| Highlighting Student Employment Gains
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As we head towards our 40th anniversary, we cannot help but think about our students' achievements. This month, we wanted to highlight students' employment gains. The numbers are impressive: 123 students met a work goal, 61 students improved their employability, and 41 students entered the workforce or improved their careers. While numbers are important, it is just as important to remember that every student has a story. We wanted to share one student's story with you all.
Patricia, an LVCA student, recently shared how improved literacy has directly impacted her job growth. She worked as a dishwasher for five months but knew she wanted more. Her day came when the cashier was out, and business was slammed. She stepped up to the register and helped. This is no small thing for someone learning a language, but Patricia is determined. Her boss noticed.
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Now, she has more and more responsibility, including being the one who opens the restaurant. "I like that," she said. "but I need English." So, she continues to practice each week with her tutor, Jean. They open each session by going over questions Patricia has from work. She learns, she practices, and she makes gains. "I feel good," she said. We cannot wait to see what comes next for Patricia. We cannot wait to see what comes next for all of our students.
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| Celebrating Student Achievements
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When: Thursday, October 12
Time: 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Doors will open at 5:30 for light refreshments.
Location: Carver Recreation Center, Jefferson School City Center
Please join us for our student achievement ceremony next week! This is our first student achievement award ceremony since 2019, and we are thrilled to be able to celebrate our students again. To commemorate 40 years of serving our community, we are honored to announce that State Delegate Sally Hudson will award us with House Resolution Number 465. This state commendation is presented on the occasion of our 40th anniversary. We would not have been able to reach this milestone without your support. Please join us!
We will also honor 76 students who have met significant milestones in their studies, including those who completed a program, those who passed their United States citizenship interview, and those who completed 100 or more instructional hours during the year.
This event is free and open to all. RSVP by stopping by our office or clicking the link below.
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| Literacy Volunteers in the Community
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Communications Coordinator, Rebecca Thomas, on NBC29's Community Conversations; Nancy Cohen receiving the United Way of Greater Charlottesville's Volunteer of the Year; Program Manager, Steven Reid, presenting at the VATESOL conference.
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Staff and tutors gathered in September for a Coffee & Connections meet-up.
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| September was a busy month over here at Literacy Volunteers. The highlight of our month was watching LVCA volunteer, Nancy Cohen, receive The United Way of Greater Charlottesville's 2023 United Way Caring for Community Volunteer of the Year award! Thank you for your amazing work, Nancy!
A few additional highlights:
- Citizenship Coordinator, Catherine McCall, and Community Engagement Coordinator, Heather Tebbenhoff, hosted a Lunch and Learn for the UVA Physicans Group. You can watch their session here.
- Program Manager, Steven Reid, hosted a webinar with ProLiteracy on getting started with low-level learners. You can watch the webinar here. He also participated in a panel at the VATESOL conference with other community-based literacy organizations in the Commonwealth.
- Heather Tebbenhoff represented LVCA at a recent event discussing global migration at The Center.
- Communications Coordinator, Rebecca Thomas, stopped by NBC29's Community Conversations to talk about an upcoming training and Welcoming Week. Her article on partnering with local adult education programs was also featured on VALRC. You can read it here.
- Staff hosted a wonderful tutor meet-up and a community open house for Welcoming Week.
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We loved celebrating Constitution Week and Citizenship Day this month on our social media pages. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on all that is going on!
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| Save the Date: Help us turn 40!
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We're turning 40, and we want you to be a part of the celebrations! Here are a few ways you can help us turn the big 4-0.
LVCA Birthday Party
Monday, November 20, is our official birthday, and so we are having an official birthday celebration. Stop by our office for a birthday party happy hour from 4-5:30 p.m. There will be sweets and wonderful company! Watch for more details soon!
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LVCA Swag
In honor of our 40th birthday, we are selling our popular LVCA fleece again! Modeled by our wonderful Citizenship Coordinator, Catherine McCall, these cozy fleece jackets let you stay warm and celebrate literacy. The jackets cost $45, and orders will be open through November 9. With the purchase of each jacket, LVCA will receive $10. Every purchase counts! Links to order and to pay below.
40 Years in 40 Days
Do you know your LVCA history? Find out more about us by following us on social media. Starting Wednesday, October 11, we will post a bit about LVCA's history, taking us all the way back to 1983.
Make a Monthly Donation
We are so grateful to be celebrating our 40th year, and we know that we could not have done it without supporters like you. Every volunteer, every donation, every word-of-mouth recommendation makes a difference! LVCA relies on grants and donations to keep our doors open. Would you like to make a lasting impact? Consider becoming a monthly donor.
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| Volunteer Training Opportunities
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We can always use more volunteer tutors!
We have two tutor training sessions scheduled through the end of 2023. If you or someone you know might be interested in volunteering, please consider attending a tutor training session.
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