Helping hands: Mid-State Literacy Council empowers learners to shape their own futures
Sonder (noun): The profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as our own with experiences just as valid as ours.
This awareness resonates through the halls and classrooms of Mid-State Literacy Council’s downtown office. We approach every individual who walks through our doors with care and curiosity. We learn from everyone we meet, welcome strangers as family, and grow with each passing semester.
Mid-State Literacy Council (MSLC) connects adult learners with trained volunteer tutors and teachers. We nurture mutually beneficial relationships so that students can gain vital skills in reading, writing, math, English, health literacy and technology. Volunteers share skills and perspectives. In return, they develop a deeper understanding of our world and community while gaining teaching experience. Students learn to express themselves more fully and to agree and disagree respectfully with their peers. Many students work toward credentials such as a GED, a Commercial Driver’s License, or a Certified Nursing Assistant certification. With every skill gained, our entire community benefits, as students take one step closer to their employment, education and life goals.
The need is significant. Thirteen percent of adults in Centre County struggle with basic literacy skills. To address this reality, MSLC’s one-to-one tutoring and small group classes provide personalized instruction, accountability and connections to local resources such as food, housing, health care and career networks. When students build their literacy skills, they unlock new opportunities, and in doing so, they help build a stronger, more connected community for all here in State College.
The impact is wide-reaching. More than 350 community members from all walks of life benefit from MSLC’s programming. Adult students come from 15 surrounding towns in Centre and Clearfield counties and from 40 different countries worldwide. They range in age from 18 to 88. The ability to read, write and communicate competently and confidently is crucial for adults to succeed in the workplace, access health care, raise a family, and feel a sense of belonging.
MSLC empowers learners to shape their own futures, building a more resilient community for all.
This is possible through the dedication of over 200 trained volunteers and the generosity of donors, community sponsors, and the collective impact of local non-profits and philanthropic organizations.
Upcoming opportunities to support MSLC include Centre Gives on May 14-15, and the 26th Annual Ron and Mary Maxwell Community Spelling Bee, scheduled for Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. Save the date for our Barnes & Noble Bookfair, Nov. 21-23.
To learn more about MSLC, volunteer, or enroll in our programs, visit www.mid-stateliteracycouncil.org, call 814-238-1809, or stop by our office at 248 E. Calder Way, Suite 307, in State College.
Special thanks to Megan Shreve at South Central Community Action Programs for introducing me to the word sonder circa 2015. Having words to express profound feelings makes a difference.