Want to know more about Literacy Connects and what we do? Looking for a great volunteer opportunity this year?

Join several of our programs (Reading Seed, Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, and Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona) on Saturday, August 11th for a Volunteer Fair and Back to School Celebration!!

As our programs gear-up for the school year, we are looking for more wonderful tutors and coaches to support learners in our community and help bring literacy to life.

We invite current volunteers to bring a friend (or 2 or more!) to learn about the programs and volunteer opportunities at Literacy Connects. For every friend you bring, you’ll receive one raffle entry for a chance to win a fabulous gift certificate.

When: Saturday, August 11th from 9 am – 12 pm

Where: Literacy Connects Main Office, 2850 E. Speedway

Current Reading Seed Coaches will also be able to pick up their new journals and game boards for this school year, and there will be plenty of time to connect with other Literacy Connects volunteers and program staff. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please email Brenda Quintero (bquintero@literacyconnects.org) or call 520-882-8006. We hope to see you there!

UPDATE: 50th Birthday Party scheduled for July 8 has been CANCELLED (so disregard this flyer below which you may have picked up around town).

On July 4th, the monsoon that blasted Tucson damaged Literacy Volunteers of Tucson’s building located at 2850 E. Speedway. The storm tore off 1,500 square feet of the building’s roof, caused portions of the ceiling to cave in, flooded offices and destroyed the student computer lab, phone system and HVAC systems. Total cost of damages is still to be determined.

Happy 50th Birthday Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, despite this unfortunate news. For more info go to their website, www.lovetoread.org.

Literacy Volunteers is the primary adult-education organization in Tucson serving the needs of adults reading at the lowest literacy levels. This includes those not yet speaking English and those who do, but have difficulty with reading, writing, and/or math. Without LVT, through the support of donors, tutors and other volunteers, and staff, most of our students would have no other learning option. We offer an individualized approach to meet students where they are and to teach to each student’s goals. Students are able to achieve a rich life, full of accomplishments they can dare to dream are possible.

I’m sure if you want to donate to Literacy Volunteers of Tucson to assist them with this monsoon damage, they would welcome your support. For photos of the damage (click here.)

Email alert from Literacy Volunteers of Tucson:

Literacy Volunteers logo

State-funded adult education programs serve thousands of students each year who are trying to improve their skills, learn English, and earn GED diplomas. Eliminating adult education would terminate all adult education classes and GED testing in Arizona.

Facts to Know and Share:

* 795,970 adults in AZ are without a high school credential, which makes it nearly impossible to get a job or go on to further training.
* 18% of all high school diplomas issued in AZ in 2008 were GED diplomas–nearly 1/5 of Arizona’s high school graduates!
* GED instruction and testing costs an average of only $186 per student
* GED graduates earn $5,000 more per year on average, resulting in approximately $70 million additional tax dollars
* The economic impact of NOT educating the 800,000 Arizonans who do not have a high school diploma is enormous! 80% of adult education students are under 45–the backbone of Arizona’s workforce!!!
* AZ has one of the highest drop out rates in the nation. With the elimination of GED testing, AZ would likely be the only state in the country without this service.

Please Help!

* SPREAD THE WORD!! TODAY! Tell everyone you know about what’s happening.
* Call the following legislators and express your support of full funding for adult education!
— STATE HOUSE
+ Vic Williams (District 26, R) vwilliams@azleg.gov, 602-926-5839, Appropriations Committee
+ John Kavanagh (District 8, R) jkavanagh@azleg.gov, 602-926-5170, Appropriations Chairman
+ David Gowan (District 30, R) dgowan@azleg.gov, 602-926-3312
+ Frank Antenori (District 30, R) fantenori@azleg.gov, 602-926-5683
— STATE SENATE
+ Al Melvin (District 26, R) amelvin@azleg.gov, 602-926-4326, Appropriations Vice-Chair
+ Jonathon Paton (District 30, R) jpaton@azleg.gov, 602-926-3235

* Call your friends in Phoenix and Tucson. Ask them to contact their legislators about this.
* Call or write to Governor Brewer 1(800) 253-0883, or click here to contact her via her website

Can we afford NOT to invest in our state and our workforce? This is crucial for Arizona. It affects everyone.”

Note: I just called the Governor’s office toll free and you can do it anonymously as well. Those of us who are literate usually take for granted how easy and enjoyable it is to read. Literacy is fundamental to getting a good job and advancing economically in America.