Literacy Volunteers Trains 13 New Tutors
On Saturday, March 22, Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville / Albemarle (LVCA) Program Director Deanne Foerster welcomed thirteen new tutors to LVCA’s crew of volunteers who work one-on-one with adults in the community. Foerster explained to the group that LVCA serves adults seeking support in basic literacy as well as many who seek to learn English as a second language. Foerster led the group through several activities to help them see the importance of being a good listener, expressing empathy, and engaging students actively in the learning process.
“I was surprised by all the resources available to the tutors and tutees,” said Amaury Vaillant-Baez, one of the new recruits. She, along with all new tutors, are provided with a base book to use as a resource for their practice with their students. More resources are available for loan in the LVCA library.
Like many new tutors Vaillant-Baez, a Legal Administrator at University of Virginia Investment Management Company, was looking for a way to give back to the community. “I had been charging for French lessons before I started working full-time,” she explained. “But since I no longer needed that source of income, I wanted to volunteer in empowering a population who really needed it.”
Foerster will be busy matching tutors and students over the next week or two, but emphasizes that demand always outpaces supply. “We never have to advertise for students. They find us and we do our best to help them as effectively as we can,” she said. Right now, 30 students are waiting for tutors, so even with thirteen new tutors trained, some students will continue to wait to be matched.
“Fortunately we have a variety of computer-based educational programs for our students on the wait-list,” explained Executive Director Ellen Osborne. “We also have drop-in conversation classes for students to practice speaking English with others. But we definitely need more tutors to meet demand.”
The next tutor training will be May 17, 2014. To register call 434-977-3838 or learn more at literacyforall.org.
From Jackson 5ive to Boondocks: African Americans in Animation in the Post Civil Rights Era at African American Heritage Center
The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center will host its first Heritage Center at the Edge Symposium series entitled From Jackson 5ive to Boondocks: African Americans in Animation in the Post Civil Rights Era. The symposium will feature youth and adult classes, as well as lectures from experts in the field of animation on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. On Friday at 6pm Dr. Richard Breaux of Colorado State University and Dr. Carmenita Higginbotham of UVA will speak.
On Saturday afternoon at 1:30 Dr. Christopher Lehman of St. Cloud University will speak. Keynote speaker artist Bruce Smith, one of the few Black animators working in the industry and supervising animator for Disney’s Princess and the Frog, will talk at 2:30pm. Smith has worked on such films as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Tarzan, The Emperors New Groove, and the TV show, The Proud Family. Smith will discuss his experiences and projects over the course of the last 30 years. Reception to follow the keynote address.
Ticket purchase and more information on classes and speakers can be found here.
Parking available in the Jefferson School City Center parking lot.
Carver Recreation Center to Present Indoor Flea Market
Charlottesville Parks & Recreation will present the Carver Flea Market on Saturday, March 29 from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm at Carver Recreation Center at the Jefferson School. Modeled on a traditional outdoor yard sale, but taking place inside, admission to the event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Carver Recreation Center at (434) 970-3053.
Common Ground Celebrates Spring Festival this weekend
Common Ground will host its second annual donation-based Spring Wellness Festival Friday through Sunday, March 28-30, 2014. This three day event features an inspiring schedule of classes and lectures by area experts in holistic health. From yoga to parenting to herbal medicine, Common Ground’s Spring Wellness Festival has something to support everyone’s wellbeing. All sessions will take place at Common Ground’s anchor location in the Jefferson School City Center. All donations go directly to benefit equal access to the healing arts through Common Ground. Advance registration is encouraged. Onsite parking is available.
Jefferson School City Center is a voice of the nine nonprofits located at Charlottesville’s intergenerational community center, the restored Jefferson School. We are a legacy preserved . . . a soul reborn . . . in the heart of Cville!
