Anne Arundel County Literacy Council, Inc.

I've been a volunteer literacy tutor with the AACLC for over six years. in that time, I've helped clients master difficult passages, improve their reading skills enough to read to their grandchildren or pass the GED. Sometimes helping someone discover how fractions work or see the joys of geometry. These successes and the occasional setback are always supported by the AACLC. There is a great pool of knowledge and resources among our group to draw upon. It really does take a village, and I am happy to be a part of AACLC and contribute whatever learning and experience I can.

I have been volunteering with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council for 10 years. The staff and volunteers have been so dedicated in helping our students improve their reading and math skills and teaching ESL. I’m very proud of this organization.

I’ve volunteered for the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council for almost ten years and feel it is one of the most important non-profits in the county. The Literacy Council provides a critical service to adults in our county who have low levels of literacy and math. It offers reading and math tutoring at no cost, at locations and times that are convenient to the student, and with tutors who will work at literacy/math levels that are best for the student. The tutors are volunteers who are trained and supported by the AACLC. One of the sweetest outcomes of a tutor-student match is the boost in confidence and self-esteem that results from improved reading or math skills.

The AA County Literacy Council is an extraordinary asset to the community by training and supporting volunteers who provide free one-on-one tutoring in reading and math for adult learners. These skills can be life-changing for those who seek better employment opportunities and personal advancement. The Council has strong leadership and a dedicated Board.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is a wonderful organization. I’ve been involved since 2011 as a volunteer in several capacities, and now also as a staff member. I see firsthand the dedication of our volunteer tutors, assessors, coordinators, etc. And I also learn about the fruits of their labor - our students’ inspirational achievements, such as earning a diploma years after being out of school; becoming a citizen; voting for the first time; reading to a grandchild, and so on. All tutoring is done at no charge – I can’t think of another organization in the county that provides a similar service. It’s an honor to be a part of this remarkable group!

Jane Seiss and the other leaders of the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council do a marvelous job on what amounts to a shoestring budget! Talk about getting tremendous "bang for your buck," Jane and her colleagues probably invented the phrase! The organization does wonderful work in the community! They are to be commended and emulated!

I have been a volunteer for the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council for the past 6 years and have thoroughly enjoyed working with their volunteers and students. It's a wonderful group of tutors who are committed to the success of their students- our community members, who in turn are an inspiration to us all. Their one-on-one tutoring model requires no prior teaching experience since you have the support of other volunteers to help guide you through the tutoring process. I highly recommend tutoring for the literacy council if you have time to spare.

AACLC is an amazing organization that has a consistent impact on the community. That is why I have volunteered in the past 2 years as a literacy tutor. Now in 2021, I am back in a different role as a volunteer ESL Student coordinator. The organization makes every effort to help anyone who desires to improve their lives through literacy and education. From staff to volunteers you will not find a more dedicated group of people who care for others in the community.

In an era when need is everywhere and our communities often seem unwelcoming to those who have difficulty communicating, Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is a beacon of hope, an offer of help to those who are struggling to function in our complex society. needing stronger skills in English, math, science, computer use, etc.
It has been my privilege to tutor students through the Literacy Council's excellent program. One person with whom I worked was eager to learn to read to his grandchildren. Another student wanted to improve his skills so he could seek and obtain promotions in his work. And a student who is fluent in three languages, English being her most recent, is working to earn a US high school graduation equivalency.
It is a privilege for me to serve these students as part of the excellent program designed and overseen by the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council.

I've been volunteering as a tutor with this Literacy Council for a few years now. I am constantly amazed at the level of dedication the tutors have for their students, from creating numerous hands-on tools for their student, being patient as a student's changes in life impact tutoring sessions, to sticking with their student for as long as it takes to reach their goals. Even during the pandemic when libraries were not open for in-person meetings, many tutors introduced their students to virtual tutoring using applications on their phone and or computer, texting, and just talking on the phone. Getting needed books wasn't a problem as the Literacy Council would just mail them - which actually didn't take too long. The dedication of the tutors is a clear sign of the dedicated support the volunteers working behind the scenes provides the tutors.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is doing essential work for vulnerable adults in our community. Staff is responsive and helpful, and the group offers great training opportunities and excellent support of volunteer tutors who collectively donate thousands of hours of their time every year to help adults improve their literacy or math skills. This is a wonderful community of caring, supportive, and effective volunteers to become part of.

When people ask me about myself, one of the first things I tell them that besides being a wife and mother, I'm a volunteer for the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council. This organization is such a big part of my life. I tutor one on one with adults who want to improve their English and I've also taught Math and Basic Literacy to students where English is their first language. As I meet with my students each week I can see their self confidence grow. They are engaging more in their communities and making them stronger. Parents who read tend to have children who read so the Literacy Council is helping to make long terms improvements in families here in Anne Arundel County. All training, books and assessments are provided free and since the tutoring is done on an individual basis you can be flexible on when and where you meet with your student. I'm not a teacher by trade, I'm a teacher by heart and am so glad I decided to do this.

Over the last almost 4 years now I have gone from AACLC provided training, to getting my first student (who I still and working with), working with many members for my first students family and friends. to now being a ESL tutor coordinator along with my wife. I can't recommend the organization enough for the support provided and then the joy I have received by being part of the Brooklyn Park Spanish speaking community. I love being a part of this community as I watch students go from not being confident being part of the English speaking community to being the resources for their family and friends in being the liaison to that community. If you enjoy teaching and learning and making a difference in Anne Arundel County, this is the place for you.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is one of the best and most rewarding organizations I have worked with.

As a tutor and volunteer for the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council, I appreciate the support from the Tutor Coordinator when I have questions about how best to serve my student. She offers insight, suggests materials to use, recommends activities and always has kind words of encouragement and appreciation. The collaboration and dedication of the staff to find each student the best possible tutor available is amazing. I am fortunate to be a part of such a well organized, positive and progressive organization.

Working with the Literacy Council has been such a great experience for me. I find there is such a big need to help adults improve their reading, writing, and math abilities. The Literacy Council is the only group that has the flexibility to match busy tutors and students together to make it work.

I have volunteered with AACLC since 2013, first as a tutor, and presently as Coordinator of New Student Assessments. This is a team of people whose good work makes me personally feel uplifted, and when you meet the many students being served by AACLC, you will realize that it is a dynamic force in the community, helping many people achieve their educational and life goals.

I am proud to be an AACLC Volunteer and board member since 2012.
AACLC is an excellent nonprofit with talented staff, tutors, assessors, and board members who are dedicated and passionate about helping our students succeed. During my time volunteering with the Council, over 400 low-income adults and out-of-school youth have Improved their job prospects, secured employment, earned GEDs, gained citizenship, and improved the quality of their lives through enhancing their literacy, math, and English skills.

Thomas Vernon
Board Member

What better way to improve your community than by helping others learn to read? Improving the ability to read also improves people's health (reading pill bottles), mobility (getting a drivers license), parenting skills (helping with homework, reading to their kids!), ... The list goes on and on. This organization not only helps people who cannot read, but also helps people who are trying to get high school diplomas and enter community college.

I was a part of this organization - at several levels - for about 14 years. It was and remains a great place to spend your volunteer time, or your donation money.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council has proven to deliver both confidence and achievement– not only to the students they serve– but to their volunteer tutors, as well. New tutors and students emerge with a sense of value, purpose and accomplishment as a result of training and support provided by AACLC's leadership. Because instruction is one-on-one, students benefit from lesson plans tailored to suit them, and tutors are granted the flexibility to do so. In a matter of weeks, my ESL student described being able to interact with school personnel in a manner in which she had not been able to do before. After two months, she was able to help her neighbor complete multiple forms and legal documents at the US Post Office due to the instructional material she had practiced. AACLC's comprehensive efforts are best described as a perpetual ripple that positively impacts the lives of residents in Anne Arundel County.

Many years ago, I worked for a literacy council in Northern Virginia, which I found to be very rewarding. Then I moved to Maryland and I worked as a tutor for the AACLC. It is an incredible organization with a passionate leader. I was well-trained and well-supported. For years I’ve given money to them as a charitable gift donation. I feel if you help one person to read, it has a domino effect on all the people that are connected to him or her. For example, if they can now read the bus schedule, they can get to work on time. It is empowering to teach someone to read and AACLC empowers the tutors and their students.

I have been working as a tutor with Anne Arundel County Literacy Council since 2013. The organization and the Director, Lisa Vernon, have been supportive, innovative, and imaginative. When I have needed help with a student, I have gotten an immediate response. When I need assistance, at least one if not more members of the Council will respond and help me. After my recent retirement I asked for more students. Within a week I had two more students and books to use with them. Members of the Council contacted me throughout the first two weeks to check in on the students and our work. It is wonderful to work with an organization that is well-organized and has motivated members.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council provides adults with free, individualized literacy and math instruction. AACLC staff assess each prospective student and match the student with a volunteer tutor who has undergone training in adult literacy education. Student books, tutoring, and assessments are provided free of charge. Student goals include earning a GED, finding a job, and obtaining a driver license. The impact of improved reading skills can be life-changing for the individual learner. AACLC is led by an outstanding Executive Director and has a stable and committed Board of Directors. Tutors are recruited from the community and undergo detailed training before being matched with a student. The enthusiasm of the tutors, Board members, staff, and students is obvious and the impact of AACLC's work is felt throughout our community.

This review is on the Anne Arundel County Literacy program.
I was involved in teaching adults Math in their literacy program so my students could pass their GED requirements.
It was a great experience as the students were there because they wanted to learn. Each student started off as being afraid of math but soon learned that it could be enjoyable if they just took their time and learned each step. They felt rewarded each day in their learning and they found that math was not drudgery but a wonderful way to master something that seemed to hard in the past.
I presented this literacy program to a group "Calvary Methodist Men". They were so impressed with the success that Anne Arundel County Literacy Council was having in the community they immediately made a donation. This year they have also planned to make a donation. They were hoping to make this contribution in December when a angel adds 50% to any donation up to a certain amount. They will probably donate each year.
Yeah Team,
Pete Schanck

I have been a volunteer with Anne Arundel County Literacy Council since 2013. I am constantly impressed by the devotion and professionalism of the leadership, as well as my fellow volunteers. We strive to keep costs low for our students, but provide the most user-friendly resources for our volunteers and clients. How do you break the cycle of poverty? Perhaps one student at a time! With our one-on-one tutoring, we are able to focus on the client’s needs, rather than just plow through books. We need your support. Please give generously and volunteer.

I have been working with the AA County Literacy Council, Inc. since I retired from federal service 15 months ago and I am happy to be part of this amazing group of volunteers! The very small staff could not be more supportive and responsive. The care and compassion displayed aby all involved is a wonderful model for helping others achieve their goals and live their best lives. I appreciated the initial training and the auxiliary training opportunities offered throughout the year. I work with GED students at Ordnance Road Correctional Center (ORCC) 1x per week and on a weekly basis I tutor an ESOL student.....it is rewarding to see the students t ORCC improve their life skills, earn their GEDs, and gain confidence in themselves. Metrics demonstrate that those who earn their GED do not return to jail as often! The woman I tutor in ESOL is amazing. She works so hard and continues to surpass her goals.....and best of all....I have a new friend!

In all my many years of volunteering, working with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council has by far been the most fulfilling, rewarding, and pleasant experiences I've had. Tutoring one-on-one with functionally illiterate adults has been more than just gratifying for me as a tutor but empowering students with skills of this kind adds more than just a skill, it grows self-confidence, self-worth, and develops new skills many of these students never even thought they could ever have. Leadership is wonderfully and genuinely supportive.
Working with such great folks helped me enjoy" changing the world one person at a time"

Last year I was looking for a way to embrace and welcome the growing community of non -native English speaking adults in Anne Arundel County. When I saw an AACLC flyer posted in the library for a Literacy tutor training workshop, I signed up! From that workshop to each interaction with the patient and encouraging core of volunteer staff, I've only experienced appreciation, respect and willingness to answer questions and help with how to best to serve my student. They are organized, efficient and committed to their tutors and students by providing ongoing training, resources ( they provide books at no cost to the student), compassion and encouragement. That's a big deal. With years of experience as a volunteer for different non-profits on the east and west coast, I feel fortunate to have found one that is not only well managed, but also one that delivers on their mission.

I have volunteered in several capacities (mostly as an assessor) for the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council over the past eight years. The AACLC has been a valuable community resource since 1977, but it continues to grow and serve the community more with every passing year.

Trained volunteer tutors provide individualized reading, writing, math, and English lessons to our students, most of whom are low-income adults. Even the books are provided free of charge.

Our students are absolutely inspirational; many have gone on to meet their goals, including earning a diploma, obtaining a better job, becoming a citizen, etc. Our students often demonstrate perseverance and dedication that puts me to shame!

It is an honor and a privilege to work with the dedicated staff and volunteers of the Literacy Council.

