That's a Wrap: Post-2023 PLC Conference Take-Aways

My name is Patrick Geoghegan, President of the PLC and coordinator of this year’s Volunteer Literacy Tutor Conference! Thank you to all of our supporters for this year’s events! That means our sponsors, presenters, student speakers and attendees! It was a great opportunity to reconnect in a safe and productive environment after a several year absence. 

Our topics ranged from ESL Instruction at a variety of levels, to GED prep, to Growth Mindset in Adult Learners, to Financial Literacy and Resources. Most importantly, the in-person event helped reinvigorate the pulse of the Adult Literacy community in Portland. I was so happy to overhear the follow up questions after sessions, the exchange of emails and phone numbers, and the over connection and reconnection at lunch and in the hallways.  

We are already working on next years event. I encourage all of you to consider joining us for our event next spring!

PLC President

Patrick Geoghegan

PLC Hires its First Executive Director Lorie Wigle

information technology to reduce carbon emissions and electronic waste. She was President of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, a collaboration between the technology industry and World Wildlife Fund as part of this effort.

In 2020, Lorie retired as a Vice President and moved to an Encore Fellowship with what is now the State Forests Trust of Oregon. She and her husband live in the Helvetia area north of Hillsboro and run a small community-oriented horse rescue. Lorie is also an alumnus of Portland State University where she earned her M.B.A.

Lorie is excited to join PLC as its first Executive Director due to her passion for PLC's mission to foster a thriving and equitable community in which all adults have access to a basic education in literacy. According to Lorie, “It is a very rewarding experience to be part of an organization – and to work with its amazing volunteers and supporters – that has such a positive, life-changing impact.”

held a variety of literacy positions throughout the Portland and Vancouver areas, as well as abroad. For example, Heidi has studied and worked in China, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and is fluent in Spanish.

Currently, Heidi runs the Portland ESL Network website and has taught ESOL in the Portland area for 14 years. She is currently teaching English at Clark College in Vancouver, WA and is working with refugees and in her English classes. She also works closely with tutors in her ESL classes. Her passion is connecting communities. She strives to connect English Language Learners with the broader community and the broader community with her amazing students.