The Reader Newsletter - AEFL Week Edition

September, 2024

Celebrating Adult Education and Family Literacy Week!


This week is National Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Week and there is some great news and information to share. 


AEFL Week serves as a platform to raise public awareness about the significance of adult education and family literacy. The week aims to increase local and national attention on literacy skill building and continuing education for adult learners as well as the important role of caregivers in developing the literacy skills of children. 


This awareness week was started in 2009 by the National Coalition for Literacy, and the Literacy Alliance welcomes the opportunity to share more about the importance of this issue for quality of life, economic development, and strong communities.

New Family Literacy Partnership with the University of Florida Announced


As part of Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, the Literacy Alliance announces that it is now an official partner with the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning’s New Worlds Reading Initiative to provide family literacy workshops in the Northeast Florida region. The planned workshops are open to all caregivers. These sessions will empower adult learners in supporting their child’s literacy development while taking into account that many caregivers are also trying to build their own literacy skills.


Caregivers can also apply for New Worlds Reading, which is Florida’s free at-home program that helps eligible VPK - 5th graders strengthen literacy skills and spark a lifelong love of reading. Enrolled children receive 9 free books that they choose each school year through fifth grade, along with reading activities and resources families can use to help build kids’ reading skills.


"New Worlds Reading wants to walk alongside Florida's families on their children's reading journeys, and we're so excited for the opportunity to connect with and support even more families through regional partners like the Literacy Alliance," said Michelle McGriff, Regional Manager for New Worlds Reading at the UF Lastinger Center.


Marcus Haile, Literacy Alliance President & CEO, shared that, “The Literacy Alliance has long felt that a priority for family literacy needs to be supporting parents who want their own skill building to enroll in adult literacy programs. This partnership prioritizes adult learners while also providing learning opporutnities for families throughout the community.” 

 

The first family literacy workshop is October 10th, 6:00 pm, at the Brentwood Lakes Apartments Community Center. Interested in attending or hosting a Family Literacy workshop? Contact Lisa Alexander for more information by calling (904) 238-9000 or emailing lalexander@literacyallnefl.org.

Families Welcome at Literacy Alliance!


We know that balancing work and family responsibilities can make continuing education difficult. AEFLWeek allows us to share the Literacy Alliance view that adult education and family literacy go hand in hand.


The Literacy Alliance works to ensure that adult learners do not have to let the juggle of finding childcare be a barrier to continuing education. Children are welcome too! Families that learn together stay together! 


An AEFL Week Celebration


The Literacy Alliance kicked off AEFL Week last Friday with its most recent graduation ceremony. Those celebrated included two adults who gained a full functional level in their literacy skills and eight students who received their General Education Development (GED) certificate.


The GED is a recognized diploma by the Florida Department of Education, accepted by local colleges and universities as well as many employers, and is the gold standard for adult education and high-school equivalency certifications.


Attaining the GED takes hard work and time with four separate subtests in Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA), Math, Social Studies and Science. All of the students were part of our small group classes in partnership with the Jacksonville Housing Authority. These students certainly deserve to be proud of their accomplishment!

The Literacy Alliance is generously supported by individual donors and the following partners.

The Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Charitable Foundation