AACLC is a wonderful charity. This could be of benefit to any individual seeking to learn to read, and to anyone willing to work on leading a richer, more fulfilling and more productive life. When you interact with a new client, you begin to realize that while they are functioning in their daily lives, it is in a crippled sort of way. They drive on our roads without being able to read street signs. They pay for small purchases with larger bills, trusting that the cashier is going to give them the correct change. Why? Because they are afraid to try to count out their own change. They celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving or MLK day without knowing the history behind the holidays. To some of our foreign-born residents, these are just days off work.
Why do AACLC volunteer tutors do what they do? Because they have seen the benefits of a good education working in their own lives. They know how much effort it takes to get, say, a GED or a college degree. And they are willing to extend helping hands to others who badly need help and support. This program should be continued. It is worth its weight in gold.

Volunteering with AACLC has been very rewarding as I am able to observe the most positive effect they have on individuals who want to learn to read so they can reach life goals. This is so important as the more people are able to grow and learn, the better the whole world can become.

Amazing volunteer opportunity. Truly you are making a difference in someone's life. I tutor a senior citizen with a 2nd grade education. I'v never seen someone with more internal motivation to improve. It's humbling to be a part of it all. Extra bonus - as I tell stories to my family (I have school age kids) - it's been good for all of us to broaden our understanding of our "neighbors" and their challenges. Great organization!

I am in love with this organization and their selfless dedication to the community. They provide priceless support to those in the community who need it. They are fantastic!

Anne Arundel County Literacy Council has a great program for someone looking to give back in their community and who enjoys working with someone to help achieve their goal. It’s personally satisfying and my student really appreciates this opportunity to get help. The council’s training program is easy and they offer unlimited support. They are a great team to work with.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is organized, well-run by competent, caring people. Helping people to read and write English helps citizens who "fell through the cracks" at school better themselves economically and thereby their families. This is an excellent non-profit organization with proven results.

Dedicated people who are passionate about helping their students achieve their dreams!

I have been a volunteer with the Literacy Council for about 6 mos, tutoring a woman from Eritrea who has lived in the US for 2 years. Unable to speak English, she was housebound and dependent on her daughter. She was lonely, and became depressed. This short time we have spent together has been amazing, touching, and so rewarding for me. We started out by learning the alphabet, greetings, numbers, colors, etc. She is now able to write her name, her address and her phone number, and she is learning to read. Every time we meet, she gets a bit further along. She has taught me about her country and her life. When we meet, she is all smiles, and I am smiling between a few tears of joy watching her make progress. The Literacy Council changes lives. I know it has changed mine for the better.

This organization has an extraordinarily talented leadership team and a highly effective program for training and empowering the volunteer tutors who work with adult residents of Anne Arundel County who lack basic reading and writing skills. Each year, the tutors are recognized at an appreciation dinner, and a highlight of that event is the outpouring of thanks which the tutors receive from the students whom they help. Talk about making a difference!

AACLC is an organization that trains volunteers to provide free one-on-one tutoring in literacy, math, and English to low-income adults and out-of-school youth in Anne Arundel County. Students pay nothing for the tutoring, books, or assessments they receive, and the tutoring is done at public locations and on days and times that fit the student's life.

Students receiving this tutoring have a wide variety of goals, including being able to get a job, get a driver's licence, read labels on groceries or instructions on medicines, advance to a higher-paying job, earn a high school diploma many years after dropping out of school, pass the GED exams, qualify for entrance to college or technical training programs, or simply reading bedtime stories to their children or grandchildren.

"Each one, teach one" - It works and it changes the lives of both students and tutors. Being a literacy tutor is the most meaningful thing I have done to help others in my own community. None of this would be possible without the dedication and efforts of AACLC and the support the organization receives from the community.

The Anne Arundel Literacy Council changes lives, for both the tutors and the students. Training for new tutors is extensive, engaging and energizing. Support for new tutors is everpresent in forms of books, Facebook groups and phone calls. When I faced some initial difficulties, I received support from five different staff members who emailed me and also called. Working with my student who is twenty-eight and learning to read and write is so fulfilling that she and I are surprised by how quickly the 90 minutes go by. Please support this nonprofit with funding and volunteering.

I've always wanted to spend part of my retirement helping others learn to read. I signed up for the Literacy Council's training, but was a bit apprehensive about whether or not it would be something I could learn to do. I've since met with my student and the training did a wonderful job of preparing me. I would highly recommend this organization to anyone looking to support literacy.

As a new volunteer with the council, I am wowed by the dedication of all who volunteer their time and service to help others. This organization provides, at no charge to the student, books, tutoring, and assessments to assist them in their pursuit of their GED, better paying jobs, and an improved quality of life. Tutoring sessions in reading, writing, math, and English are held at the convenience of the student in public places such as libraries or coffee shops. All members of the council exhibit the enthusiasm required to make this a successful enterprise.

The Literacy Council is such an amazing set of programs. I am a new math tutor and I love working with the staff as well as the students. I always feel well informed and like I have as many resources as I could possibly need since the staff goes out of their way to ensure we (the tutors) are well equipped for any student we may work with. I love working with the adult students and seeing the impact we make on a daily basis.

Anne Arundel County Literacy Council (AACLC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with adults and teenagers (not in school) to improve their reading, math, or English skills. I joined AACLC in April 2016 as a volunteer reading tutor. I currently work with a single mother of two school-aged children who wants to improve her reading skills. One of her major goals is to enroll in Anne Arundel Community College. My student is hard-working and committed to achieving her goals. Since we began working together in June 2016, I have seen such an improvement in her reading and comprehension of many reading materials. She has more confidence in herself and is proud of the achievements she has made thus far. Not only has my student benefited from the program, but I get great pleasure in working with her and seeing the improvements. In helping her, I am "giving back," and that makes me feel good. The director, tutor and student coordinators, assessors, and all those involved with AACLC are there for the volunteers with materials, help, answers to questions, suggestions, and whatever the volunteers need to be successful. This organization is critical in helping those in the county who want to improve their reading skills, get their GED's, get better jobs, or enroll in college. I am so fortune to be a part of AACLC.

Lois Crawley

I have had the privilege to volunteer as my schedule permits for Anne Arundel Literacy Council. The commitment of the AALC staff and scores of volunteers, yes, all volunteers, in support of those on their journey of hope to a better life through literacy is awe inspiring. If you can read this, please join this amazing organization to support others who cannot. Literacy is power

Very visible and accessible in the community. Well organized and well run to truly benefit those who need these services so much.

A few days ago I had the privilege of having dinner with a outstanding group to people who had brought themselves out of the darkness into literacy. I am an assessor with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council. I meet with the students as they enter the program to assess what is their level of literacy and where the tutor should begin their learning. As an assessor you usually have no further contact with the individuals but always wonder about their progress. Each year the council has a dinner for the students and for some this is like a graduation ceremony. This is where I get to learn of their progress.

