I have worked with Literacy New York and its affiliates for over 10 years, both as a volunteer and as a staff member. As a whole they are dedicated professionals, committed to helping people improve their lives, and those of their families.
The ability to read and write well is one of the most important skills a person can possess. It can help them get better employment, understand dosing instructions on medications and understand financial and legal documents they need to fill out.
Nothing is more satisfying than working with a learner. The moment they grasp a concept they have been struggling with, feels like a victory for both of you.
I applaud the effort and dedication of our local Literacy Volunteers Office here in Malone. I know of clients who receive help from Literacy Volunteers and it is remarkable to see the client's progress. The staff is friendly and I refer/recommend people for their services.
I worked for a number of years in the New York State Education Department supervising the work of literacy programs in New York State. So I got to be very familiar with the work of Literacy New York, and its commitment to providing the highest quality programs and services to those adults most in need of literacy supports. And not only did Literacy New York serve adults that could not succeed in regular literacy classes, but did it in a very cost-effective way through the work of its network of trained volunteer tutors. This is a stellar nonprofit program that fully deserves five stars!
The NY State umbrella organization is a passionate advocate about literacy. The pragmatic approach to teaching adults to read is constantly being refined and measured. The need for funding the volunteer affiliates is championed by LNY thus increasing the effectiveness of the work undertaken by the local organizations.
Literacy New York is a state-wide organization that is dedicated to building literate communities throughout New York State. They achieve this by providing capacity-building and technical assistance to a network of local volunteer-based literacy organizations. LNY is comprised of a strong, dedicated staff and a committed board of directors.
Literacy New York tackles an issue that few other groups are willing and able to take on. Adult education is very frequently a forgotten need in our communities, and without the network created and managed by LNY, thousands of individuals would have no opportunity to learn skills that are critical to success in life and the workplace. LNY fills a critical gap and I am proud to support them.