Celebrating Success and Bright Futures In
February 2015, the Library’s adult literacy program, READ/San Diego, celebrated the monumental
dedication and success of its 27rd class. The American Library Association
named READ the nation’s top literacy program and the U.S. Department of
Education recognized it as a model program for providing life-changing training
to low-literate students from a broad range of backgrounds and learning levels.
The program serves the estimated 442,000 San Diego adults who cannot read and
write well enough to meet every day needs. In addition to free literacy
instruction, the Library helps participants pursue an education and encourages
families to read together. A few of the 2015 Adult Learner and Tutor honorees include:
Antoinette Mosley Adult Learner of the Year
Award Winners
Hinda Ahmed “You need to reach…it’s hard, but if
you want it, you reach.” Hinda came to the US over ten years ago from Somalia.
She had little schooling in her country, and found herself staying at home
because she could not communicate well in English. Hinda found out about
READ/San Diego from her sister-in-law. She enrolled in May 2011 and waited over
a year for a tutor.
Kassim Alkarawi “Every time I come here: I learn
something new.” Kassim walked into the Learner Orientation at READ feeling
skeptical and withdrawn. When he started the program in 2012, he was unable to
write the alphabet in order or recite the days of the week or the months of the
year in sequence. He had attended school in Iraq for six years, but did not
have one fond memory to share during his initial assessment. His old fears of
the classroom along with his many humiliating school experiences followed him
into his first tutoring session.
Mi Sun Cho “Identify a specific goal or two and
go for it!” Mi Sun Cho came to the United States four year ago fro Korea.
Initially, she attended English classes at the adult school, but wanted to
focus on nursing, her career goal. She enrolled at READ after learning about
the services provided from a friend. Mi Sun’s English skills were proficient
for our program but not for her desired profession. She had practiced nursing
for 16 years in South Korea, working in operating and anesthesiology
departments, but that experience did not qualify her for nursing jobs in the
United States. She had to pass the California nursing exam and demonstrate
mastery of English.
Rebecca E. Lytle Tutor of the Year Award Winners
Katherine Albitz “Learning is not a linear
process. It goes in bumps and then all of a sudden she’ll make a big leap.”
After retiring from her job as a software developer and engineer at Hewlett
Packard, Katherine wanted to get involved in something that she felt strongly
about. She wanted to help adults who had been denied education or who hadn’t
been able to get the education they wanted and needed.
Rancy Breece “I am doing hearts work and the
rewards are better than pay!” Though the time was relatively short, Rancy never
forgot his first experience tutoring an adult learner through READ in 1989. He
returned to READ in 2012 to take on another student giving his passion for
reading.
Carl Balingit “Learning to teach is very
valuable.” Carl Balingit heard about READ/San Diego through the San Diego
Council on Literacy’s CEO, Jose Cruz. In fact, he credits Jose with being the
inspiration for his willingness to commit to tutoring. Carl recognizes the
value of reading and feels it’s important to have a “well informed society.” READ
MORE ! (pdf)
