Founded in 1968 logo


Dolly: Diploma at age 79
                                                            
It is with sadness that we mourn the passing of Assunta ("Dolly") DiJoseph on March 13 at age 96, who was beloved at CFL. Dolly earned her high school diploma through CFL at age 79. At that time she said "I'd been out or school for more than six decades, raising a family, had jobs, and still believed that getting smarter wasn't out of my reach." She soon began working at CFL in part-time and full-time positions. When budget cuts ended that paid role she chose to volunteer her time as a CFL tutor at the South Philadelphia Library. In 2013, at age 91, she received the CFL's Joan and Richard Behr Exceptional Service Award (pictured here with the Behrs'). Her inspiration and dedication to CFL's learners will be remembered in the years to come.


We Love You too!

Mariam M. Ibrahim, 23, came to the U.S. from Egypt with her family in 2017. She enrolled in ESL classes at CFL in January 2018 and received support from her teacher and the Student Support Services team. She is now a student at Community College of Philadelphia and joined the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians' Immigrant Leadership Institute. She also has two jobs: interpreting Arabic to English at a nonprofit and working behind the counter at Panera Bread.This is what she says: 
 
"I love the Center for Literacy so much. It's the center for the light to be shown for all of us. This community raised me up emotionally and built up my community. I have a wonderful teacher who was with me step by step to improve my level in English. She is Ms. Melanie Menkevich. I made good relationships such as my classmates in the intermediate class. We were like a family not just English classmates! 

Special thanks for Ms. April Smith who supported me a lot and helped me to find a way to start here in the U.S. Thanks for Ms. Lawyer for the computer classes. Thanks to everybody."
 

Old City in Context

A big thank you to Context Travel for reaching out to CFL and leading small groups of our English Language Learners on walking tours in Old City. Docents led a total of 7 private walks with up to 5 students in each group, along with a CFL instructor. Called "Colonial Philadelphia Tour: Old City in Context," each tour was 2.5 hours. Students came from CFL classes held in the Northeast, Southwest, West and Center City Philadelphia.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Context  operates educational walking tours all around the world, with a mission "to awaken a passion for learning and understanding." Pictured here is Song Han (in front with pink sweater) with students from her class and Marjorie Scharf's class at the Liberty Bell. 

Not only did the students benefit, CFL instructors appreciated the tours:

From ESL instructor Song Han:
"We learned so much about American history. Our guide spoke French. It helped some of my low-beginning students get involved in the tour actively! It was an awesome time!"
 
From ESL instructor Shaina Kapeluck:
"It went so well. It was an incredible opportunity. The tour was directly connected to the things we were reading in class and the tour guide was great at checking in with the learners and answering their questions."

Center for Literacy
399 Market Street, Suite 201
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 474 - 1235

United Way Donor Option #147

STAY CONNECTED: