PowerPoint Presentation describing the services and mission of LVA

1. Literacy Volunteers of
Atlanta
Without reading, where would you be?
404-377-READ (7323) http://www.lvama.org

2. OUR MISSION
Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta’s (LVA) mission is to
increase adult and family literacy primarily through
volunteer tutoring. Our vision is to enhance the lives of
individuals in their roles as family
members, workers, and citizens through the power of
literacy.

3. Literacy Volunteers of America
National History
• Founded in 1962 in Syracuse, NY by Ruth Colvin
• 1971, LVA received a three-year grant from the US Office
of Education
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) was
developed in 1974
• October 2002, merged with Laubach Literacy
International to form ProLiteracy Worldwide

4. Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta (LVA)
• Founded in 1986, LVA was run by volunteers out of free office space
• In 1988, LVA was awarded a grant to hire staff and start a library for the
students and tutors
• ESOL was added in 1991 and the Family Literacy program was added in
the 1990s
• LVA was granted accreditation in November of 2000 by ProLiteracy
Worldwide
• In 2002, LVA moved to a new office and also opened a 10 person
computer lab
• LVA merged with Project Read, Inc in 2003
• LVA has met strict guidelines in order to receive official accreditation from
ProLiteracy Worldwide

5. National Literacy Statistics
• 93 million Americans are at or below a basic literacy
level. (National Coalition of Literacy)
• 67% of Americans who struggle with literacy are
native English speakers, and 50% are high school
graduates. (National Institute for Literacy)
• 5 million adults holding jobs are considered low-
literate. (Nation’s Business)
• 75% of unemployed adults have reading and writing
difficulties. (National Institute for Literacy)
• 90 million Americans have inadequate health
literacy skills. (National Adult Literacy Survey)
• A child with at least one low-literate parent is twice
as likely to be low-literate. (Laubach Literacy Statistics)

6. Metro-Atlanta Literacy Statistics
• 800,000 metro-Atlantans read at Level 1, the lowest
of five levels. (National Adult Literacy Survey)
• Low literacy costs metro-Atlanta $2.6 billion each
year. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• 225,000 low-literate employees in metro-Atlanta
cost their employers $840 million annually in
remedial training, safety lapses, lost time, poor
performance, and job turnover.
• Low-literate workers in metro-Atlanta incur medical
expenses at up to 4 times the rate of literate
workers. (Public Broadcasting Atlanta)

7. Student-Centered Programs
– Adults (18yrs +) who read below the 5th grade level (Basic Literacy) or
who have limited to no English proficiency (ESOL) in
Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties
– Families through our Family Literacy Program which encompasses
Family Mentoring, Early Childhood Education, Basic Literacy and ESOL
Programs
– Employees at various worksites throughout Metro-Atlanta with
Workplace Literacy skills– a combination of ESOL, financial and health
literacy
– Currently, we have over 1000 students being served
– No charge to students for any LVA programs

8. The LVA Difference – Working One-on-One
• Students work toward their personal literacy goals
• The materials used in tutoring are ProLiteracy-approved and focus on
students’ self-determined goals
• Work to increase student confidence and self-esteem
• Provide referrals to other programs and services
• Access to small group classes, computer lab with literacy software, lending
library with books and other materials
• Our services are free of charge to all students

9. LVA’s Strategy
• Train volunteers to
become
tutors, teachers, and
classroom assistants
• Match tutors with
students
• Place volunteer
instructors in on-site
and off-site
classrooms
• Provide support
services and
resources

10. The Programs LVA Offers
• Provides student-focused one-on-one tutoring and small group classes to over
1000 learners per year in 4 Metro Atlanta counties
• Basic Literacy provides one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction for
adults reading below the fifth-grade level
• ESOL provides one-on-one and small group tutoring to adults with limited to no
English language proficiency
• Workplace Literacy helps employers to train employees and also helps with
employee recruitment and retention, improving communication with
employers, and increasing productivity on the job with Basic Literacy and ESOL
• Family Literacy combines the components of Early Childhood Education, Adult
Education, and Parent Support to ensure that the next generation has the tools to
succeed. Our curriculum is student-centered, and based on each student’s
individual needs and goals.
• Small Group Classes in basic math, spelling, and introductory computer skills
are available for students to support their learning process and their personal
goals.

