Libraries Empower All to Read Now
Adult Literacy Program
Phone: (888) 466 - 0668
Email: learnstaff@sdcounty.ca.gov
Al ive! March 08
New Faces bring a Fresh start to L.E.A.R.N.
certificate, all from San Diego teaching English as a Second
State University, where he taught Language [E.S.L.], and his
introductory Spanish courses as a expertise in this field will be of
graduate student. great help to our learners who
Curtis Luster, Sr. came into have just started learning English
adult learning programs in 1988 or are looking to improve their
following a surgery that left him communication skills.
with chronic pain. His goals were Lastly, Kevin Vigil came to
to develop his memory and focus L.E.A.R.N. and the San Diego
to regain his reading and writing County Library from Denver
skills. After working with a nearly three years ago. Passionate
volunteer tutor for 2 years, he about educating and empowering
enrolled in Mira Costa College people, Kevin has worked in the
and later transferred to Palomar non-profit sector as a community
College where he graduated with organizer and in the public
From Left to Right: Janice Wilhelm, Erica Abbey, Hector Ortega, an Associate’s Degree in Liberal schools as a volunteer, teacher’s
Curtis Luster Sr., Jason Romano, and Kevin Vigil Arts in 2001. Curtis then aide, and elementary school
graduated in 2006 with a teacher. He is proud of
L.E.A.R.N., the San Diego serving at the El Cajon Branch. Bachelor’s Degree in Human L.E.A.R.N.’s growth and
County Library’s Adult Literacy Erica is originally from Calgary, Development from California welcomes the challenge of
Program, has undergone some Alberta, Canada but has also lived State University, San Marcos. continuing to build an exceptional
staff changes in the last couple of in Phoenix, Arizona and Hong Curtis has since returned to the program geared toward
months. That means some great Kong. She has spent the last seven Adult Literacy Program as an eradicating illiteracy.
things will be happening as new years working in hospitality and AmeriCorps member. He As each member of the staff is
people equal new ideas. has a true spirit to learn and serve continues to serve his second an essential part of the process,
Janice Wilhelm, the others in the field of literacy. consecutive term at the Vista you too can get involved. We are
Coordinator of the Adult Literacy Hector Ortega is one of the Branch. always looking to increase the
Program, came to L.E.A.R.N. a new Library Associates in Vista. Jason Romano, also a new number of our tutors and learners;
year ago with a background as a Before coming to us, Hector Library Associate in Vista, if you know anyone interested in
librarian and previously as a worked in Library Headquarters happens to come to us from the helping or in need of assistance,
systems analyst. Currently, she is for almost a year as Library Windy City (Chicago, Illinois); please contact L.E.A.R.N. Our
studying educational technology Technician I in the cataloging however, he has resided in San collaborative efforts will lead to
at SDSU with a focus on assistive department, where he also started Diego now for almost two years, a brighter future. So bright, you
technology. Janice believes that working with the Language Team and we are very happy to have gotta wear shades!
technology is a great tool to break of translators. Hector has earned him join our team. Like Hector,
down barriers caused by distance a BA in Spanish, an MA in Jason has his BA in Spanish and
or disabilities. She also believes linguistics, as well as an MA in Linguistics. For the last
that education is a life-long English/Spanish translation several years, he has been
mission, and that we all have
the capacity to improve and
empower ourselves through “Reading changes your life and how you spend your time. Learning is an individual choice and can
learning. only be determined by the need to improve future opportunities. You will find a way to improve read-
Erica Abbey, one of our ing, writing, and spelling skills to become a better reader. Be encouraged, build self-esteem, confi-
AmeriCorps members, is dence, and character to transform self-empowerment through literacy development. Build vocabulary
and change your life one word at a time!”
-- Curtis Luster, Sr.
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L.E.A.R.N Alive!
March 08
A FOUNDer’s FAreWELL
When L.E.A.R.N. Alive! late-year AmeriCorps Clearly, it's a different day.
