Redlands
Celebrates Newest Anthology Of Work By Adult Literacy Program Members
Redlands
Daily Facts: 6.22.2019 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator-A.K.
Smiley Library
On
June 15, 135 adult learners, their tutors, their families and members of the
community gathered at the Contemporary Club for the Celebration of Authors, an
event that honors the original work of adult learners from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.
At
the celebration, the authors received copies of “Our Stories, A Collection of
Writings, Volume 2,” the second anthology of adult learner writings.
The
anthology provides an opportunity for adult learners to write stories from
their hearts, choosing just the right words to express themselves, and then to
share those stories with the broader community.
Over
40 adult learners and three tutors contributed works for the anthology. The
works focused on the learners’ inspirations, journeys to literacy, personal
reflections, family and friends, memories and adventures and reflections about
books the learners had read. Tutor Sharon Regalado, who served as one of the
editors of the anthology, noted the tremendous growth she saw in the adult
learners’ writing skills.
 |
Adult
learners wrote about a myriad of experiences. Sisters Yesenia Jimenez and Ma,
Isabel Vidrio participated in an adult literacy book club where they read “A
Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park. The sisters could identify with the
book, as they also had to carry water to their home as children. Yesenia
recollected an incident where she and her sisters passed by a tree laden with
huge, spikey caterpillars. Isabel recounted a story about collecting water one
dark morning before her mother awoke.
Maria
Luz Moreno wrote about her granddaughter losing her first tooth. Zita Valdivia
wrote about the pride she felt when she first voted. Wen Sung Hsu wrote about
her love of reading.
The
authors were given the opportunity to read their works at the celebration and
to sign each other’s’ books. READ
MORE >>
Next
Volunteer Tutor Orientation
Sep
30 :: 6pm
If
you are interested in becoming a tutor, please contact the literacy program at
909-798-7565 ext. 4138