During dinner students are encouraged to tell their journey. This year a gentleman told his story of hiding his inability to read kept him from accepting promotions at work. He was a valued employee where he worked but each time he was offered a promotion he would leave the job and move to another entry level job. He learned of the Literacy Council's program and began his incredible journey to literacy. After completing a few years with his tutor he is nearing completion of his Associates Degree at Anne Arundel Community College. This is only one of the many success stories.

To have a program like this available, with no fees to the students, and a group of dedicated volunteers is benefit for the entire Anne Arundel County Community.

I went to their Appreciation Dinner for the first time and was able to "feel" the good work that they do in teaching underprivileged young and older adults to learn to read and write and the great gratitude that these adults have for the volunteers and the wonderful opportunity to experience the world of knowledge and capability that these volunteer tutors has opened to these adults left behind by our government and our school systems. Despite the "no child left behind" motto, these adults, who were "passed" through each school grade despite not being to read or write at all or only barely, have indeed been left behind as a result of a "feel good" society.

Such important work in our community, the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is supported largely by volunteers who are dedicated, professional, highly skilled and motivated, and by individuals and their families living in our community who might benefit from improving their basic literacy and/or math skills. Some volunteers provide excellent training for other volunteers...and everyone tries to make a difference for someone who never learned to adequately read...or for someone who never learned to read English, or someone who needs help with math skills. Tutoring is a wonderful experience for both the student and tutor--passing forward good works. In addition to providing training, materials and technical support, the Literacy Council also provides tips and insights to be more effective. Volunteering as a tutor in Anne Arundel County is incredibly fulfilling and while I know it is a great experience for me, I hope I am also helping make a difference in a person's life and in our community. I appreciate the wonderful opportunities provided by the Literacy Council, and the great volunteers and families they connect.

I joined the AACLC a few months ago and trained as a tutor. I have been blessed with a wonderful, dedicated and motivated student who wants to learn to read and get a job and her driver's license. I chose to do this because I, too, almost slipped through the school system struggling to read. I was lucky enough to have a caring teacher who saw my potential and set me up with a tutor. AACLC is an organization that is full of dedicated and caring people who want to help those in our county better themselves. I am doing my best to spread the word about this amazing organization that is changing lives one book at a time.

The Literacy Council adds MAJOR VALUE to the lives of adults everyday by training and assigning volunteer tutors to help them with reading, writing, mathematics and life.

I have been tutoring the same woman for 2 years. She loves to learn and has enhanced her English and writing skills. She is a much more confident person. Her life has changed. She is much more engaged at work and in everyday life skills which helps her daughter too.
I have heard stories at the AACLC from students that have moved me to want to continue. The students are thankful to everyone there for helping them to move forward. I am amazed how the students lives have developed. This is a great organization!

When I began tutoring I had a man who was reading on about a 2nd grade level. His grandchild had brought a book to him and said"Read this to me ,Popop" and he was ashamed and told her to go ask her grandmother. He was so aware of his limits and embarassed in front of his whole family.That was the incident that caused him to ask his wife to contact the Literacy Council.
I met with him for 5 hours a week at the library and he quickly began to know how to comprehend,not just call words.
At the end of about 8 months he decided, with my encouragement, to go to the Community College and see if he was able to enroll there. They tested him and he is on his way.He will go to school there full time in the fall.
He is so proud of himself and so am I . The Literacy Council has many volunteers and is efficiently run. Please continue to grant funds to them. You remember that saying " It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark". Well, that is what I think Robert is doing-lighting the candle for his family and many others he encounters.(He read that book to his granddaughter at Easter)

After I retired I tried several local nonprofits as potential places to volunteer, but I wasn't really excited until I started volunteer tutoring with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council. I have been deeply impressed by the commitment of the volunteers, and the quality of leadership. I now tutor two students, one in reading and writing, and one in math. Both are delightful and have become friends. This is a truly outstanding organization that provides life-changing experiences for both volunteers and clients.

My tutor played a huge role in helping me pass the ged and helped me to be able to score in the top 10% of the country. I am very thankful for the help I got from the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council.

It has been a pleasure to work with my student, Eric. While he is somewhat handicapped, he is working in the Challenger books and is making good progress through it. I know he is happy to have the chance to read with a tutor each time I come. He expresses his appreciation at every session.
I'm thankful to be a part of an organization that is making a difference in so many lives, bringing the joy of accomplishment to many who would not otherwise experience it.

Teaching someone to read has been something I have wanted to do for many, many years. Each time I inquired through other organizations in the past the classes were either non existant or too far away from my residence or held in the evening and I was working at the time. The Literacy Council was just what I had hoped for. The classes were held in a church, on weekends and the church is close to where I live.

The training was held on two consecutive Saturdays with a follow-up half day class held about a month after the initial training. I found the instruction to be very well thought out and presented clearly and effectively, especially when you consider the broad spectrum of clients that are served. During the follow-up session we each shared our experiences to date. It was both interesting and helpful to hear first hand from other volunteers the pluses and minuses of their sessions. And we were provided the opportunity for additional coaching. I find the group to be very committed, energetic and eager to help move us along in our progress with our clients.

I have a wonderful client. He is motivated, and enthusiastic, there is no question in my mind that he wants to learn to read. His enthusiasm is what keeps me motivated. I feel that the teaching resources provided to us by the Literacy Council plus the help we know is just a phone call away provide the tools needed to keep his classes interesting.

I am very pleased with the program. It is much more than I expected. I admire the staff and the dedicated volunteers who have worked together, literally for years, to make this program what it is today. I would be happy to tell anyone interested in volunteering to come and see for yourself if this would be a good fit for you. I am very happy to be a part of this wonderful organization.

Sincerely,

Priscilla Gray

The AACLC is focused on the long-term success of students, not simply on the best short-term learning tactics. The tutors that I have met are incredibly dedicated to this cause, and I am proud to be among them.

The Literacy Council has been changing lives through literacy for adult and out-of-school youth in Anne Arundel County for the past 38 years. Last year 216 tutor/student matches were supported through the dedication of 233 volunteers. The Literacy Council is a much-needed community resource in our community.

I have worked with this great nonprofit for several years.
The work they do is invaluable to the community. I am proud
to be a part of AACLC.

I was referred to the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council a little more than 1-year ago. I have found them to be attentive and consistent in their follow-through. We were quite fortunate to have them available to assist our need.

