Who are literacy volunteers?

People in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s. Just about anybody who enjoys working with the English language and likes to help other people achieve something very significant in their lives. Some tutors are retired workers who want to keep their minds active and make a contribution to their community. Others are working people who can devote at least one evening a week to a very satisfying community service.

What is required to become a
Literacy Volunteer?

'This program generates an energy. Something very important happens here. It’s not just learning to read. It’s affecting a whole life.'

JUDY DONNELLY
Project Read
Coordinator

If you have at least a high-school diploma and like to help other people, you can become a literacy volunteer. Project Read provides, free-of-charge, the training needed to become a learner-centered tutor who can encourage and guide an adult in becoming proficient in reading, writing and speaking in English. In spring and fall, or as often as is needed, certified trainers offer Project Read volunteers 12 hours of classroom instruction, including real-life demonstrations of meetings between tutors and learners. This approach encourages collaboration between tutor and learner in the education process. In addition, a trainer supervises the initial meetings between tutor and learner to ensure that the tutor and the learner get off to a good start. Twice a year, tutors can also attend special workshops organized by Project Read to expand their understanding of the reading process and to learn more about diagnosing problems and remediation strategies for learners with special needs.

Are there any costs involved in becoming a literacy volunteer?

None. Project Read, through a grant from the Central New York Community Foundation, provides the training, training materials and all instructional materials free of charge. The payback for volunteers, however, is immeasurable.

When and where do tutors and learners meet?

Project Read is very flexible about scheduling meetings between tutors and learners. The Project Read coordinators match tutors with learners according to their individual schedules and places of residence. Most tutorial sessions, whether day or evening, are held in the Oneida Public Library’s Literacy Classroom during regular library hours. But tutors and learners can arrange to meet at other public libraries in the area.

How can I sign up to be a literacy volunteer?

To sign up or simply to learn more about becoming a literacy volunteer, contact Judy Donnelly (Project Read Coordinator) at (315) 363-3050, ext. 30, or Morris Atwood (Madison County Reads Ahead Coordinator) at (315) 761-2525. Or you can stop by the Oneida Public Library at 220 Broad St., Oneida, New York. We'd love to hear from you.