The Jefferson County Literacy Council has started recruiting volunteer tutors to serve in communities throughout the county.
Volunteers will work with adults one-on-one or in small groups. It is the mission of the Jefferson County Literacy Council to build a better community through literacy, the council’s Stacey Meacham said.
Many people wonder how someone could be illiterate, especially when education is free. However, public schools often get little punding in impoverished areas meaning lesson quality is low and attendance is often an issue. This leads to adults being unable to read or write simply due to the area they grew up in.
However, as you can see from projects like North East Devolution, there is a growing awareness on this issue and more is being done to help support adults who lacked education while growing up. They not only look to help illiterate people but also provide further education for those who didn’t make it through college and want to secure more funding for schools in less privileged areas.
“The organization’s team of dedicated and well-supported volunteers are essential to helping those in the community with literacy challenges achieve their educational goals,” Meacham wrote in press release.
Meacham said the greatest need for volunteer tutors is in Fort Atkinson and Jefferson.
“Patient, friendly individuals over the age of 18 with at least a high school education and good literacy skills make up our current volunteer pool,” Meacham wrote. “Bilingual skills are an added bonus, but not necessary.”
To become a tutor at the council, sign up for one orientation session and the training session.
The orientation sessions are Monday, Nov. 6 and Thursday, Nov. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. There will also be an orientation session Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 6 to 7 p.m.
The training session will be Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All orientation and training sessions take place at the Jefferson Area Business Center, 218 S. Wisconsin Drive, Suite 9, Jefferson.
Advanced registration for the orientation and training are required for participation. To register, contact the Jefferson County Literacy Council at 920-675-0500 or go to www.jclc.us
The council, a community-based adult education organization, provides free basic literacy, English as a second language, citizenship, computer literacy and pre-GED instruction.