Much appreciated!
PM

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council does a great job teaching people to read, including ESL students and people whose native language is English. There is no charge to the students. Everyone involved with the program shows lots of heart and dedication, which results in great progress by the students.

My wife and I became tutors for AACLC last year, and it's been a wonderful (and eye-opening) experience. The staff (mostly volunteer) is dedicated, proficient, well-trained and enthusiastic. We were new to tutoring, and the training and support they provide is excellent. The students (both ours and others we've observed) are motivated, hard-working, and determined to succeed. The AACLC is truly making a difference in the lives of many, many people.

I've been a tutor with the organization and have been impressed by the helpfulness and responsiveness of the staff.

I am a well educated retiree who had been looking for a place to volunteer to do real work. I was tired of fund raising (although I know it is critical) I craved an operations role. I found just that with the AACLC. Today I proudly tell friends, family and anyone who will listen that I am a tutor. The overwhelming and humbling experience of facilitating self motivated but under severed individuals to make a profound difference in their own lives and in our society is the single most rewarding thing I have done. AACLC does more good with so few resources it amazes me daily.

The AALC is a hidden gem in the County. The work they do to provide literacy and math training to adults is hugely rewarding. If you heard the gratitude of students that can get their GED, find a job and read to their children and grandchildren, you'd understand how critical the AALC is. The key route out of poverty is literacy - the beauty is that no one can take it away.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council, once the best-kept secret locally, is now recognized as a premier non-profit in our community. One of the most significant ways it serves our community is through its contribution to diversity. Anne Arundel County, along with all of Maryland and, indeed, our country nationwide, is becoming more diverse each day. All of us recognize the importance of good communication in fostering understanding, tolerance and shared values among the varied people of our community. And good communication demands literacy. Only a literate society can extract the commonalities among varied diverse groups to bring them together in a way that honors diversity while celebrating unity. Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is to be commended for its stellar service in addressing the literacy needs of our community.

The AACLC has a very dedicated and passionate staff devoted to helping any individuals in the county needing literacy assistance. This dedication is matched by the volunteers who spend countless hours assisting in reading and sometimes in other skills necessary for success in life. The AACLC is an organization truly committed to improving our community and it deserves recognition for the long-term positive impact it has on both volunteers and students.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council has great impact in the community. Beyond the boats on the Chesapeake Bay and the historic downtown of Annapolis are pockets of economic struggle, with inadequate literacy skills posing a hurdle for many. The Council is run by people committed to lifting the community, bringing together those who desire to lend a hand with those willing to take that hand and climb the rungs of personal aspiration.

Lisa Vernon and the entire staff at AACLC have been instrumental and supportive in providing an effective means for volunteers to help students, ending illiteracy one student at a time. Volunteering is apparently in their blood, dedication and professionalism shines through.

Kudos to Lisa Vernon and the AACLC, INC staff. What a great group of volunteers. I just received excellent training to be a reading tutor and cannot wait to give of my time and talent to the organization and to those who are less educated for whatever reason so that they can better navigate our daily living.

I worked with the AACLC to tutor an ELS student. Watching the commitment and the effect that the organization has, I was glad that I could be apart of it. I'm not sure who gets the most from the experience, the tutors are so dedicated, or the student who is also dedicated.

AACLC truly changes lives in deep, meaningful and lasting ways. Literacy skills are not just about learning to read, they are about learning to think, being able to articulate goals and persevere to achieve them. AACLC recognizes that "teaching people to fish" is a process that takes time and guidance. When the two come together - caring tutors with committed tutees - lives change in both measurable and immeasurable ways. AACLC is not just changing lives, AACLC is changing society one life at a time.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 was created by the federal government to address reading and math issues students in elementary and secondary schools have to ensure a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. "Children who learn to read well early in life are more likely to be engaged in school and experience academic success. A deficiency in reading skills impacts achievement in all other areas of education.”(U.S. DOE)

The NCLB addresses issues inside the school system, but what about students and adults of any age who may have left the school system without learning to read well? Those who might not have gotten the individualized attention that they needed to become life-long learners and readers can get that attention from tutors in the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council (AACLC). The AACLC provides personalized assessments for participants, training for volunteer tutors, and resource materials for both within the program.

Perhaps the AACLC should be known as the No Adult Left Behind Agency of 2015!

I noticed that people who cannot read, write, or speak proper English feel ashamed of that. The Literacy Council gives them a chance to improve their quality of life and become an equal member of the society .

The literacy council provides a wonderful opportunity for us to share our love of reading and commitment to literacy with others who have a desire to improve their reading skills. It is a joy to see their excitement as reading becomes an important part of their lives. All of this is done at no cost to the participant. What a gift!

I have had the privilege of helping AACLC with their website for two or three years, and I continue to be amazed at how active, committed, and engaged its volunteers and supporters are.

Every month there are new "Success Stories" of lives changed, and often those lives are not just the students, but the tutors as well. I have an inside glimpse of how many hours of dedicated service are put into this organization, and it is staggering.

If you are a potential donor with a heart for changing lives, especially if you live in the Anne Arundel County area, there could be no better organization for you to consider supporting.

I am currently working with a 20 year old young man who dropped out of high school after the tenth grade. I cannot praise too highly the quality & quantity of support I receive from those in charge of AACLC: E-mails with suggestions for different techniques and new resources, seminars on specific topics, continuing training opportunities, and responses to e-mail queries within minutes. AACLC even sponsored a dinner party with a motivational speaker for students and tutors earlier this month.

When I started with this student, six months ago, he really couldn't read at all! Meeting twice a week and using the Laubach method prescribed by AACLC, he has completed Book 1 and is truly able to read fluently the materials provided with confidence. That AACLC provides all materials to students and tutors at no charge is amazing. The gift of the tools needed to learn to read truly enhances their value. My student and I are proud of his progress and look forward to broadening and refining his skills.

I am a volunteer literacy tutor and I fnd the AACLC to be very effective in recruiting adults who need assistance with increasing their speed and ability to read. I have had 3 tutoring students - they have all been able to meet their objectives in terms of increasing their ability to read.

The most motivated of my students have been those who want to read as well as their children do - to be able to assist their children with their homework, answer their questions about reading assignments, etc. All of my students have been able to achieve that objective and more.

Very good organization, that allows one on one tutoring for those who are not able to work in a class environment.

The Ann Arundel County Literacy Council activities have a profound influence on the clients who want to read and write. Opportunities open to those who become literate. All this is done with a corps of volunteers.

Recipients of this service are so grateful and say it can be life changing. I know that the volunteers and staff go well beyond to help the students achieve their goal. It's just as rewarding to the volunteers as the student when they reach their goal.

