by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Reading street signs, getting a drivers license or reading a menu at a restaurant all seem to be simple every day activities. But for over 115,000 adults in Duval County, it isn’t that simple.
Heather Corey, executive director at Learn to Read, Inc. in Jacksonville, said everything starts with reading.
Learn to Read is a nonprofit adult literacy program that helps adults learn to read who are ages 16 and up with a zero to fourth grade reading level. The program, which has been in existence for 35 years, is a small, grassroots non-profit organization, she said.
“We recruit and train volunteers to teach adults how to read,” she said. “There is still a need for an organization that covers the zero to fourth grade reading levels, because no one else is really doing it.”
Corey who was recently appointed to executive director, said the agency’s services are unique because of the one-on-one interaction between the student and tutor and the fact the program is free. In addition to the one-on-one programs, there are also group programs which are offered depending on the adult’s reading and comfort level.
“Another unique quality is that we match our tutors and students in the community,” said Corey. “It is very important for the tutors and students to go out in the community for public tutoring.”
Tutors are sent into the community in the event a student is unable to get to the Learn to Read building in San Marco. The tutors are encouraged to go to a restaurant or a library to have their teaching session with their students.
“As time goes on, we keep assessing them and once they have showed they made progress, we’ll graduate them,” said Corey. “We want them to go on to The Center for Adult Learning at the library and we hope they get their GED and go to college.”
Before Corey became the executive director, she previously worked at the American Cancer Society and spent three years in Vicenza, Italy with her husband who was in the Army. She was born and raised in Jacksonville and the only time she left was while she was in Italy. She has been with Learn to Read Inc. for a year and a half and she started as a development associate and now she takes care of administrative business, works hand-in-hand with the board of directors, and works on their yearly fundraisers.
“I do everything but the direct programs,” she said. “I make sure the doors stay open.”
Although she is only a month into her new position, Corey already has goals to make Learn to Read Inc. one of the best learn to read programs for adults in Duval County.
“I have big dreams and aspirations for Learn to Read,” said Corey. “We really want to be a top-notch leader for literacy in the community.”
The organization wants to make an effort to let everyone know about who they are and what they are doing for the community.
“We are such a small organization, but we want to be the first on the dial when someone needs literacy help,” she said. “It is a pretty big goal, but it’s not going to happen if we don’t shoot for it.”
Since Learn to Read is a non-profit organization, they are always in need of funding. She said the City of Jacksonville and United Way have contributed the most to their programs, along with FCCJ and other foundations in the area. They are also holding three special events, one of which is Kiss the Pig that kicks off Sept. 1 with the kiss off set for Nov. 3. The Scrabble Soiree and the Alphabet Affair are two fundraisers scheduled for 2006.
“I have a whole lot of faith in what we do and what we have to accomplish,” said Corey. “We are the only ones that do what we do.”
Currently there are over 300 students and about 200 volunteers.
“The volunteers make up the administration, board, and tutors that all help keep the program going,” she said. “We have a great bunch of volunteers who build a bond with their students and they want to see them achieve their goals.”
The organization hopes to help decrease the drop-out rate, help increase per capita income, and help make Jacksonville a better city, said Corey.
“All in all, we are here to make a difference and help anyone learn how to read,” she said.