October 2024

Volume 12, Issue 10

The Insider

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The Insider, the monthly newsletter of LVA Essex & Passaic Counties, will keep you in the loop on all the organization’s upcoming events.

How to Provide Adult Learners and Immigrant Women the Education They Need
 
The NonProfit Quarterly published an interesting article we thought you would like to read, as we prepare many of our students to move into higher education. The article recognizes the need to make changes to the current education system to better serve students. https://bit.ly/3A3dx5b

Literacy Volunteers of America Essex & Passaic Counties

90 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 566-6200, ext. 217 or 225
 
195 Gregory Avenue, 2nd Floor, Passaic, NJ 07055
(973) 470-0039

Cristhian Barcelos        -Executive Director
                                           [email protected]
Jorge Chavez                 -Data Processing Coordinator
                                           [email protected]
Sydnay Eckerling         -Education Coordinator
                                           [email protected]
Valeria Garrido             -Social Media & Newsletter Coordinator
                                           [email protected]
Cheryl Locastro            -Tutor Support Specialist & ESOL Instructor
                                           [email protected]
Marisol Ramirez           -Student Coordinator
                                           [email protected]

Greetings LVA family!
 
  As autumn settles around us, we find inspiration in the changing season, a reminder of the potential for growth and transformation in each of us. This month, our focus is on the life-changing power of literacy—a cornerstone of personal empowerment and social equity. Literacy is more than words on a page; it is the bridge to opportunity, connection, and resilience.
 
  Take John’s story. "I wanted to educate myself and be able to read and write properly," John shared. He has been learning with LVA for three years and has made remarkable progress. His increased confidence, especially in speaking and understanding English, is a testament to his dedication and the support he’s received from his tutor.
 
  Equally inspiring is the journey of Kat, a volunteer tutor who brings compassion and dedication to each session. Equally inspiring is the journey of Kat, a volunteer tutor who brings compassion and dedication to each session. She was drawn to LVA’s mission of helping adults improve their literacy and English skills, inspired by her great-grandparents’ own journey learning English as new immigrants to the U.S.
 
  Across the nation, advocates are calling for a renewed focus on literacy as a critical component of equity, a point highlighted in “The Truth About Reading: Literacy is Equity.” This month’s feature story reminds us that when literacy barriers are removed, doors to opportunity open. It’s a truth we witness every day here at Literacy Volunteers of America in Essex and Passaic Counties, where each tutoring session chips away at obstacles and builds a foundation for future success.
 
  Thank you for being part of our mission. Together, we’re building a more literate, equitable world, one word at a time. Enjoy the stories and resources in this month’s newsletter, and thank you for supporting LVAEP.

In the News

Copy and paste the highlighted website into an internet search bar to view the following stories.

​“7 New Books Recommended This Week" The New York Times. https://bit.ly/48pwQCq
 
“7 Surprising Health Benefits of Reading Every Day" Very Well Health.  https://bit.ly/3UlX2rA
 
“Factors affecting teacher-student interactions in a foreign language teaching class: a language socialisation theory perspective” Nature.com. https://bit.ly/40f0doV

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John is originally from Trinidad and Tobago. He was fluent in English when he arrived, but realized improving his reading and writing skills would open doors to further his education and create new opportunities.

Tutor Training Workshops

Online Training, by TBD
Platform: Zoom (sponsored by LNJ)
Tuesdays, 6 to 8 pm
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, & Feb. 4, 2025
 
Online Training, by TBD
Platform: Zoom (sponsored by LNJ)
Wednesdays, 6 to 8 pm
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, & Feb. 5, 2025

Tutor Support Workshops

"Tutoring in a Cross-Cultural Setting," with Doug Allen
Platform: Google Meet
Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 7 pm – 8:30 pm
 
"USA Learns-Access America: A FREE Resource to Support ESL Students," with Alisa Takeuchi
Platform: Google Meet
Friday, December 13, 2024, 3 pm - 4:30 pm

Coffee Hour with Tutors
with Cheryl Locastro

Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 3pm (Themed online meeting)
​
 
http://www.lvaep.org/workshops.html

Getting to Know Us
 John, LVA student
by Valeria Garrido

  John, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, came to the United States 13 years ago, initially for a vacation. He quickly fell in love with the country and decided to stay. While he was fluent in English, he felt that his reading and writing skills needed improvement. With encouragement from his wife, John joined Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA), embarking on a transformative educational journey that would change his life.
 
  "I wanted to educate myself and be able to read and write properly," John shared. He has been learning with LVA for three years and has made remarkable progress. His increased confidence, especially in speaking and understanding English, is a testament to his dedication and the support he’s received from his tutors.
 
  A key figure in John's success has been his tutor, Miss Wendy Sobelman. "I owe all that I have learned to her," John said with deep gratitude. He credits her passion and encouragement as pivotal in boosting his confidence. This connection with his tutor, combined with the LVA program’s resources and support from his family, particularly his wife, has been instrumental in John's journey.
 