I have now been involved as a tutor with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council for several months as a volunteer. As a tutor, I work with two adults, teaching them how to read and write. It is most rewarding to see my students progress in their studies and become more educated and confident about their new found skills. One student's goal is to become a nurse, while the other wishes to get a better job to support his family and eventually attend college.

I think the AACLC is a most worthy non profit organization and offers essential services and educational opportunities to Anne Arundel County residents. Currently, there are 70,000 people in my county who do not have the reading and writing skills to obtain a GED. The more support AACLC gets from the county and state, financially and otherwise, the more AACLC will be able to help our citizens reach their educational goals and become independent.

I am very thankful for this opportunity to be involved in such a worthy organization.
Sarah M. Fredericks
Odenton, MD

I have been a part of this organization only since last November. In that short time, I have found that many of the people are very dedicated and help make it a successful organization. I am very proud to be a part of such a well run council.

AACLC offers excellent instruction to prepare tutors. It pairs up tutors to students geographically to optimize convenience for both parties. This also improves the chances that tutors and students will be able to meet regularly. The AACLC office provides training materials and frequently suggests helpful websites. Even the periodic emails with lesson ideas and inspiring stories keeps the focus on the training and success for students. I am very pleased with the support I receive as a volunteer.

The Anne Arund Literacy Counci is a very important volunteer group that is sincerely dedicated to helping adults of all ages to improve their reading. The "students" and their volunteer tutors develop a
personal relationship as they work together in the reading process. I love working with my student at the public library and seeing him progress; and, the Literacy Council provides all the training and all the materials that we need. Tell your friends and family what a great organization it is, helping so many of our county residents to become better readers!

L. L..
Second year AACLC tutor

You can't imagine how much AACLC is accomplishing! Both tutors and clients are being sought out by whatever means all of us can think of. We have an active board, a volunteer structure that includes folks in charge of tutor training, tutor oversight, methods for matching tutors and clients, an incredible monthly newsletter, community links with all appropriate agencies, and connections with politicians and local media.

Volunteers are given intensive training and offered regular workshops to increase their capabilities.

AACLC also recognizes its volunteers both formally and informally.

All of these things are accomplished by a group of dedicated volunteers who not only donate their time and talents, but funding as well.

Jill York

If you can imagine not being able to read yet through the efforts of volunteers providing one-on-one tutoring, you not only learn to read but your life takes on a new dimension. That is what AACLC is all about. As a tutor I can speak from experience that this organization provides invaluable service to individuals and in turn to the community.
Lina Vlavianos

My friend is a volunteer at AACLC and she tells the most wonderful stories about helping people read and how reading opens up a world for them. My friend now has a glow about her; as she's more exciting by what she gets from volunteering.

This is a rewarding experience for the student and the tutor. What I found in my short time involved with this group is how other organizations are very open to offering their space and time to assist in the efforts of training students. It's a positive experience when everyone is invested in helping those who need help. I look forward to more time spent in teaching those who need some help with reading and speaking English.

This organization provides one-on-one tutoring for adults in Anne Arundel County absolutely free! I met a number of students who became successful after working with a tutor, my daughter is a tutor, and I hope to be one soon. I grew up devoring books, and raised my child to enjoy reading. I cannot imagine what it must be like to want to do something so badly, and not having the resources to learn. There are many adults in the the community who do not read, or do not read well, and having someone work with them is a blessing.

This is an incredible group of volunteers who work with adult literacy. This nonprofit organization is a godsend. It shows great respect for both the adult students as well as the volunteers.

The AACLC is an outstanding nonprofit organization serving adults in Anne Arundel County who wish to learn to read. A large corp of dedicated volunteer tutors work one-on-one with the adult learners/students using especially designed curriculum materials to facilitate optimum learning for each individual. Tutor-student pairs meet in various branches of the Anne Arundel County Library system. An outstanding feature of the program is the close bond that develops over time, between the tutor and student. This bond greatly contributes to the success of the student. Many students have offered their testimony on how the AACLC program has made such a great difference in the quality of their lives in so many way - vocationally, socially and in their own feelings of self-esteem and confidence. Learning to read after living to adulthood without being able to read becomes such a great victory for those who reach their reading goals of success through the outstanding offerings of the AACLC.

The Literacy Council makes possible what cannot be accomplished in a classroom - a personal dimension to learning.

Outstanding, devoted, selfless volunteers. Great people serving humbly and patiently. Changing the world one person at a time

Not being able to read is like being blind even though your eyes are open. One of the greatest rewards is seeing the light bulb go on inside a student's head when she/he realizes that the letters make a word that can express a feeling or a need or a want and that words can be connected to make a thought and the thoughts can be connected to tell their story and then comes the magic of writing it down so they see their words being read by their children and grandchildren and even better being able to finally read those words to the children.

My husband is a volunteer and I have had the privilege to meet his student as well as the students wife. They both have expressed their gratitude for the help and they are pleased with the progress. His wife stated that he shows more interest in reading. This is a wonderful program for those that require the help with their skills. Thank you, Jeannie Smith

I joined the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council in 2011, right after it had been publicized in an article in a local newspaper. The article inspired a good-sized group of people to take the tutor training, and they were really needed. At that time, there was quite a backlog of people who had requested tutoring, but had not yet been matched with a tutor.
Since that time the council has continued to grow, become more organized and reached many more students. There are several tutor trainings each year, multiple workshops, fundraising events and a banquet with inspiring speakers for the students, tutors and their friends and families.
My own student's reading ability has improved greatly, he reads for pleasure on a regular basis now. I have great hopes that his increased skill will help him to be able to support himself, and someday a family of his own.

As a volunteer, my experience has been exceptional! The staff was outstanding in the trainings and excellent in in all communications. AACLC is a wonderful asset to the community!.

When my third son went away to college, I decided to find some kind of volunteer work. I could not think of a more effective way to improve the common good than to help adults to read. The Literacy Council’s work seemed perfect.

After training, I was matched with a young mother of two. Her children were starting to read. She conquered her fear and shame and asked for help. The Literacy Council was there to support her in her quest for literacy.

An investment in in the Literacy Council supports community volunteers who one-on-one, teach adults to read. Because they can read, they can also read to their children, get better jobs, read the news, become better informed voters, and have more self-confidence so they can come out of the shadows.

I sometimes like to bake bread, and the analogy of baking bread and this organization is hard to resist. A teaspoon of yeast, given some warmth and time, can turn a bowl of flour, salt and water into the staff of life.

I not only support this organization with my time but also my checkbook. I just paid for our new data base system to track students and tutors monthly progress reports, freeing up volunteers time formally spent completing the reports by hand. I also offer matching funds to double a donors contribution in our on-line campaigns.

