THE READER
Spring/Summer 2020
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A newsletter from the
Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida
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ADULT LEARNING IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC: A CAUTIOUS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM
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The Literacy Alliance couldn't be prouder of the student and staff response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Within a week of stay-at-home orders, our staff began the transition to online instruction. Computers were loaned out, online accounts were created, worksheets were emailed. In the end, over 100 Literacy Alliance students engaged in online learning. About 10 of our volunteer tutor/student pairs also moved to online meetings to continue their work. But for many of our students there is no replacement for in-person instruction and the social connection they feel to their classmates. With the help of the Jessie Ball duPont Center, we have resumed limited computer lab, tutoring, and classroom options with health precautions in place. Our staff continues to innovate, now offering live streaming of the classroom for students who prefer to learn at home. Blended instruction is here to stay, offering additional learning opportunities to students who face scheduling, transportation, and childcare impediments to on-site attendance.
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OVER HALF OF LOCAL ADULTS NEED LITERACY SUPPORT
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The Literacy Alliance has released an analysis of national data showing the need for continued efforts in adult literacy and numeracy. The data is part of research by the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) and includes county level information. Based on the online skills map, Duval County, for example, showed that 21% of adults (1 in 5) scored at a level where they would have considerable difficulty comprehending print material. An additional 34% (1 in 3) scored at a level indicating they were nearing proficiency, but will still struggle to perform tasks with text based information. Combined, over half of local adults struggle with literacy and numeracy. The local adult literacy need holds back not only those individuals, but also our entire community. All adults should be able to reach their full potential through literacy which allows them to maximize their quality of life for themselves and their families, find gainful employment, and participate fully in civic and community activities. Our local analysis can be found on our
website.
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT
The Literacy Alliance is grateful for some recent donors who were instrumental in making sure our services continued and our capacity expanded.
- The City of Jacksonville Public Service Grants Program, Florida Department of Education and United Way of Northeast Florida who all are heavily invested in our direct classroom instruction, tutor training, and literacy assessment services.
- The Jim Moran Foundation and Donald C. McGraw Foundation for particularly allowing us to expand and diversify our literacy services.
- The Dollar General Literacy Foundation and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for our core basic education and literacy services.
- Bank of America Foundation for job coaching and career development activity particularly using ProLiteracy’s Workforce Atlas system.
- Truist for their support of our identifying program gaps and ensuring they were kept whole.
- The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida for Census 2020 outreach and awareness to adult learners.
- The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida’s Presidential Grants Program for our rebranding and public outreach.
- The Wish You Well Foundation, Big Lots Foundation, BBVA Foundation and Family Alliance Foundation for allowing us to innovate in literacy programming.
- Florida Blue, Wells Fargo, and the Florida Literacy Coalition for our health and financial literacy programs.
- ProLiteracy for our partnership with Hubbard House to provide adult education to domestic violence survivors.
- Uptown Civitan for direct instruction and tutor recruitment.
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THE 2020 CENSUS IS HERE!
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The Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida is part of a national network of literacy organizations ensuring adult learners and their families are counted. With a grant from The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida we were able to significantly expand our outreach.
Our efforts began in March with presentations on the census in our small group classes and tutoring sessions that included sample materials and practice online surveys. Students heard our message - “The 2020 Census is Coming!” Students received flyers and education in class. There were banner displays in the computer lab and one-on-one information being shared from tutors. All of the preparation instilled in our students how important it is to “Get Counted.” Then, our building closed, and in-person classes and tutoring came to a screeching halt.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Literacy Alliance quickly changed direction from in-person classes and computer lab to online classes and lessons, and we were able to continue our census activities during online sessions and virtual tutoring. We also began a calling, texting, and emailing campaign to students to check if they completed the census while we also checked on their well-being during the pandemic. We encouraged students to respond on their own, if possible, but we also provided the website, phone numbers, and step-by-step instruction as needed.
Just one example: We helped an elderly empty nester who had been told by others not to fill out the survey because, “they don’t need all that information.” Our trusted relationship with her meant she heard our message about the importance of the census and allowed us to help ensure her response was submitted!
Today, “The Census is Here!” is our new mantra, and so far 130 of our active students and their households are “Counted.” We are not done yet and will continue reaching out through the extended deadline of October 31, 2020. If you need help getting your Census completed, call us or ask your teacher or tutor.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO MARVIN WILLIAMS
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Literacy Alliance student and community ambassador Marvin Williams is the 2020 recipient of the Flight for Freedom Award from the Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC). It honors an adult student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishment in improvement of literacy or leadership skills within literacy.
Marvin will be recognized at FLC’s annual conference rescheduled to 2021. In addition to formal recognition, he will receive two round-trip tickets to any Southwest Airlines destination in the Continental US. Marvin, we are so proud of you and your accomplishments, and we can’t wait to read your next book!
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Marvin Williams and local news anchor,Tenikka Hughes, who also won an FLC award this year.
Pictured at the Jax Book Fest with his book, ”The Color Bridge Race."
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COVID RESPONSE, ONLINE LEARNING, AND DIGITAL LITERACY
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During April, 100 Literacy Alliance students were engaged in online teacher-led classes, computer lab lessons, or working with a tutor to improve literacy skills--not to mention digital literacy. We had eight online classes and loaned out over a dozen laptops to keep students learning. We also told students about free/low cost internet options. Our experiences over the last few months have emphasized the importance of improving our students' digital literacy. We have invested in the Northstar Digital Literacy curriculum, developed for adult learners. Students interested in acquiring additional digital literacy skills will be able to earn credentials through the Northstar assessment system.
Recently, we reopened in-person computer lab on Wednesdays and Fridays with limitations and rules about social distancing, wearing masks, and sanitation procedures. About 25 students have returned. A couple reading and math classes have also returned, but students still have the option of attending online. We are trying to make in-person learning options available for students who may not feel comfortable with or have access to technology or who want to attend in person.
Thank you to our partners who have been key in our distance learning efforts. CSX Transportation’s donation of refurbished laptops allowed us to loan devices to students at home, and ProLiteracy’s Mobile Learning Fund provided licenses to online learning resources.
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PROGRAM STATISTICS
FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020
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UPCOMING TUTOR INFO SESSIONS:
Wed, July 29, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, online
Fri, August 14, 8:30 – 9:30 am, online
Wed, August 26, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, online
Wed, August 26, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, online
Fri, September 11, 8:30 – 9:30 am, TBD
Wed, September 23, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, TBD
Fri, October 9, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, TBD
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Christina Altes, Chyna Bergevin, Erin Hefferin, Stephen Lu, Jim Mattera,
Ryan Montour, Olivia Petracelli, and Liberty Stots
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The Literacy Alliance is interviewing for two AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) full-time positions. The positions listed are for Community Outreach and Literacy Services. Interested in finding out more? Visit our career page at:
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Our mission is to increase literacy awareness and improve adult literacy in northeast Florida through formal instruction and volunteer-based tutoring.
(904) 238-9000
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