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Letter from the Co-Executive Directors
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Drew Angerer/Getty Images
"I think that you must have been sent to me from heaven."
Lake City Student to their Literacy Source Instructor
Dear Literacy Source Community,
Every day we are reminded of the immeasurable impact we have on the lives of our students. The struggles and challenges that our primarily immigrant and refugee students face on a daily basis guide our mission to partner with them to gain skills and education to create new opportunities for themselves, their families, and the community.
The new Biden/Harris administration is also prioritizing immigration reforms that may have a big impact on our students: from introducing their new immigration bill to immediately enacting a number of executive orders largely reversing Trump era changes, such as strengthening the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), ending the travel ban on individuals from certain Muslim-majority countries, and ceasing construction on the border wall.
Considering 86% of our students are immigrants and refugees, immigration reform is an issue that hits close to home for Literacy Source, and we stand behind the effort the Biden administration is making to, according to the White House, "restore humanity and American values to our immigration system." Their immigration bill, entitled the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, reinforces many of the values that Literacy Source espouses: providing pathways to citizenship, keeping families together, embracing diversity, promoting immigrant and refugee integration and citizenship, and protecting and supporting vulnerable individuals and asylum seekers.
We are cautiously optimistic that these changes will reduce barriers and build opportunities for our students, but there is still a long way to go, and many questions still remain unanswered. One thing we are certain about, however, is that we have a fantastic team of supporters in each of YOU, and are so thankful for the many ways you help to continue to grow Literacy Source's impact in the community!
In community,
Shira Rosen Cat HowellCo-ED, Managing Director Co-ED, Educational Director
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Program & Staff Spotlight: Citizenship Program Manager
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 Isabel Childs, Citizenship Program Manager
Because the change of administration in the White House could have major implications for the citizenship process, and because our beloved Citizenship Program Manager, Isabel, will be leaving us at the end of the month, we thought what better time to highlight this fantastic Literacy Source program? Our citizenship program offers free citizenship classes, one-to-one tutoring, citizenship application and fee waiver assistance, legal advice referrals, and community engagement opportunities for aspiring US citizens. More information is available here. |
Here is a quick Q&A for you to get to know Isabel and the program better:
1. What has been the highlight/most rewarding part of your role as Citizenship Program Manager?
Seeing people's dreams come true after so much waiting and hard work.
2. Do you have a particularly story that you think quintessentially represents the story of our students?
Recently I attended an interview in-person at USCIS for a refugee with PTSD and other mental health issues resulting from trauma and war. The interviewing officer was incredibly kind and respectful and accepted our application for a disability waiver. With the waiver, English is not required but our client made every effort to answer simple questions in English anyway. She had an interpreter with her who was neither family nor a close friend but introduced herself as part of the client's community. The entire experience was very positive, and I felt privileged to witness this collaboration and demonstration of our important work. She joyfully became a U.S. Citizen that very day.
3. How did the citizenship process change as a result of the Trump administration's policies?
Two issues come to my mind. First was the incredible slow-down of processing applications. We went from a 7 month wait to an 18 month wait for a citizenship interview. Second was the anxiety of not knowing what negative impact would occur, including the threat of losing the fee waiver upon which all our clients depend.
4. How do you foresee the process changing again under a Biden administration?
Biden has already made positive changes to the process by cancelling the threats of both citizenship application fee increases and removal of fee waivers. We therefore have a renewed trust that the naturalization process will remain (mostly?) fair.
5. What is one thing you would like to share about our students, or about the program, that you think is important for people who are not knowledgeable about the citizenship process?
Our citizenship students and clients work very hard to become citizens. From learning the civics and history questions to the difficult and confusing questions on the application itself. Most of our students spend at least one year preparing for the exam and their perseverance is inspiring.
6. What would you like to share about your experience working at Literacy Source?
I've enjoyed a long and rich history with the organization and have had the opportunity to learn and develop through several different roles from ESOL Program Coordinator in Fremont to Citizenship Program Manager in Lake City with several other opportunities along the way. Literacy Source attracts stellar people to both work and learn at the organization, and it's been an incredibly enriching experience for me.
