Reading Connections is grateful for its partnership with Lincoln Financial Group, which has demonstrated its commitment to the community in so many ways.
We are very proud to announce that Reading Connections has just received a $25,000 grant from the Lincoln Financial Foundation to support literacy services in Guilford County.
In addition, more than 35 volunteers from Lincoln Financial Group worked on projects last week to support our Family Literacy Academy. Lincoln Financial Group volunteers built sets of sight word cards to help parents and children learn together and "reading buddy" pillows to give to participating children at our December family literacy celebrations. Volunteers like those from Lincoln Financial Foundation make it possible for us to provide much-needed services and resources while maintaining an efficient bottom line.
We extend our thanks to Lincoln Financial Group for supporting literacy in Guilford County!
Thanks to the fantastic publicity and community buzz surrounding our 100 Tutors in 100 Days campaign, we are on track to meet our goal! We have received 258 inquiries, and by the end of training in November we will have trained 86 new tutors, many of whom are already making a difference in the lives of their new students.
We still have space in our December tutor training sessions, so please spread the word and help us get those last 14 tutors trained!
Help us reach our goal! Refer friends you think would be great tutors! All new tutors who complete training and any existing tutor who refers a friend will be entered to win a $100 gift card from The Fresh Market!
Reading Connections is very pleased to welcome Stanley Hammer as the newest member of our Board of Directors. Stanley Hammer is a partner at Wyatt Early Harris Wheeler, LLP, a full service law firm located in High Point. He says, "I welcome the opportunity to serve on the Board of Reading Connections, which I view as important to this community as it equips willing adults with vital literacy skills."
Stanley joins 14 other dedicated Board members. The staff, students, and volunteers at Reading Connections are grateful for their dedication, expertise, and service!
We are also excited to announce the addition of Teresa McNeill as our new Family Literacy Coordinator. Teresa has extensive experience in the Guilford County School system and has an
educational specialist degree in program administration with an emphasis on special populations. We look forward to working with Teresa on our successful Family Literacy program. Please welcome her and feel free to introduce yourself to her the next time you are in the Greensboro office!
Candy began volunteering with Reading Connections in March 2011. Initially matched with one student, Candy has since increased her service and taken on a small group and two additional individual students. Candy is now leading the morning beginning ESOL group twice weekly and meets with individuals three other times each week! Since taking over the group, attendance has been so strong that they relocated to a larger space at the West Market Street United Methodist Church. Candy creates thoughtful, individualized lessons that address learners' life and language goals, and is a great example of the dedication and passion that lie at the heart of community-based adult education.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Barnes & Noble stores in Greensboro, High Point, and around the country to support Reading Connections! The Barnes & Noble Book Fair program is a valuable way for Reading Connections to spread the word about our programs and earn some cash in the bargain. Our thanks to Barnes & Noble for this fantastic community program, and to Board member Kaye Ward for her organizing efforts!
Board members Geary Potter and Kaye Ward oversaw children's activities such as story time and a "build a bookmark" crafts table.
Local poets Rebecca Black, Stuart Dischell, Rachel Richardson, and David Roderick held a poetry reading attended by more than 50 guests in the store.
Once again, our TutorFest conferences were a smash hit!
30 tutors in High Point and 42 in Greensboro attended TutorFest to build their own skills as instructors. We applaud your dedication to providing high-quality instruction for your students!
We are very grateful to the High Point Museum and to Greensboro College for hosting our conferences this year.
Participant evaluations were extremely positive. Based on feedback from participants, we plan to offer several of the workshops as stand-alone training sessions so even more tutors can have access to the knowledge and resources shared at TutorFest.
Thank you to all our tutors and presenters for making these events a success and for supporting our mission of changing the lives of our students through literacy!
Special Volunteer Opportunities: Public Speaking and Tutor Coaching
Help Students Speak Out!
Many of our students are interested in learning how to speak powerfully in front of a group of people. Our students have amazing stories to tell about their own lives and accomplishments, and it is a pleasure and a privilege to help them build the skills and confidence to tell their own story in public. If you are interested in volunteering to help teach a six-week Public Speaking course, please contact Marcy Ray (mray@readingconnections.org).
Tutor Credentialing Coaches Needed
We are in need of 3-4 Credentialing Coaches at each of our offices (in Greensboro and High Point). Part of our tutor support system is an initial credentialing visit in which a coach observes a lesson and provides constructive feedback to help new tutors get off to a strong start. We are looking for experienced volunteer tutors who would be able to conduct 1 credentialing visit per week. To become part of our amazing tutor support team, contact Beth Larson in Greensboro (230-2223, blarson@readingconnections.org) or Kyri Murdough in High Point (884-7323, kmurdough@readingconnections.org).
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Reading Connections is grateful for its partnership with Lincoln Financial Group, which has demonstrated its commitment to the community in so many ways.
In addition, more than 35 volunteers from Lincoln Financial Group worked on projects last week to support our Family Literacy Academy. Lincoln Financial Group volunteers built sets of sight word cards to help parents and children learn together and "reading buddy" pillows to give to participating children at our December family literacy celebrations. Volunteers like those from Lincoln Financial Foundation make it possible for us to provide much-needed services and resources while maintaining an efficient bottom line. 
Reading Connections is very pleased to welcome Stanley Hammer as the newest member of our Board of Directors. Stanley Hammer is a partner at Wyatt Early Harris Wheeler, LLP, a full service law firm located in High Point. He says, "I welcome the opportunity to serve on the Board of Reading Connections, which I view as important to this community as it equips willing adults with vital literacy skills."
Stanley joins 14 other dedicated Board members. The staff, students, and volunteers at Reading Connections are grateful for their dedication, expertise, and service! 
We are also excited to announce the addition of Teresa McNeill as our new Family Literacy Coordinator. Teresa has extensive experience in the Guilford County School system and has an
educational specialist degree in program administration with an emphasis on special populations. We look forward to working with Teresa on our successful Family Literacy program. Please welcome her and feel free to introduce yourself to her the next time you are in the Greensboro office!
Candy began volunteering with Reading Connections in March 2011. Initially matched with one student, Candy has since increased her service and taken on a small group and two additional individual students. Candy is now leading the morning beginning ESOL group twice weekly and meets with individuals three other times each week! Since taking over the group, attendance has been so strong that they relocated to a larger space at the West Market Street United Methodist Church. Candy creates thoughtful, individualized lessons that address learners' life and language goals, and is a great example of the dedication and passion that lie at the heart of community-based adult education. 
Once again, our TutorFest conferences were a smash hit!