy Conference, Irvine CA
May 13+ Children's Book Week "A great nation is a reading nation."
May 18+ UNA Front Porch Storytelling Fest, Univ North Alabama
May 29+ BookExpo America, NY NY
May 29+ Canadian Library Association Conference, Winnipeg-Manitoba
May 30 International Latino Book Awards, New York
May 31+ Adult Education Research Conference, St. Louis MO

Info about local Tutor Training Workshops is always Scrolling in the Right Frame.

Burbank Library: Spelling Bee - April 25 2013

Burb's Eye View: Reading, writing and the literary spirit
Burbank Leader: 4.16.2013 by Bryan Mahoney

Helen Lopez could get the words out. However, when it came time to deliver a speech, the president of Burbank Kiwanis’ Aktion Club had trouble lifting them off the page.

That all changed this past December, when an appointment with the Burbank City Library’s literacy program began helping Lopez raise her reading level and her spirits.

“Now, I read all kinds of stuff,” said Lopez, 66. “(The program) has helped me read better, and I enjoy it.”

Lopez and more than 2,000 others have learned to read through the city’s literacy program. Since 1992, it has provided free one-on-one tutoring to adults who speak and understand English, but read and write below an eighth-grade level.

Next week, you have the opportunity to help them help people read. A spelling bee is replacing the program’s annual trivia bee. It will be where the bulk of the program’s annual budget for supplies and administration will be raised.

The event, coupled with a silent auction, will take place at 6:30 p.m. on April 25. in St. Leon Armenian Cathedral’s Ritz Banquet Hall, 3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd.

Tickets are $25 in advance at the library, $30 at the door. Teams of three can still register for $250 by calling the library’s literacy services at 818-238-5577. While most of the participants will probably be adults, students in the sixth grade and above can also enter.

This year’s keynote speech will be delivered by Lopez. She will represent not only one of the program’s success stories but the Aktion Club — a service group for adults with developmental disabilities. READ MORE !

SAVE CA LIBRARIES LITERACY - ADVOCATE !

SAVE CA LIBRARIES LITERACY - ADVOCATE !

The Budget Subcommittees are gearing up to meet, so it's time to make our voices heard and work to reinstate funding for libraries and literacy!

Once again, we need your help writing letters -- lots of letters!

Why?

We have a good news/bad news situation.

The good news is that libraries and literacy are in the budget for 2013/2014!!
The bad news is that the amount budgeted for literacy is a 38% reduction from 2010/2011.
- we are serving an increased number of adult learners with 24% fewer staff and 14% fewer tutors
- staff is not available to recruit, train and manage our volunteer force

EVERYONE -- tutors, learners, literacy professionals, and friends

Rise to the occasion and Write letters. Lots of letters – by April 24th

Some things to keep in mind:
1. Handwritten letters are the best, but if you can't do that, don't worry -- send a typed letter.
2. Volume matters! Our goal is a minimum of 200 letters on the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairpersons' desks, with copies on the committee members' desks.
3. You can use the same wording in your letters to the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairs.
4. Personal stories make a difference. Ask your tutors and students to write about the difference your literacy program has made in their lives.

SAMPLE LETTER:

April xx, 2013

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla
Chair, Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4140
Sacramento, CA 94249
Dear Assemblywoman Bonilla,

Thank you for your support of public libraries and literacy services, and for recognizing the impact libraries can have on the lives of Californians.

As you are no doubt aware, in the last five years, State funding to support coordinated library programs administered at the local level went from over $30 million to $15 million to zero, and then bounced back to a minimal $4.7 million. The Governor’s current budget proposal maintains the $4.7 million in funding for statewide regional library systems and for California Library Literacy Services.

The California Library Association is requesting a budget augmentation that would, for a very small amount of money, truly transform the way libraries deliver services. The $5 million augmentation request includes three components:
1. $2.25 million to partner with the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives In California (CENIC), which currently provides internet infrastructure for County offices of education, community colleges, and the CSU and UC systems, to bring a high-speed, fiber optic internet infrastructure to the front door of each of the 1,116 public library outlets in the State. Senator Carol Liu is sponsoring SB 331, which would enable this funding to be administered through the California Library Services Act.
2. $2 million to provide grant funding for libraries in need of obtaining circuits or other technology required to make local connections to the broadband network
3. $750,000 to partially reinstate the State cuts to Literacy programs, in order to prevent programs from closing due to lack of funding. The State’s current investment of $2.7 million in California Library Literacy Services is leveraged with local matches and strong volunteer support to help nearly 20,000 adult learners per year in over 800 library branches to better their reading and writing skills so they can more fully participate in California’s economy.
With access to high speed network connections, libraries will be much better positioned to support the internet service needs of Californians for conducting job searches, increasing job skills, accessing health care information, completing homework assignments for schoolchildren or college students, and applying for government benefits at the State and Federal levels. With a minimal investment by the State to level the playing field for broadband access, we can ensure that even the most remote and underserved communities are placed on even footing with their more urban counterparts.

In addition to the many positive impacts this direct funding would have, the $5 million investment by the State would increase California’s matching funds that increase eligibility for Federal funding through the Library Services and Technology Act.

I thank you sincerely for your support of our efforts to improve access to technology, job skills, and educational opportunities for all Californians.

Best Regards,

In addition to sending a letter to Assemblymember Susan Bonilla (as addressed above), please send a letter (it can be the exact same letter!) to the following legislators:

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla
Chair, Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4140
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2170
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4117
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Brian Nestande
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Phil TingAssembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3173
Sacramento, CA 94249

Senator Marty Block
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, room 4090
Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator Ted Gaines
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3070
Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator Rod Wright
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2032
Sacramento, CA 95814

Thank you so much for all you do to support libraries and literacy!!!
Laura Seaholm
Program Manager
Contra Costa County Library
Project Second Chance
www.ccclib.org/psc
925.927.3250
lseaholm@ccclib.org