To celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 10-16) we sat down with "The Barbs," a pair of longtime friends who also volunteer together at Open Door Learning Center-Northeast, teaching a Beginner ESL class. Listen to find out more about one of their favorite volunteer memories, how their roles have reversed and what makes one of them tear up every time.
The Barbs and some of their students
3 cheers for 3 achievements!
{Our work is possible thanks to your generous support for literacy.}
We set a record for student contact hours! March 2016 was our best month ever for student hours logged at Open Door Learning Center. We ended the month with over 22,300 hours, beating the previous record in October 2014 by 100 hours! Students are taking advantage of expanded programming and distance learning options (made possible through your support!) to deepen their skills.
Annual award winners to be revealed May 26 A dedicated panel has reviewed nominations and selected 19 adult learners, volunteers and community partners to receive awards at our annual Awards Ceremony and Journeys Reading on May 26th.
Register for this feel-good event to meet the winners and hear what they've done to deserve the accolades!
Additional parenting class added After a successful pilot at Open Door Learning Center-Lake Street, we added a parenting class at our Northside site. Here, ESL students who are also parents learn about topics such as school choice, nutrition and why reading to your child is important. A big thank you to the John & Denise Graves Foundation and the Grotto Foundation for funding these well-received and helpful classes!
Hope to see you!
{Mark your calendar for upcoming events.}
A Revolution in Education: Cuba - 1961 to Today Join us on Friday, May 6th from 7-9pm for a free screening of the documentary Maestra (Teacher), about the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign. The film shares the story of several women recruited as teenagers to go into the countryside to spread literacy. They reflect on how rewarding and impactful it was to do something as simple as teach a man to write his own name.Luisa Campos, Director of the Havana Literacy Museum, will also join us to share her insights on the film.
Hosted in conjunction with the Minnesota Cuba Committee and Hamline United Methodist Church,this FREE event is open to literacy volunteers, donors, staff and community members, and you still have time to RSVP by the May 4th deadline!
