Agency Details:

Share

Literacy Volunteers In Mercer County

Literacy Volunteers in Mercer County, Inc. (LV-MC) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) volunteer organization committed to improving the literacy skills of individuals, aged 18 and older, in Mercer County, New Jersey. LV-MC is committed to recruiting, training and supporting a network of volunteer tutors to provide confidential, quality, free-of-charge instruction to functionally illiterate adults through its Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (EOSL) programs.

Description:
Literacy Volunteers in Mercer County, Inc. (LV-MC) provides free, one-to-one and small group tutoring to functionally illiterate adults (American and foreign born) through a network of volunteers trained in Basic Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Our adult literacy program includes; conducting training workshops for and certifying volunteer tutors, recruiting students and volunteer tutors, assessing students' reading or English comprehension levels, goals, and objectives and their progress in the program, matching students with tutors, maintaining a collection of reading and instructional materials for students and tutors, and providing in-service/professional development workshops for tutors.

History:
A group of volunteers founded LV-MC in 1977. We have been a full affiliate of ProLiteracy America (the largest national non-profit organization representing community-based literacy organizations) since 2006; however, we operate independently. We employ 2 full-time and 2 part-time employees. In addition, a group of over 200 highly dedicated volunteers serve in many capacities such as tutoring, serving on the Board, training new volunteers to be tutors, and assessing learners. LV-MC provides free, one-to-one and small group tutoring to functionally illiterate adults (American and foreign born) through a network of volunteers trained in Basic Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Our tutoring program is unique because it focuses on teaching adult learners the skills that enable them to function in the community. Tutors teach adults functioning at the lowest literacy levels and those who are unable to progress in a traditional classroom environment. Our individualized, goal-oriented instruction enables them to build their confidence and their literacy skills. By providing customized instruction which focuses on the specific educational needs of each learner (e.g., job related reading or math skills, reading and communication skills needed to navigate the health care system, and computer literacy), we remove barriers to employment and improve the quality of life for our learners and their families. This program is often the only option many of these adult learners have to achieve their goals of being able to communicate in English.

Contact person: Cheryl Kirton, Chief Executive Officer, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (609) 587-6137

Address:

3535 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 104 Hamilton, NJ 08619 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/lvamc

Directions:

Ibis Plaza, between Sloan Avenue and Youngs Road on Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. Tutoring takes places in public buildings throughout Mercer County, particularly in the public libraries.   Nearest Bus Stop: Bus #609, Ibis Plaza, 1 minutes minute walk

Last updated on November 16, 2009