Nashville Adult Literacy Council helps adults improve their English
Nashville's Ron Richardson was tired of guessing at grocery store items from their pictures, unable to write family letters or pay bills.
"You can't hardly imagine unless you've been there," said Richardson, 61. "I had never read a book. Now I can't wait to get to the next page."
Richardson considers himself a man with a new life thanks to the Nashville Adult Literacy Council, a nonprofit that helps students 18 and older learn to read, write and speak functional English.
"The learners are always self-motivated, so for a tutor's point of view that is great," said tutor Ron Wilson, a retired lawyer.
The Nashville Adult Literacy Council serves about 1,500 learners who are comprised of immigrants and U.S.-born students such as Richardson. Learners generally enter the free program to get a job, get a better job or help children with schoolwork, Literacy Council Director Meg Nugent said.
"My son goes to pre-school, and last year I couldn't communicate with the teacher," said Emi Ninomiya, a student who has moved to Middle Tennessee from Japan. "Now I can communicate a little; it's getting better."
The Literacy Council has a number of group classes such as basic literacy and high school equivalency. But one-on-one sessions are the heart of the program, and tutors are needed with a present waiting list of about 75 students who want individual sessions.
Wilson is one of several "Start Now" tutors who work with different learners still on the waiting list because of the demand. Tutors are trained, and the council provides teaching materials according to an initial evaluation. The Literacy Council has about 500 tutors.
Learners and tutors are matched on a location preference at public places such as libraries, community centers and restaurants. The Adult Literacy Council is headquartered at the Cohn School in West Nashville and has an office in the Antioch area, where tutors and learners also meet.
Tutors are required to commit to meet with their learner for at least six months for usually two or three hours per week. Many pairs work together a year or considerably longer, Nugent said. No experience is necessary, meeting hours are flexible, and training and materials are provided.
"And it is very rewarding to be a part of changing someone's life for the better, which is very likely to happen through increasing their skills," Nugent said. "In fact changing the life of the learner many times will change the life of the entire family."
Reach Andy Humbles at 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @AndyHumbles.
How to help
To Donate
•$25 provides one learner with a book.
•$50 provides books for a learner and tutor.
•$150 provides books for a learner and tutor for one year.
•$500 gives books and materials to a full class of learners.
•$1,000 covers the cost of a volunteer tutor training session.
•Wish list items also needed to help learners include: reading glasses, backpacks, spiral notebooks, pencils, tables and chairs.
To volunteer or for information
Visit www.nashvilleliteracy.org or call 615-298-8060.
About Hands On Nashville
Hands On Nashville selected the six organizations that will be highlighted in this year's Season to Give Series.
It works to address critical issues facing the Middle Tennessee community through volunteer-centric programming. Annually, HON connects thousands of volunteers to service opportunities supporting area nonprofits, as well as its programs in urban agriculture, home energy savings, youth leadership development and support of public education.
Hands On Nashville challenges everyone to find a way to give back. For more information, visit www.HON.org or call 615-298-1108.
About Season to Give
Each Friday for the next six weeks, The Tennessean will highlight one local nonprofit organization doing good work in hopes of inspiring community support through giving of time and donations. It is part of our purpose to actively influence and impact a better quality of life in Middle Tennessee, as well as help support those in need this holiday season.