International Literacy Day :: Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy
Newport/Mesa
ProLiteracy proudly held their annual event to celebrate
adult literacy and the program participants.
The International Literacy Day event invites the NMPL family of tutors,
learners and volunteers to come together with members of the community to
celebrate adult literacy. On September 10, 2015, a gathering of nearly 150
guests listened to heartwarming stories, inspiring speeches and enjoyed a
delicious selection of food from many different countries from all over the
world provided by the adult learners.
Renee Hoffman
Heath and Risa Hoffman for keeping their
mother's legacy going by allowing us
to continue the Hoffman
Award for our learners. This year's winners are Maja
Kuta and
Carmen Caicedo who, with their tutors Tanya Gulati and Allan
Segal,
accomplished some amazing goals.
Advisory Board member Roman Darmer welcomed
guests and spoke of the importance of literacy.
Roman introduced Newport Beach Public Library Director Tim Hetherton,
who emphasized the importance of literacy and libraries.
Newport Beach Mayor Ed Selich took to the
podium to present a special proclamation designating September as Literacy
Awareness month.
Adult learner, Crystal Huang, shared her
experience of traveling with her family from Taipei, Taiwan in search of a
better education environment for her son. Her son has since attained a
postgraduate degree. Crystal joined the Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy program in
early 2015 and aspires to one day work at an orphanage and help others.
Literacy Coordinator Cherall Weiss then
introduced Risa Hoffman and Renee Hoffman-Heath, daughters of the late Rochelle
Hoffman for whom the Memorial Award was named. They spoke of their mother’s
dedication and love of tutoring. They
introduced the two winners of this year’s Hoffman Award.
-Ms. Hoffman introduced volunteer tutor, Ms.
Tanya Gulati, who spoke to the audience about her learner, Maja Kuta’s
tremendous accomplishments. Maja graciously thanked Tanya and expressed her
difficulties with dyslexia and how NMPL has helped her reach her goals. She
spoke about her artistic passion and how the program has assisted her in
pursuing her dreams. Maja signed a deal as an artist for a comic book, and is
grateful to be given such an extraordinary opportunity.
Next, the guests were introduced to tutor Alan
Segal and his learner Carmen Caicedo, who is originally from Venezuela. She
entered the program at a 2nd grade reading level and through her hard work is
now at a 5th grade level. NMPL has enabled her to be confident in her abilities
to speak and write in English. Carmen
shared her new goal with the group: to become a nurse.
Following the speakers, Cherall Weiss closed
with a reminder that illiteracy is all around us and it is thanks to the many
volunteers that, day by day, people’s lives are being changed for the better.
Each attendee was presented with a copy of In
Our Own Words, a collection of stories and essays written by learners in the
Literacy Program. They were also given a key to remind them to help ‘unlock the
potential.’
Guests enjoyed a delicious fruit and cheese
arrangement donated by Bristol Farms and exciting new beverages donated by
drinkNeuro.
