Josiah Brown, a volunteer member of the board of the Literacy Coalition of Greater New Haven, sent in this release.
The Literacy Coalition of Greater New Haven recently welcomed a new colleague to its volunteer board of directors. Genevive Walker, director of programs for the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), joined the Coalition board this summer. Previously, she served as executive director for the Greater New Haven Help Alliance and co-developed and facilitated the Youth Initiative Summer Leadership Program of New Haven. A longtime resident of Connecticut originally from New Haven, she is a former teacher in both the New Haven and Hamden Public School systems.
In other news, New Haven Reads was featured in the Hartford Courant, while Read to Grow’s “books for every baby” campaign also attracted coverage. Concepts for Adaptive Learning received a $20,000 grant from Comcast for the “digital literacy for early learners” program, at sites including the New Haven Public Library. The public library — while offering a range of services for learners of all ages — concluded another summer of “READy for the Grade” in partnership with NewAlliance Foundation, and the library’s branches are preparing to support families in the new academic year. A new academic year also brings training sessions and a need for additional Literacy Volunteers for Greater New Haven, to help adult learners like those whose perspectives were recently published in the annual compilation, Hear Our Voices.
ConnCAT (September 9 culinary showcase), Concepts for Adaptive Learning (September 14 wine-tasting benefit), the Jewish Coalition for Literacy (September 20 volunteer information session/orientation), and Junta for Progressive Action (September 22 gala benefit) all have major events over the next month.
The Literacy Coalition, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with a mission to promote, support, and advance literacy in the region, was established in 2003 by a board led by the late Christine Alexander, who also founded New Haven Reads.
The Coalition sponsors events such as this Literacy Forum and has a LiteracyEveryday website with portals to Get Help, Volunteer, Donate, and Learn More, as well as a listing of News/Events. The Coalition invites inquiries and announcements at this email address.
September 29: “Language, Bilingualism, and Literacy – -in School and Beyond”
The next Literacy Forum is scheduled for Thursday, September 29, at Wilbur Cross H.S. (181 Mitchell Drive in New Haven). This discussion, on “Language, Bilingualism, and Literacy – -in School and Beyond,” will feature:
*Ofelia García, Ph.D., Professor, Urban Education and Hispanic Languages and Literatures, Graduate Center, City University of New York
*Abie Benítez, Ph.D., Director of Instruction, New Haven Public Schools (moderator);
*Miguel Cardona, Ed. D., Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Meriden Public Schools
*Norine Polio, Teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages, New Haven Public Schools
Admission is free, with light refreshments provided, but seating is limited. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; the program begins at 5 p.m.
Please register: [email protected]
Sponsored by: The NHPS, Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (CALAS), and Literacy Coalition of Greater New Haven. Thanks also to Coalition board member Rob Coro and Marcum LLP for donating promotional design/printing services, and to Mary Elizabeth Smith — Coalition board member and Junta’s program director, adult education & community outreach — for her Spanish translation of the poster, as well as for helping other board colleagues including Susan Holahan (a teacher of ESOL in the NHPS) to organize the event.
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The Literacy Coalition of Greater New Haven – sponsor of the Literacy Forum series – is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization with a mission to promote, support, and advance literacy for people of all ages. Visit LiteracyEveryday to share or obtain information on free events, resources, and ways to get involved in pursuit of a region of readers.
The LiteracyEveryday site has portals to Get Help, Volunteer, Donate, and Learn More, as well as a blog, News/Events calendar, and presence on Facebook and Twitter, @LiteracyGNH.
There is a need for additional volunteer tutors and mentors at such organizations as the Boys and Girls Club, Jewish Coalition for Literacy, Junta for Progressive Action, Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, New Haven Public Schools, and New Haven Reads.
Neighbors are invited to visit the Literacy Resource Center on Winchester Avenue, in space at 4 Science Park donated by Science Park Development Corporation. The Literacy Resource Center, or LRC, represents a partnership among Concepts for Adaptive Learning, the Coalition, New Haven Reads, Literacy Volunteers, and the Economic Development Corporation. Upstairs in the same building at 4 Science Park are the offices, classrooms, kitchen, and art gallery of ConnCAT.
You can help by:
• Reading in the home, promoted by libraries such as the New Haven Public Library — and involving grandparents as well as parents, and free books from sources including Read to Grow and New Haven Reads;
• Encouraging friends, family, and others to seek literacy assistance whenever useful;
• Volunteering as a tutor or mentor;
• Bolstering literacy in other ways, such as through donations of money — whether directly, via the Community Foundation or the United Way — or of books and by advocating and voting.
For more information: [email protected]
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Articles on the Coalition and Its Events:
“Early Literacy Experiences, the Brain, and Child Development”
“Literacy Coalition Welcomes New Board Members; Forum Approaches”
“Libraries in the 21st Century”
“Literacy Coalition Welcomes New Board Colleagues”
“Learning in the 21st Century, in Ways New and Old”
“Reading, Culture, and ‘Quality Time’ at Home”
“‘Empowering Teachers,’ Reading Research, Instruction, and Supports”
“Margie Gillis Discusses Using the Latest Research on Reading”
“Early Reading, Community Action, and Catalytic Philanthropy”
“Literacy Coalition Forum: State Legislative Update and the Big Read”
“Commissioner Ted Sergi: Their ‘Second Chance’ Starts with Reading”
