The Stand
This month’s cover story spotlights local literacy pioneer Ruth Colvin who is set to celebrate a milestone birthday. During a Birthday of a Century — set for Nov. 18 – Colvin’s work for the past 55 years to increase adult literacy will be celebrated along with establishing an endowment in her name to keep her local legacy going. Money raised will support the current work of LiteracyCNY, which serves students who read at or below a sixth-grade level and new English language learners.
Two online stories also accompany this print story.
In “Boosting Adult Literacy,” meet a current South Side student of LiteracyCNY who was reading at a second-grade level when she came to the agency in 2011. Now she is working towards earning her high school equivalency diploma and regularly reading books to her six grandchildren.
In “Observations of an English Language Learners Class,” see what it’s like for non-native speakers who are trying to not only learn the language, but understand American culture and customs. Students in the class taught by Kevin Lucas hail from Iraq, the Congo, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Sudan, China and the Middle East.
To volunteer as a tutor with LiteracyCNY or to make a donation, call the agency at (315) 471-1300 ext. 170 or email info@LiteracyCNY.org
— Package by Ashley Kang, The Stand director
