Read Jackson County relocates and adds new programs to boost literacy

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Read Jackson County has been promoting literacy in the community for 33 years, but many people have never even heard of the organization.

With Executive Director Anne Staley in charge, the nonprofit is making changes and trying new things to reach a wider audience from newborns to senior citizens.

“We are small but doing big things,” Staley said.

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Since taking the reins in December 2019 after the resignation of former director Matt Nicholson, after he was elected mayor of Seymour, Staley has been shaking things up.

She has updated the agency’s mission, created a new website and logo and recruited new board members and volunteers. She markets RJC actively through several social media platforms and is responsible for raising more than $18,000 for literacy efforts in the community.

But the most exciting developments are the new programs she has started and those coming in 2021.

One of those initiatives is Babies, Books and Blankets, which provides a new children’s board book and baby blanket to every baby born at Schneck Medical Center.

Her first delivery included 55 sets of books and blankets. She plans to continue dropping off the sets monthly.

“Literacy begins at birth,” she said. “Obviously, the baby isn’t going to read the book themselves but by giving this gift to the parents, it is our hope they will read to their child so they can bond over literacy.”

Another program is PJ’s and Books, where RJC will be working with Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Department of Child Services to provide a new duffel bag, pair of pajamas and age-appropriate book to children who are removed from their home and placed with foster parents.

She also is getting books into the hands of children and adults by stocking the Little Free Libraries located throughout Jackson County and by attending different community events like the End of Summer Escape to distribute free books.

A former educator, Staley said it’s important for children to develop a love of literacy from a young age. But she knows there are many children who struggle with reading because they do not have the support and resources they need to be successful.

That’s where Read Rockets, an after-school tutoring program, comes in. Beginning in 2021, trained volunteer tutors will lead small-group instruction to third-graders who are reading 12-18 months below grade level. Sessions will be held twice a week for an hour each at the Boys and Girls Club of Seymour and Girl’s Inc. Children can be recommended to the program by their parents, teacher or staff at the two clubs.

“We will do pre-testing and ongoing testing to show what kind of gains we are making,” she said.

Because the ability to read is important for all age groups, Staley also plans to introduce Inside Literacy next year. The program will place tutors with adults who are incarcerated at the Jackson County Jail for group instruction on basic reading skills. Once they have obtained those skills, they can be placed in a high school diploma program either at the jail or the learning center.

Since there is a large population of non-English speaking inmates, Staley wants to offer basic English classes at the jail too.

What she is in need of to get the programs up and running is more tutors who want to help others in the community learn to read or learn to read better.

Currently, Staley teaches a course in advanced English conversation for non-native speakers from 10 a.m. to noon every Friday.

Last month, she had her students create a video in English demonstrating how to make a recipe of their choice.

“Although they were scared at first, they did really good with it and it ended up being a lot of fun,” she said. “But more importantly, it helped build their confidence in their English speaking skills.”

Staley said besides literacy she also likes to integrate technology into her lessons and wants to pilot a Technology Instruction Made Easy program to offer basic computer skills and resume writing classes for all adults, not just those learning English.

“We not only want people to be literate we want them to be technology literate and improve that as well for people that don’t have access to technology,” she said.

RJC also has resources available for 1-on-1 tutoring.

Another major change for RJC came late last month when the agency relocated from the Community Agency Building in downtown Seymour to the Jackson County Learning Center on Dupont Drive.

Being in a dedicated education facility provides more opportunities and resources for RJC and its clients, Staley said. The move also puts them in a location she feels is more widely known and used by the public.

One of the most noticeable benefits is size. Before the move, RJC consisted of one small, third-floor classroom and office space.

“We have access to all of these classrooms now that have built in technology capabilities,” Staley said.

That includes a computer lab for adult students who may not have one at home or who may need free internet service.

Her goal is to have times available for students to come in and use the computers for self-paced learning via online programs such as Rosetta Stone.

Staley herself has tried the programs in French, German and Spanish.

“I know they work, and I know they are effective, because I’ve increased my knowledge,” she said.

It doesn’t matter where people come from, they want to learn English to be able to navigate in the community, she added. That could be signing a lease to rent an apartment, obtaining a loan to purchase a car or home or filling out an application for a job.

“People need to be able to do all of the things they want to do and be able to understand what is actually happening in the process,” she said.

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To volunteer or make a donation to Read Jackson County, go to readjacksoncounty.com or contact Anne Staley at 812-519-2923 or by email at [email protected].

For more information about RJC and the programs it offers to improve literacy in the community, visit readjacksoncounty.com.

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