Links to Literacy, 2017 Program Highlights

MID-STATE Literacy COUNCIL

Links to Literacy

2017 Program Highlights

Serving Adult Basic Literacy and English Language Acquisition Students in Centre and Clearfield Counties.

Raising Financially Smart Children Planned for Saturday, October 7 Exciting news! Mid-State Literacy Council has partnered with Schlow Centre Region Library and Guest Presenter and Sponsor, the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union, on a new program for kids 5-10, and families. It will be held at Schlow Centre Region Library on Saturday, October 7 from 1:-00—3:00 pm.

The program emphasis is on teaching children how money works and making smart decisions with money. Discussion and activities will involve financial tips, managing money, financial transactions, savings strategies, comparative shopping, setting goals, earning money, and giving.

The program is open to the public and there is no cost to attend, but registration is required by September 30; call (814) 238-1809 to attend. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

CentreGives Raises New Volunteer ESL Tutor

$19,104.68 for Mid-State Literacy Council!

CentreGives, the May online fundraising campaign sponsored

by Centre Foundation, was a welcome support for Mid-State Literacy Council programs.

104 givers made gifts to MidState Literacy, representing a significant increase in the number of givers and the amount raised.

With no state or federal funding for our literacy programs, we depend on individual donations to keep our doors open.

Heartfelt appreciation goes to all of our CentreGives givers!

Training Kicks Off with New School Year

We welcome new volunteers to our August training! They will learn the basics of teaching reading, writing and speaking skills.

Specifics include language learning, communication across cultures, goal setting, lesson plans, conversation starters, idioms, verbal phrases and teaching techniques like Directed Reading, Dialogues and Chunking Vocabulary. To register, call (814) 238-1809.

Aug. 17, 24—6:30 pm Aug. 18, 25—8:00 am Aug. 19, 26—7:30 pm C-NET Around the County Channel 7, 98 http://vp.telvue.com/preview? id=T04959&video=317392

Sunday, August 27, 6:05 pm Spikes game Fundraiser Benefits MSLC $10 tickets, (814) 238-1809 August 28-29-30-31 5:15—7:45 pm Mon-Wed: 2:45—5:15 pm New Volunteer Tutor Training for English as a Second Language Volunteers attend two dates (814) 238-1809 or mslc@midstateliteracycouncil.org Saturday, November 11 10:00 am—10:00 pm Barnes & Noble MSLC Book Fair — In Store Across from the Nittany Mall November 11-16 Online: For the donation code, visit mid-stateliteracycouncil.org

Volunteers can tutor one-on-one, with a small group, or team-up with another volunteer and tutor a small group together. Our professional staff will provide (TRAINING, p. 3)

Did You Know?

11% of Centre County residents ages 16 and older lack basic literacy skills.

Sunday, Nov. 12, 1:30 pm Mid-State Literacy Council Crossword Fundraiser Schlow Centre Region Library Details forthcoming at mid-stateliteracycouncil.org

17th Annual Ron & Mary Maxwell Spelling Bee Sets Record Mid-State Literacy Council supporters came together on April 5 for the 18th Annual Ron & Mary Maxwell Community Spelling Bee, hosted by Foxdale Village. The Bee raised vitally needed funds for basic literacy and English language instruction programs offered by the council. Sponsored by local companies, spellers included 19 three-person teams, the highest number of teams participating to date. Spellers were provided with words by Martha Kolln, Wordsmith, and the three final teams made went seven rounds.

The Missspelt Yuth (misspelling intended!) took top honors at the Bee. They were sponsored by Mass Mutual and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, and included Pam Short, Mark Hayes, and Martha Butler.

The winning word was L-A-O-D-I-C-E-A-N, which means “lukewarm or indifferent, especially in religion, as were the early Christians of Laodicea.” Second place finishers were The Comm-Oddities, sponsored by Galen Dreibelbis, and included Russell Frank, Mary Gage, and Cindy Simmons.

The third place winners were The Three Spellateers, sponsored by Hamilton Square Shopping Center, in Memory of Donna Litke, and included Hillary Appleman, Jen Delozier, and Ed Strause.

