Tues. May 28th and Thurs. May 30th from 5:30-7:30
Tues. June 25th and Thurs. June 27th from 5:30-7:30
Saturday, August 31st from 10:00-2:00
Please call 265-9339 to RSVP. Training is free, though the recommended tutor text book is $25.00 (cash or check)
Who are the tutors of BLUE RIDGE LITERACY?
A team of about 100 dedicated volunteer tutors are currently helping about 300adult learners. The tutors are adult men and women of all ages. They all have a high school diploma (most have been to college and some have a graduate degree) and about a third of them are working full-time.
What qualifications do I need to become a volunteer tutor?
You don’t have to have a background in education and you don’t have to know a second language to tutor. A desire to develop a relationship with an adult learner and to help her help herself is a good starting place. You need to be at least 18 years old and you need to have a high school diploma. We will help you with the rest.
How do I learn how to tutor?
The professional staff of Blue Ridge Literacy will host a special SPRING CRASH COURSE TUTOR TRAINING SESSION so you can more easily give the gift of literacy. In a one day, four hour session get all the material and training to get you certified and on your way to improving someone’s life. You will be matched with your learner that same week!
When and where is the next tutor training?
SATURDAY MARCH 23rd FROM 10 TO 2PM.
Please call 265-9339 if you are interested in attending.
The training is free, but there is a $25 fee for the book that is used during the tutor training.
Blue Ridge Literacy is located on the third floor of the Main Library, above the Virginia Room.
The Scrabble Tournament is coming! Thursday March 14, 2013!! Please download the form and email it to SLohmann@brlit.org to sign-up! Scrabble Tournament Sign-Up Form
TOMORROW THURSDAY MARCH 14TH. DOORS OPEN AT 5. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE AFTERNOON SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED. TUTORS REMEMBER TO BRING A DESSERT!
Rick Chappelear of Wells Fargo presents BRL Executive Director, Russ Merritt with $1,000 check to support literacy programs in the Roanoke Valley!
Starting off the new year we are welcoming three new interns at Blue Ridge Literacy.
Our first intern is a previous volunteer, Brandie Gray, who has been volunteering here since October 2012.
Brandie is a sophomore English/ Creative Writing major at Hollins University. She is a native Roanoker who has a passion to teach literacy throughout the Roanoke Valley. Brandie’s special interest with Blue Ridge Literacy is through teaching English as a second language to refugee learners in the Roanoke area.
Our second intern, Sheralee Fielder, is new to the program, but has high hopes for her upcoming experience.
Sheralee is also a sophomore at Hollins University, majoring in Creative Writing and Communication Studies. She is local, coming from Blacksburg, Virginia, and has a passion for all things writing and learning. Her interest in Blue Ridge Literacy comes from her desire to teach and to work with people from other cultural backgrounds. She hopes to be able to work with the Peace Corps after graduation.
Our third intern is Cassie Pickens, who is also new to the program.
She has been living near Roanoke for the past fourteen years, and is currently a freshman at Hollins University. Blue Ridge Literacy caught her attention because she enjoys learning about different countries and cultures, and also studying a wide variety of foreign languages. Her internship at Blue Ridge Literacy promises to be very educational.
This holiday season consider giving the life-changing gift of literacy. With your time and resources you can help one of the 30,000 people struggling with functional illiteracy right here in the Blue Ridge Valley. As the region with the highest immigrant population in Virginia, it’s vital that citizens like you support literacy efforts in the area. Blue Ridge Literacy depends on the dedication and compassion of people just like you– volunteers committed to changing lives by simply helping others to read, write and speak English. Give a gift that really matters—volunteer your time or donate your resources during the Seasons of Literacy!
How can you help?
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On Friday, November 9th, BRL received wonderful news from two of our PEACE Cuban learners. Working hard since May of this year, Yusnelis Villarejo applied about eight weeks ago with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and was contacted last Friday to take the test. Yusnelis passed with flying colors, and to add to the excitement, her husband, Osvaldo Sanchez, was able to take the citizenship test, and also passed!
When Yusnelis and Osvaldo began tutoring with Blue Ridge Literacy, neither spoke English very well, but over the last few months through their determination and the hard work of their tutor, Tommy Denton, they passed the test and are now citizens of the United States!
Blue Ridge Literacy is doing more group citizenship work than anyone else in the area, and are doing so more successfully. We have begun working citizenship into our regular tutoring matches and training, and are encouraging those who have been here for 4 or more years to begin considering citizenship.
If Yusnelis and Osvaldo are any indication, this new perspective for Blue Ridge Literacy will be a positive shift for all of our immigrant learners!
Congratulations Yusnelis and Osvaldo!