I don't know when I've seen a more dedicated team. I shopped around for the best organization for which to volunteer. There is no question I found my home.

I am a volunteer tutor. My student and I each get a lot from our work together. He is a hard worker and wants very much to learn how to read. He works two jobs and still comes to the library for tutoring for three hours a week. He recently told me he is going to try and cut some hours from his second job, so that he can work even more on his reading. What so many of us learned so easily is such a struggle for others.

We need, more than ever, to know how to read and write in order to stand on our own feet and compete in a world that challenges us every minute of our days, bombarding us with all sorts of information that we need to be able read and understand in order to make better choices that, not only affect ourselves, but our families and our country.
I am a volunteer tutor because I truly believe that literacy is a basic need of the human being because it helps the other basic needs like food, water, clothes, shelter and medicines become more achievable.
A great example of this is the connection between illiteracy and poverty.

As a volunteer tutor with AACLC, I see the positive impact that the gift of literacy has on so many driven, talented adults in Anne Arundel County. AACLC and its volunteer staff are improving lives for illiterate adults in our county each and every day.

The Anne Arundel Literacy Council has been a tremendous support to me as a new reading tutor.
When I need advice other tutors come to my aid and give me the benefit of their experience and give me ideas on how to proceed with my student. The training provided by the AALC has been wonderful.
You couldn't ask for better real-life instructors to help you through the process. You always have someone there. Other tutors really care about helping you and your student succeed.

Amazing, dedicated folks helping others to realize the joys of reading. It's not just about books. It is about a way of life that is closed to you without this skill. It's about the inability to read a storybook or instructions to your child. It's about filling out the most basic of applications. It's about reading the directions on a prescription bottle or how to handle toxic or dangerous material. Mostly, I believe, it is about feeling included in the world around you. AACLC opens doors.

Sandy Burch

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is amazing! I have always loved to read and felt compelled to help others learn. I completed the two days of tutor training….the instructors were experienced and passionate about their work and were able to share first-hand knowledge and tips to teach adult learners to read. The training included presentations, practice exercises, and what it takes (patience, flexibility, commitment) to be successful. So far I have had three one-on-one learning sessions with the student who was matched with me. I can tell this will be hard, but also rewarding. What could be more valuable than making a difference in someone’s life?

I have just completed two full days of training to be a tutor. I was very impressed with the thoughtful and thorough presentations of the experienced tutors and with their willingness to share personal experiences and helpful advice. It was apparent that everyone who has been involved with this organization believes deeply in its mission and derives great satisfaction from their interactions with their students. I have spent many years developing educational materials for teachers and students, but I have never had the chance to be in classrooms to personally witness the growth that occurs from their use. Therefore, I look forward to having a long-term one-on-one teaching experience with a single student. It seems that the AACLC leaders work very hard to help all of the tutors be successful and enjoy their work. I appreciate their unwavering commitment to the ongoing training and enthusiastic support of their volunteers.

The AALC provides one-on-one tutorial support for any adult in Anne Arundel Co. wishing to improve his/her literacy skills. The program itself has the flexibility to adapt to learners at many levels with varying needs. Everyone involved is friendly and dedicated. As a new tutor I am finding this non-profit to be a truly rewarding experience.

The change in the lives of students helped borders on miraculous!

There are over 70,000 people in Anne Arundel county who are not functionally literate in English. Adults with improved literacy are more likely to avoid crime, remain healthier, become employees, and raise children who are better prepared for school. Helping people become more functionally literate – whether immigrants or native-born – is one of the most rewarding things I've done. It's rewarding because I can touch one person at a time and really see a difference in that person's self-confidence that comes with achievement. An English tutor can see the relief, satisfaction, pleasure and new optimism that comes from acquiring a skill that will let that person become a contributing member of their community - often to get a better job and help take care of their family. The AACLC is critically important to the health and welfare of the county's residents who need help to help themselves and their families overcome the roadblock to success that functional illiteracy poses.

The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is a well organized group of people trying to help adults learn to improve their reading and writing. With time these adult learners may improve their life at home work and school. The leadership group helps the tudors in many ways with materials, workshops and lectures. My adult student seems to be friendly, upbeat, organized and motivated.

The student I am now working with has two children and only a minimum wage cleaning job to suppo rt them with. She is meeting with me EVERY DAY because she is so motivated to learn to read so she can help them with their homework (they are in Kindergarten and first grade), read to them at night, and hopefully soon go the community college so she can train as a pharmacy technician and be better able to care for them. She is an amazing woman: kind, generous, alert, smart, poised ... but she has not had the opportunity to learn to read. We are a great team and both of our lives are better from having been brought together.

I was looking for a new volunteer opportunity when I came across the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council's good work. I knew being a writer and someone who really loves "words" that this could be a good fit. Everyone needs a basic understanding for reading, writing, and comprehension to excel in today's world and I enjoy helping others accomplish those skills.

Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is one of the best organizations I have ever volunteered for. First, there is tremendous support for volunteers which begins with an excellent training program for the volunteer. Training is run by very experienced experts in literacy, with varying backgrounds in reading and adult education. Assignment of students to tutors is personalized for maximum benefit to both parties so that matches are optimized for efficacy from the beginning. Because Anne Arundel County Literacy Council enjoys strong support from local organizations both public and private, its activities are well-attended and run smoothly. Anne Arundel County Literacy Council is a great organization because it is so well organized and has a mission that really matters. The impact of enhanced literacy is not only life-changing on an individual level for student and tutor, but also has significant resultant beneficial effects for the society and the economy on a macro level when the student's improved literacy leads directly or indirectly to better employment opportunities and a higher standard of living.

Lisa, the director is amazing and very helpful! The training was long, but all of the volunteers made an unbelievable effort to make it as informative and engaging as possible (the coffee helped). They are very organized, and I am so happy to be a part of AACLC.
I think the only thing that makes this non-profit limited is their funding that doesn't always provide the books we need for students.

My principal contact has been in ESOL. Here I've had the pleasure of both learning and helping.. The personal contacts and the stories of those folk about their own earlier countries and experiences has been most interesting and informative. The recognition of progress that the students exhibits is a fine reward for the time spent with them. Give it a go!

I am a volunteer student coordinator for this organization for the past 5 months. It is so rewarding and fulfilling, when we can match a student with a tutor and make them read and write better down the road. I believe that education is the key to success and not only changes the life of a person but also his/her future generations and people around them. This is why I am part of this organization and will continue to do so in whatever way I can for years to come.

