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Our Mission 

Believing that literacy is the foundation for a sustainable community, Washtenaw Literacy provides literacy support, free of charge, to adults through a network of trained tutors. 

It is our Vision to eliminate illiteracy in Washtenaw County.

 

ABCs of Washtenaw Literacy

Are you interested in
volunteering with
Washtenaw Literacy?

attend one of our
upcoming ABC's of
Washtenaw Literacy
Information Sessions to
learn more about all of the many ways you can help!

Save the Date!

Celebration of Learning

Washtenaw Literacy's annual celebration  in honor of the hard work of all our learners and tutors.

March 22, 2018
6:00 pm
Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church
1800 Packard St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Power Tutoring

Washtenaw Literacy's popular daylong series of workshops for adult literacy tutors is on Saturday, Februay 17, 2018.  





February 2018
In This Issue

March is National Literacy Month!

Throughout March Washtenaw Literacy will be raising awareness about the often hidden issue of illiteracy, and the many ways the effects of illiteracy cannot be hidden.  Be sure to follow Washtenaw Literacy on social media for snapshots of information about our community throughout the month!

Celebration of Learning is the centerpiece event for National Literacy Month!  Washtenaw Literacy tutors and staff recognize the achievements of our many, many learners.  Some receive special recognition, and share their stories and successes.  Everyone enjoys a wonderful potluck meal.  Please join us for this special event.  

Save the Date!  |  Celebration of Learning! 

March 22, 2018 -  6:00 pm
Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church
1800 Packard St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197


Learners with their Tutor Michelle Anderson at 
Celebration of Learning 2017.


Power Tutoring | Annual Conference Offers Professional Development for Literacy Providers

Washtenaw Literacy's annual conference for literacy tutors,  Power Tutoring,  is a valuable resource for volunteer and professional literacy tutors and providers from throughout the state of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.  The conference includes a variety of topical workshops and networking opportunities. Workshops focus on practical teaching techniques and best practices. 

Program Coordinator Liz Garaba presenting at Power Tutoring.


The event is planned and carried out by Washtenaw Literacy's Mentor Team, highy trained and experienced Washtenaw Literacy volunteers. Since 2004 Power Tutoring has been held at Washtenaw Community College. Currently it is the only offering of its kind for literacy volunteers in Michigan.
 
For more information on Power Tutoring please call Washtenaw Literacy at (734) 337-3338 or go to click here
.



Community Opportunity Center |  Promoting Equity in High-Need Neighborhoods

Washtenaw Literacy's computer lab, the Community Opportunity Center (COC), offers place-based programming in Washtenaw County's highest need neighborhoods. According to the  Washtenaw Opportunity Index , eastern Washtenaw County faces significantly greater challenges such as hunger, poverty, unemployment, as well as poor educational and health outcomes.  In this part of Washtenaw County over 21% of families fall below the 100% poverty level, while over 51% fall below the 200% level of poverty. Schools in these neighborhoods provide free or reduced-price lunch to over 80% of their students. 


Tutors and Learners work together 
at Community Opportunity Center.

Located at Grace Fellowship Church House of Solutions in Ypsilanti, the COC serves residents from Sugarbrook and West Willow. 
 
Learners drop in to work one-on-one with Tutors. The fully-equipped computer lab unites digital literacy with programming to help residents improve their basic literacy, prepare for the GED test, improve employability, and better direct their lives. This model fills the gap as adult education programs traditionally offered by public school districts disappear and GED completers get pushed from public schools.  All programming is free.
 
"The COC is a valuable tutoring resource, allowing Learners to receive personalized tutoring right away," says Coordinator David Christensen.
 


Supporting Literacy!
Marty Friedburg & Beth Dugdale

When donor Marty Friedburg first learned about Washtenaw Literacy, he was volunteering with the area Head Start program, reading books to children. But he kept his eye open for an opportunity to do something a bit more intellectually stimulating.

That's when an ad about Washtenaw Literacy and its work with adults jumped out at him in The Ann Arbor News. Right away, Marty knew he wanted to get involved.

Marty and his wife, Beth, are both readers and this was an ideal opportunity to share that skill and joy with others.
For more than eight years, Marty served as an ESL tutor. When they moved to Plymouth, Marty and Beth no longer tutored, but they continued to support Washtenaw Literary as donors, providing auction items to the annual gala and facilitating the event's honorary host.

For Marty and Beth, the mission of Washtenaw Literacy is important, and the benefits to the community are obvious.

"Folks going from being illiterate to literate become people who contribute to the community through their work, the taxes they pay, the increased stability they provide to their families, and the trajectory they provide for their children and grandchildren," Marty elaborated. "Helping bring literacy to even one person affects countless people in generations to come."

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