Thank you so much for your fantastic work, Isabel. We know you will continue your community impact both within and outside of Literacy Source in the years to come!
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Join Us for Trivia Night: February 19th, 6:30-8:30pm
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Trivia Night!
February 19th, 6:30-8:30pm
You are invited to Literacy Source's first ever virtual Trivia Night on February 19th, 2021 from 6:30-8:30pm.
We are looking forward to a fun low-key evening: 5 rounds of 5 general knowledge questions with the winning team receiving a $100 gift certificate to Phinney Books and Kaffeeklatsch gift certificates for 2nd and 3rd places.
Please gather your friends and/or family to form a team (no limit) and join us for some brain-teasing trivia. Feel free to join solo or as a couple and let us team you up!
General tickets are $15 available here.
Hope to see you on the night!
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Celebrating Black History in the Classroom
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The instructional team at Literacy Source is passionate about bringing Black voices into the classroom. This month marks Black History Month, and whether sharing resources or finding creative ways to bring this significant and often overlooked part of American history into the classroom, our instructors share some ways that they are celebrating Black History.
For example, our citizenship classes will be studying the history of slavery, the Civil war, and Emancipation. In our GED class, Phil Morris, the instructor, is incorporating Black scientist's biographies into their GED Science curriculum this quarter. Through listening to recordings and unraveling the insights of significant Black Scientists, such as Mae Jemison and Dr. George Washington Carver, students explore critical thought, bias, and systems thinking. Here is what Phil has to say about the importance of incorporating Black voices into his curriculum:
The simple fact is that Black History is American History. The contributions from Black scientists are significant and deserve space for consideration if we hope to understand how we arrived at the present. We cannot selectively ignore the contributions of Black Americans in any field and hope to cultivate an understanding of science, history, literature, or art. Inclusivity and Equity are central to the work we do, and the culture we try to cultivate at Literacy Source, so it follows that we value the contributions of all members of our community.
Here are a few resources our instructors recommend for teaching Black History:
- US Citizenship Podcast: this month they will be exploring the connection between the USCIS History and Civics questions and African American History this month.
- Educolor: A general resource about Black History Month and general anti-racist education.
- Facing History and Ourselves: This site provides teachers and other stakeholders with resources to interrogate where and how bigotry and racism damage society and democracies. It promotes a reflective and participatory stance toward learning.
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Save the Date: Virtual Breakfast: April 6th, 2021
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You're Invited to...
Literacy Source's 19th Annual Breakfast - Virtually Everywhere!
Tuesday, April 6th, 2021
8:30am-9:30am
In the comfort of your home
Greetings friends and supporters of Literacy Source! Get your favorite
morning treats ready, as our Annual Breakfast is just around the corner.
You will hear powerful and inspiring stories from Literacy Source students, including how we have adapted over the year, and get great book suggestions from our students, right in the comfort of your home.
Sign up link coming soon!
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Literacy Source Job Openings
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We're hiring!
Citizenship Program Manager: The Citizenship Program Manager is responsible for coordinating and delivering Literacy Source's Citizenship Program, ensuring accessible, high quality naturalization assistance for low-income area residents wanting to attain U.S. citizenship. More details and how to apply here.
The goal of this position is to:
- Expand volunteer, student, and community outreach in order to increase student and volunteer enrollment and build more awareness of adult low-literacy issues in the areas of English as a Second Language (ESOL), general Education Development (GED), Citizenship, Work and Digital Literacy uSkills.
- Increase Literacy Source's organizational capacity by developing internal systems and resources to expand the service of free basic skills education to low-income adults working to improve their lives.
Please help us spread the word!
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A special shout out to those donors that went above and beyond this month to support Literacy Source! - Eileen Bleeker
- June Chang, whose donation replenished our Student Success Fund
- Katheleen Kemly, on behalf of the Kemly Family Foundation
- Justin Voskuhl
- Good Fairy Fund
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Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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