Dates to Remember: launched in the spring of addition Misa Aldenderfer The opening of the Vista site
2006, its parent organization and her legendary industri- last year has helped fuel a
▪ Tutor Trainings was pretty much fending for ousness. L.E.A.R.N. Alive! decided jump in manpower;
- El Cajon (1st and 2nd part separate) itself. Four motley, rela- was our way of electroni- a much-needed ESL
March 19 and 20 (5:30pm-8:00pm)
tively untested souls (former cally charting that path every program continues to take
L.E.A.R.N. coordinator shape; and I've lost very
- El Cajon (1st and 2nd part together)
Amanda Schukle, library close to 863 pounds. These
April 19 (10:00am-4:00pm) associate Kevin Vigil, and developments only begin to
- Encinitas (1st and 2nd part separate) AmeriCorps ex-volunteers reflect those on the horizon,
April 22 and 23 (5:30pm-8:00pm) Liam Kerr and myself) and a new crop of
▪ Learner Time converged on an office the L.E.A.R.N. Alive! writers
- March 19 (6:00pm- 7:00pm) size of a tie tack, and the and editors is in business
- April 16 (6:00pm- 7:00pm) phrase “Vista Satellite” may accordingly. As a former
- May 21 (6:00pm- 7:00pm)
as well have referred to an AmeriCorps volunteer and
over funded NASA orbiter – the newsletter's founding
▪ ESL Café
such was the state of pro- publisher, I can only wish
- Vista gress on the vaunted them the greatest success as
March 12 and 26 (10:30am-12:00pm) L.E.A.R.N. venue in North month. The problem was they focus on L.E.A.R.N.'s
April 9 and 23 (10:30am-12:00pm) County. that L.E.A.R.N. hadn't yet efforts to promote literacy in
- El Cajon come into its own, and the San Diego County – the in-
March 21 (12:00pm-1:30pm) But as Amanda eloquently stories suffered from a sidious, noble work of the
April 4 and 18 (12:00pm-1:30pm) put it, “the stars were certain insularity. While the individuals who tirelessly
▪ Race for Literacy
aligned” amid our sense of content showed that the or- give of themselves in a testa-
purpose and fun. We'd ganization was hard at work, ment otherwise unsung.
- May 3 - Kids Magic Mile
complete a staggering num- it contained very little on the
- May 4 - 8K Race ber of assignments in a people that have begun to
surprisingly short time, define the group. -- Martin Jones Westlin
thanks in no small part to
Initiative to support Literacy
The Race for Literacy is fast participated in the weekend event. people to volunteer. If you are inter-
approaching. The annual run or walk Like last year, all proceeds that are ested in participating this year,
races are taking place on May 3rd raised from the event will contribute please contact L.E.A.R.N. at learn-
and May 4th in Balboa Park. This to the literacy programs of the San staff@sdcounty.ca.gov. This will be
event is sponsored by the Union- Diego Council on Literacy. a great way to participate in an event
Tribune and will feature a Kids Those not interested in running that is fun and supports literacy in
Magic Mile on the first day and an and/or walking in the race may want San Diego.
8K Race on the second day. Last to consider volunteering. Mr. Cruz
year, more than 8,000 people mentioned that they still need 350
Our Newest Americorps Member
Liliana Cilia is the newest member of the L.E.A.R.N. team. She is originally from Argentina, where she
taught Spanish to children and adults. She joins us as an AmeriCorps member and will be working at the Vista
Branch. As one part of her AmeriCorps contribution, she plans on tutoring learners of Spanish.
AmeriCorps is an American network of more than 3,000 non-profit organizations, public agencies, faith-
based and community organizations (http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/programs/americorps.asp).
AmeriCorps was created in 1993 by President Bill Clinton and helps meet critical needs in education, public
safety, health and the environment. AmeriCorps members sign up for a year of service and earn a meager living
allowance. Promoting literacy is just one of the many opportunities for AmeriCorps members to make a
difference in their lives and the lives of others. We appreciate all the work our AmeriCorps members do because
without them, our program would not be the success that it is.
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