I came across this organization when I was looking for a meaningful way to help people less fortunate. With a solid background in teaching, this looked like the perfect solution to my search. I have never felt more rewarded for my endeavors. I am a tutor, an assessor, and on the Board of Directors as a Tutor Representative. Seeing the sparkle in students' eyes when they realize they are accomplishing their dream is so exciting. Our teaching materials and support system are excellent. I am thoroughly committed to this organization!

Anne Arundel County Literacy Council provides an invaluable resource throughout Anne Arundel County. It is staffed by a group of dedicated volunteers who are deeply committed to literacy for all.

I have been teaching English as a Second Language to people from Vietnam for about 7 years now. This is the most rewarding work I have ever done. My students are incredibly motivated and hard-working....and they succeed! A former student, one of the brightest young women I've ever met, learned enough English to get into Community College. She graduated with flying colors and is now at University of Maryland (while working full-time, bringing over her parents and 3 siblings, and somehow finding time to meet a lovely young man and become engaged!) We just trained 40 new tutors. The need is huge! Our volunteer support staff is amazing, but I fear for them and for all of us if they exhaust themselves. Support would be welcome!

Talk about an organization that does what it says it's going to do, eliminates bureaucratic aggravation, and enables people-to-people connections that change lives--and you're talking about the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council (AACLC). Like an empathetic matchmaker, the all-volunteer AACLC pairs people who love reading with adults who have been frustrated in their efforts to learn how to read. After meeting several times a week over the course of one or many years, true progress is made and friendships forged. The time I spend with the young man I'm tutoring simply flies and I know that both of us deeply value this experience.

I have been volunteering for almost 20 years. In the last few years I have been looking to do something on a more personal level. I heard about AACLC but hadn't made it to one of their training classes until Fall of 2011. The training course was very interesting and not long after completing the training, I received several dossiers for people who needed tutoring. Once case in particular captured me, a man who wanted to improve his reading skills so he could read to his daughter. Unfortunately, there are more students that tutors, so he waited for quite some time before I got his case. So long in fact that his daughter was now a teenage and not really interested in "dad" time. But my student still wanted to work on his skills. So, for the last year, we have meet almost weekly to work on improving his reading, comprehension and writing. He has made wonderful progress. So much progress that his supervisor noticed his increased efforts at reading work manuals and complimented him on his efforts! My student was extremely proud of himself! And he continues to meet regularly with me to continue his journey into the great world of words!

AACLC is serving an important and unmet need in our county. Adults that fail to score high enough on the CASAS test to enter the GED prep or External Diploma programs are referred to the AACLC. Without this organization, there is no where else to turn.

Reading is an essential part of success in our society. To be able to share this skill with others less fortunate is a privilege. The AACLC shows tutors how to do this using an accepted and proven method. The instructors are all tutors themselves, many with years of experience in tutoring, all with years of successful life experience.

I recently completed the adult reading tutor training at The Anne Arundel County Literacy Council based in Annapolis, Maryland and I am looking forward to being assigned a student. I am impressed by the group's professionalism, their skills in teaching adults how to teach other adults to read as well as the materials and support that is provided to all volunteer tutors. The AACLC is an extremely important resource for adults trying to improve their reading skills that will ultimately make them more productive members of the community.

I chose to volunteer with the Anne Arundel Literacy Council because I saw the need for the service. I volunteered as a tutor in a County Detention Center and saw inmates whose reading level had often stagnated at the 3rd or 4th grade level. Adults who cannot read on a functional level tend to remain hidden in society and they rarely reach their full potential.

I have been a tutor with the Literacy Council for 2 very rewarding years. My student is a woman from Columbia who is literate in Spanish but wants to learn to read in English and become a citizen. She works hard to learn the vocabulary I teach her each week. She tells me of her success being able to communicate with co-workers. She has learned to use a bilingual dictionary so she can find the meaning of new words on her own. Both she and I are proud of her progress. The Literacy Council does a wonderful service by finding people who want to learn to read and matching them with volunteer tutors, giving the tutors the training and support they need to fulfill their teaching mission.

I recently joined the Council. The training was very good.

I recently began volunteering as a tutor for the AACLC, Inc. The training was very good and the materials are excellent. I am actively tutoring on a 2hour a week basis and i find the experience uplifting and enourmously satisfying. I'd really like to see the Council grow. Randy Brown

I recently became a volunteer tutor for the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council. Their training is superb and comprehensive. They conscientiously match students with tutors in temperament, schedule, and location for optimum results. The lovely woman I work with is eager and full of valuable life experiences. We both look forward to our very productive and mutually satisfying sessions. It is indeed a labor of love to facilitate another's mastery of such a fundamental skill. I feel quite fortunate to be associated with such a fine organization.

I just became a tutor and my adult learner is very eager and asks for homework! As a teacher this is anatural and very rewarding way to give back.

I am happy to be a part of such a well-run organization and do my part to help literacy in the US.

I have donated over 40 hours per week to the Literacy Council for the past year because what our program offers to our community is real and life-changing, and because I know we are making a positive difference in our community. As Director, I see the success stories every day, and have the privilege of working alongside over 140 talented, dedicated tutors, staff and board members. Our free, individualized literacy tutoring for adults and out-of-school youth helps individuals achieve their personal goals, such as pursuing a GED, getting a better job, obtaining a drivers license, reading and filling out job applications, etc. Achieving their goals not only empowers the student, but also improves the lives of their family and our community as well. This has been an extremely rewarding experience!

I am a volunteer with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council. I am a tutor, and have also supported both training and assessment efforts. I was drawn to this organization for several reasons, foremost among those being the emphasis on reading and literacy and service to a population who often have no where else to turn for this free-to-them service. I am very pleased with the caliber of the volunteer organization. People are committed, work hard, and stay focused on the needs of our students. There is a focus on continuous improvement, and the leadership is selfless and striving to improve the tutoring service as well as the development of the tutors' abilities to meet the needs of students.

I'm a volunteer tutor with the Anne Arundel Literacy Council. I have worked with the same student for two years. The director and other professionals in this non-profit organization are efficient, helpful and encouraging to those of us who work directly with adult non-readers. My student was relieved to find a place where he could work with a knowledgeable, caring tutor in private; that he did not have to be embarrassed within a group setting; and that there was no testing -- just his own initiative to learn. His outlook on his place in the world has changed. He has proudly measured his own achievement.

I am pleased with AACLC email newsletter and volunteer, fundraising, and other updates. Recently, a administrative assistance volunteer opportunity was published, and I inquired. A volunteer meeting at my local library was also good and informational. I made connections and we shared common interests. I believe this organization to be valuable.