Volunteer Hours This School Year: 4722 | |
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In 2010 a friend of mine told me that I had to go and check out an organization called Literacy Source where she had just started volunteering. She told me I would love it and she couldn’t have been more right! I eagerly joined the volunteering cohort and co-taught a citizenship and digital literacy class for about 2 years.
Literacy Source has come a long way since then. Volunteers no longer teach the classes; they work alongside professional teaching staff. Tutors are better trained and supported by well-designed class materials that speak directly to the students’ levels, needs, and goals.
However, one thing has remained the same is the incredible dedication we see every day from all of you, our volunteers. Literacy Source could not offer the services we do without the amazing cohort you are part of. You continue to amaze us by demonstrating so much commitment, patience, perseverance, joy, and dedication to both your students and your own learning. We are a small organization with 24 staff, but we are mighty with nearly 170 volunteers! We are well on our way back to the pre-pandemic volunteer numbers of 250! About half of you are now volunteering in-person in the classes, tutoring, conversation partners, proctors, librarians, and practice interviewers. We are getting back to the feel of when I first walked through the doors 14 years ago, and we are now so much richer in the services we can offer online to those not able to attend the in-person classes.
It is a pleasure to work alongside all of you. It is a privilege to get to know you and see the experiences and skills you bring to your volunteering, every day you serve. From all of us here at Literacy Source we extend to you a very sincere thank you. I hope that volunteering and working with the students is as rewarding an experience as it was for me when I walked into my first Literacy Source class.
In community,
Caroline Socha
Volunteer Program Manager
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Racial traumas and triggers are a formal greeting when we call our oppressor's
name to introduce ourselves, when our names are a historical leash.
~Porsha Olayiwola, Poet and Activist
What's in a name? For some of us, the answer to this questions is as simple as "I don't know". For others, it is complex and can represent a broad spectrum of stories or experiences, whether that's a beautiful family anecdote, an explanation of a family's original trade (such as Smith or Carpenter), or an escape from a historical lineage of trauma.
Last month, we asked our Conversation and Ready to Work Class instructor, Cari Hastings, to share a teaching tip, which we always include in our volunteer newsletter. But this teaching tip was so powerful, we thought it more appropriate to include as one of our courageous conversations.
In Cari's perceptive exploration of the importance of names, she highlights that some students don't use the traditional Greek alphabet and thus must "shove their name into an English mold where maybe it doesn't fit." As well, many cultures do not align with the US's of having a first, middle, and last name. Many, for example, use their father and grandfather's names, an important way for them to honor their legacy, but this can cause generations of immigrants to have to choose between their new culture and their heritage. And finally, Cari notes, students might create an "English name" because their new friends and acquaintances can't pronounce their name.
At the close of her teaching tip, Cari shares a powerful video by Boston's Poet Laureate, Porsha Olayiwola, called Unnamed. In it, Porsha explains that for a number of reasons, newly freed slaves often chose the name of their oppressors. And Porsha answers the question of why Black Americans choose names that "chime like music when they traverse between lobes"; It's because "countries who declare independence get to name themselves."
I watched Porsha's video a few weeks ago and have been ruminating on it every since. I wonder if you will too.
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Can you help?
Join staff and volunteers at the office after the breakfast tomorrow, Friday, April 19th, between Noon – 2pm (come for part or stay for the whole time) to help us send thank you letters to all who donated at the fundraiser. We'll have fun in the afterglow of the event, hearty snacks will be provided!
Where: Lake City Center, 3200 NE 125th St. Seattle, WA 98125. 206.782.2050.
Contact Stacey with questions and to let her know to expect you.
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Volunteer Thank You: Spring Literary Mixer | |
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Save the Date and Join us!
Bring a favorite book (in any format) to recommend to fellow volunteers about and hear about their favorite reads. Enjoy a glass of wine or beverage, a snack, meet some fellow volunteers, and come away with a great book list!
When: Wednesday, May 15th, 6:30 – 8pm
Where: Literacy Source, 3200 NE 125th St, Lake City
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Upcoming Training: Volunteer Roundtable Discussion
Pick Your Battles: Helping Students with Pronunciation (1.25 hrs)
Join us for the spring volunteer webinar and following online discussion.
1) Watch the recorded training online, in the link above, in your own time
2) Join other volunteers for the online discussion on Monday, May 20th 5:30 – 6:30pm, with Cat Howell, Co-Ed, Educational Director and Cari Hastings, Conversation Class Coordinator. Open to all volunteers.
Join the meeting with this Zoom link
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Congratulations - and thank you! - to the following volunteers for reaching a year of service with Literacy Source!
- Alina Weseloh – Conversation Partner
- Ann Duncan - Conversation Partner & Citizenship Class Assistant
- Cari Mills - Conversation Partner
- Daniel Dittrick – Board Committee Member
- Jeri Lockhart - Conversation Partner
- Kyle Walker – ESOL Class Assistant
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Literacy Source partnered with two individuals who became new citizens in the past month: one from Ethiopia and one from Peru.
Congratulations!
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Saturday Family Concert: Seattle Steel Pan Project
Saturday, April 20, 11am (Town Hall Seattle, sliding scale $5-$25)
Experience the joy of music at Town Hall Seattle’s Saturday Family Concerts, where captivating performances and interactive musical adventures create cherished memories for all ages!
Join us for a lively Saturday Family Concert, featuring the captivating rhythms and melodies of the Seattle Steel Pan Project (SSPP). With over 30 years of dedication to steelpan education and performance in the Pacific Northwest, SSPP, under the administrative guidance of Oriana Estrada and the artistic direction of Michael Shantz, has become a beacon for promoting steel pan culture. This event is a unique opportunity to experience the magic of the steel pan, also known as the steel drum, the most modern acoustic musical instrument to grace the world stage.
Originating from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad & Tobago in the 1940s, the steel pan has evolved into a versatile instrument found in ensembles worldwide. The professional performance ensemble of SSPP, comprised of seasoned musicians, will showcase the instrument’s rich history and cultural significance. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the infectious beats of the steel pan and enjoy a delightful evening of family-friendly entertainment.
Step Up Moving Racial Equity Forward Conference 2024
Friday, April 26, 8am-5pm (Virtual, sliding scale $10 - $125)
Organized by Leadership Snohomish, an interactive conference offering opportunities for attendees to engage in discussions, network with others, and participate in Q&A sessions. Solution-oriented sessions delve into unexplored aspects of racial equity, offering fresh perspectives on pressing issues. Registrants will have access to recorded sessions for 30 days post-event. Register online here.
Spring Native Art Market
Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28th, 10am-5pm (Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, FREE)
The market will feature over 30 Native American artists from across North America selling and showcasing their authentic handmade arts and crafts. Items for sale will include jewelry, ceramics, paintings, clothing, flutes, woodcarvings, and more. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
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Our next New Volunteer Orientation (via Zoom) will be on May 1 at either 1pm or 7pm.
Potential volunteers are invited to register online here.
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Calendar/Spring Break Office Hours | |
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Spring Term: April 8 - June 13
Spring Term Calendar
2023-2024 Class Calendar.
2024 -25 Term Calendar
Do you have questions or comments about volunteering at Literacy Source?
Volunteer Question/Feedback Form
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Miss any of our past volunteer newsletters? You can access archived newsletters at the bottom of the Volunteer Resources of our webpage. | | | | |