11. Volunteers and Students at work

12. Volunteer Opportunities
– Basic Literacy and ESOL tutoring
– Teach/assist with a small group class (ESOL and Basic Literacy)
– Work with children and/or parents through the Family Literacy program
– Teach/assist with a Workplace Literacy class
– Assist with fundraising events
– Office support
– Schedule an LVA presentation for your social or civic group

13. The Volunteer Experience
• Expect to work hard This is one of the most
– Tutor training rewarding experiences you
– Minimum 1 year can have as a volunteer!
commitment for at least 2
hours each week – Relationship building
– Additional time investment – Seeing your student succeed
• Travel – Improving literacy in Atlanta
• Lesson planning
• Student assessments
• Results take time! It takes 100
hours on average to see a student
advance to the next grade level.

14. LVA Locations
• Basic Literacy • ESOL
– MUST Ministries (Cobb) – Decatur Library
– Salvation Army – Brookhaven Library
– Lanier Tech – Clarkston Library
• Family Literacy – Doraville Library
– Decatur Housing Authority – Dunwoody Library
– DeKalb County Parks and – Tucker Library
Recreation • Main Office (Decatur, GA)
– Briarwood Recreation
Center
• Workplace Literacy
– A & D Linens
– Georgia State
– Georgia Tech

15. The Students
Each one is an individual, all 1000
– Teaching adults can be a challenge
– Students sometimes expect to see
results quickly
– Some students have special needs
– Start with realistic, achievable goals
– Personal motivations
– Barriers to literacy
– All programs are student-centered

16. Student/Tutor Matching
•Based on Volunteer Application
•Availability/Time Commitment
•Preferences
•Program of Choice
•Based on Student Intake/Assessment
•Student Schedule/Location
•Transportation
•Needs and Goals
**Think about your expectations and what your personal boundaries are**

17. EVENTS

18. Edible Book Festival
LVA’s Edible Book entry 

19. Annual Meeting
“Nanny” Birk Young Ju Ahn
Basic Literacy Student ESOL Student of the Year

20. LVA Donor Event
Aaron Hampton (LVA Staff
Member), Karen Woods (Basic
Literacy Student of the Year and
Poet), and her tutor, Anita Brownlee
ESOL Student, Shimul Islam
(pictured with his wife) and his
tutor, Steve Reidy

21. LVA Staff
Victoria Kingsland Erika Allen
Executive Director Student Services Coordinator
vkingsland@lvama.org studentservices@lvama.org
Julie Bookman Aimee Castenell
Development Director Communications Coordinator
jbookman@lvama.org communications@lvama.org
Aaron Hampton Haley Russell
Operations Manager Agnes Scott Intern
operationslva@lvama.org intern@lvama.org
Michelle Holmes Michael Wall
Student Support Coordinator Lead Teacher for Basic Literacy
assessment@lvama.org lead.basic@gmail.com
Mary Elizabeth Glass Angela Green
Family Literacy Coordinator Lead Teacher for Basic Literacy
volunteerslva@lvama.org lead.basic@gmail.com
Morgan Koukopoulos Dana DeLassus
Workplace Literacy Coordinator Lead Teacher for ESOL
workplace@lvama.org ddelasuss@hotmail.com
Kimberly Fairman
Lead Teacher for ESOL
kimberlyfairman@gmail.com

22. Community Partnerships
A&D Linens, Inc.
Briarwood Parks and Recreation – Chamblee
City of Decatur
City of Decatur Parks and Recreation
Culture Connect
Decatur Housing Authority
DeKalb County Public Library System
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Lanier Technical College
Literacy Action
MUST Ministries
Raksha, Inc.
SafeHouse Outreach, Inc.
Salvation Army
Technical College System
Volunteer! Decatur

23. Do you have more questions?
Phone: 404-377-READ (7323)
Email: vkingsland@lvama.org
Website: www.lvama.org