Amy Wilson, Mid-State Literacy Council Executive Director, reported that the Bee raised a record $17,000. She expressed her appreciation for all of the local companies who served as sponsors, with special recognition to Barranquero Café, a Queen Bee sponsor, and the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union, a Bee Keeper sponsor.

Martha Kolln (pictured with her husband Jack) retired from her role as Wordsmith, after serving 18 years in the position. In two words, Thank You, Martha!

You’ll be an inspiration for many spelling bees to come.

Second place finishers were The Comm-Oddities, represented by Mary Gage, Russell Frank, and Cindy Above, Word Mistress Simmons.

Katie O’Toole reviewed some logistics and announcements with Amy Wilson, MSLC Executive Director.

To all sponsors, volunteers, and spellers:

The Foxdale Fanatix featured Nick Bradashia, Jeff Boggie (taking a little break from Foxdale chef duties), and Bunny Moon. p. 2

The Three Spellateers included spellers Hillary Appleman, Jen Delozier, and Ed Strause.

MSLC TOAST & TRIBUTE DINNER About sixty friends and volunteers for Mid-State Literacy Council attended the annual MSLC Toast & Tribute Dinner, held May 3 at Celebration Hall. Titled A Mockingbird Evening, it was a festive occasion featuring themed dining stations centered around three different books: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Elaine Prestia and Andrew Prestia accepted the Ruth C. Kistler Service Award on his behalf.

This year’s tribute highlighted the contributions long-time volunteer, Carmine Prestia, who has served as time-keeper for the Spelling Bee and the Crossword Puzzle events.

Recently, Ruth met a husband and wife in our community who both expressed how thrilled they were with the services they received at Mid-State Literacy Council.

Ruth says, “It’s wonderful to go places and meet people who recognize what a wonderful job Mid-State Literacy Council does to help people. It makes me feel so good that I had a part in the good work that Mid-State Literacy Council is doing.”

Ruth C. Kistler, Founder of Mid-State Literacy Council, and active volunteer.

The Importance of Math MSLC staff received training from Gregory Eritsyan, PSU Math Ph.D. student, to advance our understanding of math as a language and explore teaching techniques to help our students gain math skills.

It was an enlightening session. Gregory explained how we are sometimes limited by spoken language, whereas math has precise descriptive properties. The connection between math knowledge and career is vital to both our students and employers. Our plans include expanding our math programs.

(TRAINING, p. 1) guidance and support. Instructional texts and teacher guides are provided. More than 175 volunteers help people in our community learn literacy skills. With their new skills, our students are obtaining employment, getting a driver’s license, entering a training program, and accessing healthcare information. We thank our volunteers who make that possible. Email mslc@midstateliteracycouncil.org for more information.

Director’s Notes Because of you, our instructional programs are thriving. Entering our 7th year without federal or state funding, community gifts and support continue to provide the funds required to operate our programs. Reading, writing, English, and math skills help our students obtain employment, support their children, enter training and education programs. Our English for Doctor’s Visits classes and health literacy curriculum give adults skills they need to access healthcare. Our students thank you.

Literacy is a serious business. Illiteracy has sharp and tragic consequences. “Seventy-five percent of state prison inmates did not complete high school or can be classified as low literate.“ ProLiteracy Because of you and our 200 plus volunteers, our community members have the opportunities created by education. Thank you. It means so much to so many.

This year Tracy Roth, AmeriCorps member, provided outreach into our community. She helped people who were isolated join our program.

Some learned to use our local bus system, accessed the library for the first time, and started work in their first jobs. She developed programs for people beginning to learn English and taught workrelated English to those who needed English to keep or advance in their employment.

Tracy’s service with Mid-State Literacy Council ends August 11th and we will miss her smile, expertise, and extraordinary work ethic.

Thank you, Tracy, for providing excellent instruction and outreach in our community. (NOTES, last page) p. 3

Book Drive Helps Bald Eagle Area Students Start Summer Right Before summer break, nearly 3,000 books were donated through MidState Literacy Council to Bald Eagle Area School District elementary age students for summer reading.

