Literacy AmeriCorps
LITERACY AMERICORPS PALM BEACH COUNTY
Literacy AmeriCorps Palm Beach County is a national service program that recruits recent college graduates to provide literacy services to adults, children and youth in our community. This "domestic literacy Peace Corps" contributes over 68,000 hours per year by tutoring and teaching, providing reading enrichment activities for children, participating in community service projects and recruiting community volunteers.
In return for their year of national service, participants in this program, known as AmeriCorps members, receive a modest living allowance, an education award and health insurance. Literacy AmeriCorps provides opportunities for leadership development, professional growth and resume building. Many of our graduates have described their year of service as life changing. To learn more about the benefits and responsibilities of participation please read more information on the following pages:
- A Service Year with Literacy AmeriCorps
- Where do Literacy AmeriCorps Members Serve?
- AmeriCorps Annual Report
- AmeriCorps Alumni
- How to Apply
- Literati Member Newsletters
- Visit us on Facebook
2010-2011 Program Outcomes:
- 593 adult learners were assisted with reading and English.
- 482 children received tutoring and literacy enrichment to improve reading skills.
- 308 volunteers were recruited, supported or trained and gave 1559 volunteer hours at service projects and literacy programs.
- 1009 at-risk youth were coached, tutored and mentored for academic success.
- Members participated in 61 community service projects.
- 40 full time AmeriCorps members contributed 68,000 hours of service in tutoring, mentoring, community service events and volunteer recruitment.
PROGRAM IMPACT
As a GED tutor with the homeless population, I have seen many individuals whose pasts are littered with abuse, neglect and mistakes that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. My primary goal is to help my clients obtain their GED and gain employment.
When one of my clients, James, first came to me, he was totally unable to make eye contact or utter a complete sentence to anyone other than his case manager. I could barely understand his muttering when he said he wanted help obtaining his GED. I did, however, notice that he was holding a well-worn novel in his lap, and I asked him if reading was a hobby he enjoyed. He sheepishly explained to me that reading was the only thing that allowed him to mentally escape from his tiny jail cell where he had spent many years of his life.
It was during his time in prison that James became silent. Although large in stature, James’ appetite for violence is small. If he became invisible, he could avoid and, with the help of books, escape the conflict which is ever-present in prison. It was with this attitude that James survived. Although James’ years of silence had almost completely eroded any evidence of self-esteem, I knew that his love of reading would prove to be beneficial in our sessions and would be the base on which to rebuild his confidence.
After several weeks of tutoring, James began to speak more freely in our sessions. I began to notice him interacting with others. Best of all, James recently applied and was accepted into a maintenance apprenticeship program, something he never would have had the confidence to pursue.
It is with this new sense of self and hopeful outlook of the future that James continues to strive for his goal of obtaining his GED. My expectations for James are exceedingly high, and I am honored to have been a part of his remarkable transformation.Rachel Cannon, serving at The Lord’s Place
Literacy AmeriCorps is a state AmeriCorps program in partnership with Volunteer Florida, The Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and The Corporation for National and Community Service
AmeriCorps