One of John's proudest moments was receiving an award from LVA. "It was my biggest accomplishment," he said, highlighting how far he’s come from struggling with literacy to being recognized for his efforts. Despite moments when he felt like giving up, John pushed through. He overcame his embarrassment and fear of judgment, ultimately finding comfort and confidence in his abilities.
 
  Learning English hasn’t just improved John's communication skills; it has also opened up opportunities for him. "I was able to get a better-paying job," John explained. He now feels more self-assured in everyday tasks, like filling out forms at the doctor’s office or the DMV. His love of history, particularly his favorite book, *Benjamin Franklin: An American Life*, has fueled his drive to continue learning.
 
  Looking to the future, John’s goal is to earn his GED and to give back by helping others who face similar challenges. He dreams of writing a book about his journey and the obstacles he’s overcome. His message to other students is simple but powerful: "Never give up. Perseverance wins."
 
  John’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to learn and that, with the right support, the possibilities for personal growth are endless. His journey with LVA has transformed not just his ability to read and write but his entire outlook on life.

Literacy opens a wide door to life. Help us keep that door open with your donation!

 Thanks in large part to you, we can aid hundreds of students each year. Please continue your efforts to improve the lives of others by giving the gift of literacy.

http://www.lvaep.org/donate.html

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The truth about reading: Literacy is equity

Guest Commentary by John Corcoran The Sentinel October 9, 2024

  43 Million adults in the U.S. are functionally illiterate. Until I learned to read and write at the age of 48, I was one of them.
 
  Without the vital tools of literacy, I was left suspended in my childhood: academically, intellectually, spiritually, psychologically, and emotionally. As a man in my forties, I was unable to do what came easily to some: read the printed words that surrounded me.
 
  I know what it’s like to be seated in the “dumb row” of a classroom, to flip over a desk in rage, to feel like an alien in your own homeland, to learn how to camouflage as a means of survival. I know what it’s like to believe that there’s something wrong with you.
 
  Today, millions of children in America are victims of our still ongoing illiteracy and sub-literacy crisis.
 
  Reports from the National Institute of Health (NIH) tell us that though an estimated 95% or more of children can learn to read proficiently, over 60% of children in the U.S. are not reading at grade level.
 
  Further, while a small subset of children can learn to read no matter how they are taught, a majority of students require explicit instruction to learn how to decode and encode the written language, skills that the human brain is not naturally wired to do.
 
  This isn’t just an academic concern. Illiteracy and sub-literacy have serious implications on individual, systemic, and societal levels. According to a 2011 study by a Maryland General Assembly task force, children who can not read proficiently by third grade are significantly more likely to drop out of high school, and are therefore at higher risk of financial instability, reduced employment opportunities, and incarceration.
 
  There is no magic pill to cure illiteracy. The only cure for illiteracy is literacy–and achieving it requires an approach aligned with science.
 
  The Reading League defines the science of reading as “a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically-based research about reading and issues related to reading and writing.”
 
  For the full story please copy and paste this link on your browser:  https://bit.ly/3YzYWaF

Student Resources

  Learning a new culture is more than studying a language. Tutoring is more than learning techniques. Our “Resources” webpage covers everything from legal matters, health care, & scholarships for immigrants, to professional development for tutors. Give us a look @: http://www.lvaep.org/students.html

Getting to Know Us
Kathryn Balistos​, LVA Tutor
by Valeria Garrido

  Kat, a lifelong New Jersey resident, is dedicated to helping others professionally and through volunteer work. As a consultant for a housing nonprofit, she addresses homelessness across several counties, focusing on strategic planning and grant management. Kat’s career has
also included roles as an affordable housing planner and as Deputy Chief of Staff for New Jersey legislators, assisting with constituent services. She holds a BA in Political Science with a minor in Peace and Justice Studies from Pace University and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University.
 
  Since September 2019, Kat has volunteered with Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA), first in Monmouth County and now with LVA Essex and Passaic. She was drawn to LVA’s mission of helping adults improve their literacy and English skills, inspired by her great-grandparents’ own journey learning English as new immigrants to the U.S. “I wanted to give back in the same way that my family was helped when they first arrived here,” Kat explains.
 
  Currently teaching four students, Kat finds great reward in watching their confidence with English grow. However, one of her most memorable experiences was with her first group of students during the pandemic. When classes moved online in March 2020, her students, many of whom were essential workers and parents, didn’t miss a beat. “Their dedication was incredible,” she says. “Even with all the challenges, they found time to keep learning every week.”
 
  While teaching comes with its challenges, especially when explaining complex grammar rules, Kat sees every session as a shared learning experience. “I remind my students that even as a native speaker, I make mistakes in English too. We’re all learning together.”
 
  Kat enjoys running and has completed four half-marathons when she's not working or volunteering. She’s currently training for her first full marathon, adding another challenge to her busy life. Kat’s commitment to her community and her students is a testament to her belief in the power of education and service.
 
  Her work with LVA is just one way she continues to make a positive impact, helping others find their voice and improve their lives through language.

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