The Crittenden County Literacy Council, based at Mid-South Community College, has additional funding for educational supplies and promotional efforts thanks to a generous contribution from the West Memphis Rotary Club.Local Rotarians recently donated $1,000 to the Literacy Council to support efforts to reach out to area residents in need of educational assistance. As many as one in three Crittenden County citizens is considered functionally illiterate, which means they read at or below the fifth-grade level.
“The West Memphis Rotary Club’s donation is a significant blessing for us,” said Jacki Murase, Literacy Council Coordinator. “Our Council has grown to 30 students and 20 tutors in the last three months, so our need for additional supplies and educational materials has increased considerably.”
Murase spoke at a Rotary Club meeting earlier this year, and “they were really open to the work being done. We received a really positive response.”
Rotary Treasurer Denny Sumpter, who also serves on the Literacy Council advisory board, encouraged Murase to submit a request for assistance. Rotary International lists “improving basic education and literacy” as one of its six areas of emphasis.
“We are very appreciative of the Rotary Club’s interest in the people of Crittenden County,” Murase said. “Their gift allows us to address several areas of need within the Council. Because we anticipate further program growth, we continue to need more materials for our students and tutors.”
Because most jobs that pay a living wage require a higher reading level than many Crittenden County residents possess, the effects of illiteracy are devastating for individuals and their families as well as the overall economy.
Being functionally illiterate means that everyday tasks, such as filling out a job application, paying bills, reading the directions on a medicine bottle are difficult, if not impossible. The Literacy Council’s mission is to facilitate the teaching of the functionally illiterate of Crittenden County.
The Council’s goal is to teach students what they want and need to learn, like how to read the Bible or driver’s license manual, how to help their children with homework, or how to improve basic math and writing skills.
Prospective tutors are always needed, and the requirements are relatively few. Tutors must have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and must be 18 years of age or older. Good reading skills are also important. Previous teaching experience, while helpful, is not necessary.
The Literacy Council meets with students and tutors to determine the best possible matches to facilitate the teaching/learning process. Tutors meet with their students every week for a minimum of three hours, in both group and individual tutoring.
For more information on becoming involved with the Literacy Council of Crittenden County, visit the office in the Arkansas Workforce Center on MSCC’s North Campus, 2000 West Broadway in West Memphis, call Murase at (870) 733-6834, or email her at jlmurase@midsouthcc.edu.
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