According to the PA Department of Education, “the term “summer slide” isn’t a poolside activity; it’s a term that describes the loss of retention and development of reading skills that occurs for certain students during the summer months.” The MSLC book drive combats “summer slide”! Thanks go to all who supported the BEA summer book drive.

We need the following items: Sturdy Bookshelves Working Vacuum Cleaner Office Supplies Give us a call at 238-1809 if you can help. p. 4

MSLC Donates Books to Families Through Local Food Pantries A resounding response to the summer children’s book drive means that more kids will have books to read this summer. In May, Mid-State began distributing book donations to food banks around Centre County, as well as to the local homeless shelter. As the abundance of quality donations have poured in, it’s been clear that reading and literacy are important to families in our community, who are passing on their treasures to new homes.

Local food pantries receiving the books include the Centre Hall/Potter Township Food Pantry, Faith Centre Food Bank in Bellefonte, Centre House Shelter and Emergency Food Pantry, Penns Valley Family Service Center, and Philipsburg Community Action Food Pantry.

“The books were a success,” reported Eileen Booz, who manages monthly food distributions in Centre Hall, which serves 60-70 families regularly. Recipients enjoyed browsing through the books and finding an extra treat to take home for the summer. In Penns Valley, Roxy Witmer manages the daily operation of the Family Service Center, which provides a food pantry, a thrift shop, utility assistance, and tax help to the community. Even with all that the site offers, the books from Mid-State will fill a gap.

Food pantry clients who receive them will be reminded that literacy and learning are basic needs, as essential as food and clothing are in supporting children’s health and growth.

Centre House, the housing shelter in State Roxy Witmer manages College, provides transitional housing to the Penns Valley Family approximately 70-100 people each year, about a Service which provides a quarter of which are children. The small supply food pantry. This year, of books it once had on hand whittled away over books donated through MSLC have been a the years. That changed with the arrival of welcome addition for colorful, up-to-date picture and chapter books pantry clients. that will appeal to a range of ages. Additionally, books are now available to those using the emergency food pantry located at Centre House. The pantry is open for immediate needs when the main food bank is closed. As a result, many children who may have never had a book of their own can find something that brings delight again and again.

These new connections, due to the success of the book drive, have allowed literacy to reach deeper into communities and extend the power and pleasure of books to all.

—Tracy Roth, AmeriCorps member 2016-2017 Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps

Two Student Stories: The Road to Self-Sufficiency Basic Literacy Student “SC” is a young mother of two school-aged children. SC contacted Mid-State Literacy Council about being matched with a tutor. SC had a goal, a very definite goal when she first met with MidState Literacy staff. Straightforward and direct, “I want to get my driver’s license. My reading isn’t the best and I get headaches when I read too many pages at a time but I need to get my driver’s license.”

Many Mid-State students often lack confidence and underestimate their own abilities and capabilities. SC appears to be one of those individuals and having a specific goal as a driving force can have a tremendous motivational impact. SC’s schedule includes volunteering at the local food bank. When matching tutors and students, we consider schedules, interests, and location—all essential ingredients for a successful tutoring match.

SC’s desire revolves around her children, especially her daughter, a special needs student that often requires her mom’s support at school. Now SC must rely on her own mother to provide that assistance when needed. Currently without a driver’s license, SC is unable to get to her daughter’s school and assist with the emotional and behavioral supports that are required for her daughter to progress in school.

Working with her Mid-State Literacy Council tutor SC has succeeded in both reading and comprehending the driver’s license test booklet.

When assigned 4 or 5 pages a week to read; she can do so and highlights the important passages. Her tutor discusses the material and goes over any concerns for each section. Questions are asked and discussed and SC is attaining an 85-90% correct response rate.

SC’s rapid success has led to a discussion on setting an actual date for her to take the written driver’s license test which is now even more important since she will be getting her own apartment soon. In today’s world independence is often dependent on one’s ability to navigate in the community on many levels. SC has made great strides in doing that.

