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toc Welcome to the LVCC Wiki!

= = =OUR STORY:=

Since 1984, Literacy Volunteers of Collier County (LVCC), a 501c3 non-profit organization, has been offering confidential one-to-one tutoring to adults who want to improve their reading, writing, and English speaking skills to participate more fully in the daily tasks of life such as family, employment, school and community. Serving over 450 students annually, with a growing list of individuals to be served, LVCC helps meet the challenges of Collier County’s growing population to ensure that all people from all walks of life deserve the chance to live productive and fulfilling lives.

Beginning in 2011, LVCC added Family Literacy programs which include both parents and children. These programs are conducted at numerous Elementary schools in Collier County. Refer to __Family Literacy .__

An accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America, LVCC’s trained and dedicated tutors work with students of all levels. All teaching, which is confidential, is centered on individual needs and goals of the students and is designed to promote the potential and dignity of __every__ student and to increase students’ language skills to help build confidence and self-esteem.

=OUR MISSION:=

// To enhance the lives of our students and their families by improving their literacy skills. //

**When You Support Literacy, Everybody Wins! ** =OUR VISION: =

// Residents of Collier County will have the literacy skills necessary to pursue independently // // their life goals and more fully contribute to the community. //

=OUR HISTORY: =

In 1984, Literacy Volunteers of Collier County (LVCC) began as an offshoot of Literacy Volunteers of America, an organization started by Ruth Colvin of Syracuse, New York. Edna Burns, a friend of Ruth Colvin, brought the message of Literacy Volunteers of America to the congregation of the Naples Moorings Presbyterian Church. Thirty two members signed up for the first tutor training class. At this point, the Church offered the group, then called the Literacy Volunteers of Naples, office space in a small closet at the Church. The space held a two drawer file cabinet, a telephone, and a manual typewriter.

LVCC worked out of the Church space through 1988, when the publisher of the Naples Daily News, Corbin Wyant, gathered the members together and offered to donate the space and utilities of an unused warehouse on Central Avenue. For eighteen years, until LVCC moved to its first rented space on Airport Road, the Naples Daily News provided free rent and utilities, thus contributing in a major way to the success of this organization. In 2011, LVCC moved to its current home at 8833 Tamiami Trail East in what is known as Lely Plaza.

=OUR PROGRAMS:=

LVCC offers a number of programs to meet the needs of our adult students and their children:


 * A One-on-One student/tutor program. Volunteer tutors go through a two hour orientation, plus three 3 hour tutor training workshops. At graduation, they are paired with a student. The student and the tutor meet at a time and place of their choosing and convenience. At graduation, the tutor is assigned an experienced mentor, to assist with any questions or concerns the new tutor may have about the tutoring experience. Content of one-on-one is directed by each student's need. The student directs his or her own learning. They may wish to learn to speak, to read, to write, or may require help with learning enough English to pass the U.S. Citizenship exam. It is up to them. Tutors are asked to report their tutoring and preparation hours to LVCC on a quarterly basis. Workshops and roundtable discussions are held during the year to help tutors determine "best practices" or to answer questions or help with specific topics. One hundred of more new tutors are trained every year.


 * A group class program. LVCC provides classes of 6-10 students. Currently, there are 7 classes weekly. These classes may consist of grammar, conversation, music, or citizenship and are led by a trained LVCC tutor. Students are placed in these classes according to their level, and the classes begin at various times of the year. Students are permitted to "drop in" to conversation classes and are not required, but encouraged, to commit to consistent attendance in these courses.


 * LVCC also partners with Naples Catholic Charities by providing tutoring of three classes weekly at the Catholic Charities location.


 * Family Literacy programs. LVCC has restructured its Family Literacy Program to include two components: Children and Parents Reading Together, and Moms Classes . Since 2011, these components brings parents and Head Start, pre-kindergarten, four year old children together with tutors at Elementary schools for twice weekly, six-week long sessions held in each school. After each session, the child takes home a book that was the focus of the class . By the end of the six weeks, the child has their own small library of 12 books. Read more about this program at: __ Family Literacy. __


 * Workplace Literacy is a program conducted at a business's office. Classes of up to six employees are tutored for one hour, twice a week under the sponsorship of the business. Part of the class focus will train the student on English words typically used within that business. Classes are held for six months with the option for the business to request a six month extension. Currently, two Workplace Literacy programs are underway.


 * Interactive English Computer Library. LVCC offers an interactive computer based English language laboratory for the student waiting for a tutor, or as an adjunct to the tutoring experience. Using ELLIS or EASY software, the student can proceed through graded modules of English language learning. The student is equipped with headphones and a microphone, allowing them to answer questions, plus practice pronounciation through speaking and playback. Each student can proceed at his or her own pace.


 * Financial, health, literacy life skills, and computer literacy classes are offered periodically throughout the year. These classes are conducted by specialists in each topic and are focused on improving the knowledge level of our students.

=LVCC Board of Directors: =
 * Citizenship classes are conducted two or three times a year. Students must have a medium to high level of English skills to quality for these classes. The classes will help students prepare for the U.S. Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS) interview and a successful outcome.

__** LVCC Bylaws: **__
 * ~ Executive Board............... ||~ Directors............................. ||~ Honorary Board ||
 * Thomas Rinaldi || Carlos Amaris || Edna Burns * ||
 * President || Kathryn Birch || (*Founder) ||
 * || David Goebel || James Galton ||
 * || Wendy Hal || Leo Mediavilla ||
 * Vice-President || Margot Jackler || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Elaine Newton ||
 * || William Nichols || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dennis Sprague ||
 * Raymond Kane || T.J. Snopkowski || Thomas Sully ||
 * Treasurer || Maureen Ungarean ||  ||
 * Thayer Caskey ||  ||   ||
 * Secretary ||
 * Secretary ||

__**LVCC Staff:**__ Christopher Nind, Executive Director Open Program Director  Sandra Barreto, Office Manager __** Additional Volunteers: **__ Barbara Nordberg Helen Panicucci Mary Dent
 * **Ambassadors:** || **Tutor Trainers:** || **Volunteer Staff:** ||
 * Kathy Frank

Ambassador Substitutes Linda Baum (seasonal) Lynne Rehbein Amy Clifton Louise Echt Colletta Ross Ila Steffey (seasonal) || Harriet Adelstein Margaret Leonard Flora Metrick Sandy Rasmussen Linda Rosenthal Linda Ryan (seasonal) ..... || Faith Eilson, Librarian Bill Nichols, Wikispace, Facebook & Twitter manager Jill Crawford, Family Literacy Coordinator Lynne Rehbein, Training Ambassador Linda Ryan, Resource Coordinator Rachel Coleman, Constant Contact manager || l

For Current LVCC Tutors

LVCC Newsletters LVCC Fundraiser Events For New Tutors For New Students <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For New Volunteers