HAPPY SPRING!
It has been a busy Spring semester. Our Literacyworks Center students have been busy achieving their educational goals. Some are moving on after graduating this semester with certificates, associate degrees, and transfers to four-year colleges.
Below are our current Center statistics:
The Center was established in 2015 to assist low-literacy, low-income adults who lack basic skills in accessing career and technical education and continuing their studies in college. Our learners have a shared goal of achieving success and giving back to their families and communities. The Center has been operational for 8 years now, and we are proud of our achievements. To date we have:
• Provided $1,781,416 Adult Literacy Awards scholarships* to over 1,665 low-income, low-literacy students
• Achieved less than a 10% dropout rate each semester (90% retention), well under the 60% average dropout rate for community colleges for this at-risk population
• Increased acceptance by our students to certificate and associate programs and even four-year college programs. As of Spring 2024, our graduates have achieved 31 (AA/AS associated degrees), 24 transfers (to 4-year universities UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSC, Sonoma State, Sacramento State, among others), 85 certificates, and 72 GED completions.
*All Adult Literacy Awards scholarships come from a family foundation and go to benefit our students. No scholarship funding is used for program funding
The Center's current (Spring 2024) demographics are as follows:
86% Female
14% Male
30 Parents
46 Single
91 % Latino
2% Eritrean
2% Asian/ Pacific Islander
3% Caucasian
2% American Indian
STUDENT VOICES
We wanted to feature a few outstanding student stories in this month's newsletter.
The following are a few stories about some of our students at Literacyworks. All our participants share some common qualities, such as intelligence, hard work, resilience, and a desire to serve others while improving their lives. It is a wonderful group of individuals who started taking classes below the college level. For many, English is not their first language, and they had to complete their GED before moving forward. In most cases, their children are their strongest motivating force.
Before we proceed, please take a moment to read the letter we received from one of our students, Mishell.
Mishell Santos
Dear Literacyworks Family,
Today is my last day meeting with you, and I am truly grateful for all your support since I started my credit classes. I appreciate Chris, Rita, and the others for being part of my journey towards a professional life. I value every financial and moral support that you all provided me. I will carry you in my heart today, tomorrow, and always!
Thank you for being part of my American Dream. Today I say goodbye to start a new chapter in my educational life at UCSC.
Thank you for everything, and never forget that I will always be grateful to you all. Since 2021!!
Sincerely,
Mishell Santos
Sharon
Sharon has been a valued member of Literacyworks for several years. She is scheduled to graduate in May with an AA degree in Culinary Arts. Along with her husband, she has two amazing children whom we have had the pleasure of watching grow up. We will miss her presence in our group workshops and the delicious treats she used to bring. Sharon is currently employed as a restaurant manager in Santa Rosa.
Ben
Ben is a highly motivated young man who's committed to setting a good example for his children. He has taken on a leadership role at the college campus to support students and make them aware of all the services provided by the college. Ben is scheduled to graduate with an AA degree this May and is planning to enter the Ex-Ray Tech program in the fall. We extend our best wishes to him for all his future endeavors.
Maria
Maria has been attending Santa Rosa Junior College for almost a decade. When she began, she had very little knowledge of English and had to complete her GED. Despite this, she is now taking a full load of classes and working 40 hours a week. Her goal is to transfer to Sonoma State University next fall to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Maria is an amazing woman and an inspiration to her children..
Evelyn
Evelyn plans to complete her classes this spring and transfer to Sonoma State University to pursue a career in nursing. Her children and parents serve as her primary sources of motivation.
Adriana
Adriana successfully balanced the requirements of the JC while supporting her family and will receive two Associate Degrees in May.
Tania
Tania has been putting in a lot of effort to enhance her academic abilities at the JC and has achieved great success thus far. Although she is currently employed as a Dental Assistant, she has decided to shift her career objectives and pursue a degree in Radiology in order to provide better support for her family. We wish her all the best as she embarks on this new path.
Leticia
Leticia arrived in Santa Rosa with very little knowledge of English. She works 40 hours a week in the fields of Sonoma County and has a two-year-old son to take care of. Despite her challenging circumstances, Leticia remains determined to create a better life for herself and her child. She often feels exhausted due to her responsibilities, but she studies at night while taking care of her son and working outdoors throughout the day. Leticia has already earned a Certificate in Bookkeeping and will receive an A.A. degree in Humanities from the JC in May. Although she has no immediate plans to transfer to a four-year university, Leticia is committed to pursuing a brighter future for her family.
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS!
Our low-income students are among the most vulnerable in our community when it comes to suffering during a disaster. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, many of our students are still suffering a loss of income and housing.
Our staff is offering additional support services to ensure our students stay in school and complete their course of study. We are proud that most have persisted and remained.
Thank you for supporting our students with your donation during this difficult time. You are making a difference in their lives with your gift.