A supercalifragilisticexpialidocious thank you to our volunteer tutors!

For English as a Second Language student Nader, earning a green card as an immigrant to the United States has been a long and often difficult process.

Nader emigrated to the United States from Egypt in 2014 and wound up in State College. He knew little English when he first arrived, which made it much more difficult to navigate his new home. Nader enrolled in the math and English programs at MSLC, and worked both in our classes and with our volunteer tutors to improve his math and language skills.

Eventually, Nader set his sights on earning a green card.

Non-citizens are able to live in the U.S. either by successfully applying for a visa, which allows temporary residence, or a green card, which enables permanent residence. Only a small percentage of visa holders are able to apply for green cards, because they must first possess immigrant visas. Most non-citizens hold non-immigrant visas, which tie their residence in the US to specific circumstances, like education or work, and can be revoked if those circumstances change.

After receiving an immigrant visa, a green card-seeker might need to meet with a US government official for an interview that will determine green card eligibility. It’s a process that can take years.

Nader earned his green card in December 2015. He had several setbacks with the complicated paperwork being filled out incorrectly, but he was still able to earn his permanent US residence in under two years.

Now, Nader is focusing on furthering his education and career. To build upon the skills he was learning at MSLC, Nader took a bus from State College to Pittsburgh twice a week during the spring of 2016 to take immersive courses in math, English, and computing. He continued to study with MSLC tutors and work at a local convenience store, a demanding schedule that often left Nader exhausted. But his hard work has seen results. Nader is now attending Penn State with hopes to qualify as a business major.

—Lisa McMonagle, ESL Program Coordinator Murrie Zlotziver, MSLC Literacy Coordinator

p. 5

OUR MISSION The Mid-State Literacy Council is a non-profit group providing adult education instruction in Centre and Clearfield Counties.

The Council offers basic literacy, English as a Second Language, and health literacy services to adults in need of the essential skills needed to navigate their daily lives.

“An excess of $230 billion a year in health care costs is linked to low adult literacy. Nearly half of American adults have difficulty understanding and using health information. Lack of understanding impedes adults’ abilities to make appropriate health decisions and increases the likelihood that they’ll incur higher health costs.” ProLiteracy

More Spelling Bee Memories

CONTACT US PHONE: (814) 238-1809 248 Calder Way, Suite 307 State College, PA 16801 mslc@mid-stateliteracycouncil.org FAX: (814) 238-7492 www.mid-stateliteracycouncil.org

Mid-State Literacy Board of Directors David Whitmarsh, President Cathy Alloway Mary Dupuis Brittany Ferrizzi Ashley Kraige Pam Long Rebecca Mason Julie Pichora Brandon Robertson Jane Sheeder Heidi Wright Kimberly Wyatt

Better Than Autocorrect included Joshua Potter, Rebecca Lundin, Carmine Prestia has MSLC volunteer Brandon Robertson and Scott Stilson, with son Sullivan been Timekeeper at the helped register twenty-two local Stilson looking on. groups for this year’s Bee—a record! Bee since its inception.

How Dewey Spell “Schlow” made a spirited effort. Pictured: D.J. Liliy, Judi Minor, and Anita Ditz.

Special thanks to sponsors Barranquero and PSECU!

@MSLCLiteracy The Mid-State Literacy Council

Our Financial Supporters:

The Interns included Tony Kathryn Lebo, and Ashley Stoffa.

(NOTES, p. 3)

With funds from MSLC’s reserve and the Centre County United Way’s Women’s Leadership Grant, we can continue the AmeriCorps position for another year. Thank you to all who make that possible.

The Word Busters featured Ike the Spike adds to Pensa, Christie Lui, Sunaina Mathur, and the fun at the Bee. Veronica Garis.

Mid-State Literacy Council Contribution Name _________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ Phone ______________Email_________________Amount $________ Online gifts may also be made on our secure website: www.mid-stateliteracycouncil.org Thank you for your tax-deductible gift! Please complete this form and mail donation to Mid-State Literacy Council, 248 E Calder Way, Ste. 307, State College, PA 16801.