Are you concerned about literacy in the county? Here’s your chance to help.
I’m tempted to jump up and yell, “Read All About It.” That’s the whole point. Tonight we’re going to be all about literacy. And we want you to join us.
You’ll forgive me if I get a little worked up over literacy. My job depends on it. People don’t read, I don’t work.
Seems pretty simple to me.
That’s one of the reasons I’m excited about a special program we’re going to be taking part in on Wednesday.
We’re partnering with the Delaware County Literacy Council to promote a very special event to mark International Literacy Day.
From 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, DCLC will be hosting an open house at their Chester headquarters, at 2217 Providence Avenue in Chester.
They will be telling the public about what they do and you’ll be able to talk about the importance of literacy from several perspectives. You’ll learn about the crucial work they do in the areas of tutoring and small-group instruction for adults in reading, writing, Math, English as a second language and GED preparation.
Scheduled to appear at the event will be Michael Lahoud, a midfielder for the Philadelphia Union soccer team. Lahoud is a native of Sierra Leone—one of several West African countries well represented among DCLC’s adult students. Immigrants from Africa, Asia, South America, and other parts of the world come to the Literacy Council for both ESL instruction and basic literacy services and often receive help from a volunteer literacy tutor.
Lahoud is scheduled to talk about his journey from Sierra Leone to the ranks of Major League Soccer, first playing for Chivas USA in Los Angeles and now playing for the Union, who just happen to play their home games at PPL Park in Chester. Lahoud is also scheduled to sign autographs following the program of speakers during the event.
The event runs from 5-7, and from 6-7 we will be live-streaming the event as a special edition of our Wednesday night ‘Live From the Newsroom’ show. If you can’t make it out to the center, log on to DelcoTimes.com for the show.
We’ll also have several of our bloggers on hand to talk about their writing and workin in our Community Media Lab. Among them will be Mary Ann Fiebert, who writes the popular Today’s Top 10 Blog. Today Mary Ann nicely recounts some things you would not be able to do without literacy skills. Check it out here.
Visitors also will be able to learn about the “Real Men Really Read” Campaign from Jonathan Abdur Raheem King of Brothers of Concern, a grass roots organization in Chester, that is targeting literacy skills among adult men in jail.
In addition local Rotarians will be recounting some of their local and international activities relating to literacy.
The event will be streamed live on the Delaware County Daily Times’ “Live from the Newsroom” web site, and several Daily Times’ bloggers will be in attendance to meet readers and share their thoughts on literacy.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.delcoliteracy.org, or call 610-876-4811.
The Literacy Council was founded in 1975 by volunteers who recognized a need for reading tutoring in the Chester area. For 37 years, the Literacy Council has worked with Delaware County adults who wish to read, write, speak and understand English. Currently, more than 50 adult students are waiting for tutors. To learn how to become a volunteer tutor, come out to Wednesday’s Open House or call Susan Keller at 610-876-4811.
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