Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County

The Literacy Program

Connecting Adult Learners ... with Volunteer Tutors

What We Do: The Literacy Program serves adult learners who want to speak, read and write English. Our volunteers range from 20-somethings to retired professionals who want the satisfaction of teaching a motivated learner.

WATCH OUR NEWEST VIDEO

Tutors gather at informal "Salons," where problems, successes and resources are shared. All ages, all backgrounds and all orientations welcome.

Tutor Carrie enjoys Hermila's and Chuy's humor as well as intelligence. Chuy's gained 17 and Hermila's gained 15 points on standardized reading tests.

Jane Keefe's student, Jeny C., prepares a nutritious dinner using Healthy Latino Recipes. Tutors are given materials to teach how to make emergency calls, appoint-ments with doctors, how to find a health clinic or private physician, help the children with homework, do comparison shopping, cook for health and watch out for signs of diabetes. We call this our Survival English curriculum.

jeny

On June 9, 2008 the California Department of Education honored the Literacy Program with a Promising Practices award. The workplace literacy project at Chaminade is a model for teaching English on-the-job. Employee retention and improved customer service benefit the corporation; students' lives are enhanced educationally and personally. The average student learning gain is 9 CASAS points. Employees are paid their hourly rate to attend class on site, during working hours.

Be inspired by our 11-minute video by clicking on "Chaminade employees learn" at the top of this page.

"Awesome video. It captures something that makes me want to be involved with this forever," says tutor Rose Vodrey.

"This is the most rewarding partnership I've ever experienced with a non-profit organization."

--Davide Barnes, General Manager of Four Seasons, Philadelphia; former G.M. Chaminade

New tutors are always wanted and needed. Our Proliteracy-certified new tutor training is a total of 14 hours over 4 days. No foreign language or teaching experience required.

Daytime training:

Mon, Feb. 2 1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 5 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 9 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 12 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Evening training:

Tues., Feb. 3 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 7 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 10 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 18 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Call 831.427.5077 to register.

"I had such a fun time at the training," said Deb Tracy-Proulx. "It changed my perception of communication."

Char Bridenbaugh is our Training Manager. She and Krissen Lane are Proliteracy-certified trainers (and that's good). Their comprehensive training is useful to volunteers with and without teaching experience.

Wendy Toshitsune is a crackerjack organizer of people and data. She helps us keep good records for reports to funders.

Thora

On January 10, 2007 the Literacy Program lost one of its most powerful contributors. Seen here at her retirement luncheon at Chaminade, Thora Bautz inspired admiration and love from staff, students, tutors and fellow trainers. Patricia and Rowland Rebele established the Thora Bautz Friends of Literacy fund to honor and extend her work, and people are still contributing to this endowment.