In America, a country built by immigrants, the ability to speak English is a common denominator among those who prosper and succeed, and for the past 50 years Literacy Services of Indian River County has helped adults do just that through its literacy and English language programs.
The nonprofit recently hosted Stories by the Sea at the Sea Oaks Beach Club, a spectacular beachside conclusion to a series of events, sponsored by Don and Sandy Mann and Byron and Nancy Sugahara, throughout its 50th anniversary year. The evening included cocktails, a scrumptious Sea Oaks buffet by the pool, and entertainment by the Collins & Company band.
The highlight of the evening was a program led by Bonnie Levison, a senior storytelling coach at the Moth Podcast and Moth Radio Hour, that featured inspirational stories from a student, tutor, board member and alumna.
Jessica Schmitt, LSIRC executive director, recalled the thick German accent of her grandmother, who studied a dictionary to learn English, and who told her that education was something no one could take from you.
“Growing up, I took for granted her ability to communicate with me,” said Schmitt. “I didn’t know how hard she worked for it until I came to Literacy Services. Until I saw the dedication and commitment of our students to their learning journey. Until I saw the joy they shared with their friends and family when they achieved these moments.”
Don Mann said the organization relies on donations for workbooks and training for tutors to teach students from many different countries.
“Without our tutors, there would be no literacy services,” said Mann.
“When the adults learn to speak English, the kids learn to speak English. And the kids get a new appreciation for their parents, for what they’ve sacrificed to do,” said Mann, stressing that learning English helps end generational illiteracy.
Student Micheld Moreno, from Bogota, Colombia, highlighted the teachers in her life, from the uncle who introduced her to mathematics as a child, to LSIRC tutor Ursula Duguid, who has helped her to achieve advancements in reading, writing and speaking English.
“I am grateful to be in the United States because I know I can achieve my goal to become an aeronautical engineer,” said Moreno, who still meets with Duguid, works full time and takes classes at Indian River State College. “These teachers in my life put me on my way.”
Appreciating that education was her ticket out of North Dakota, tutor Karen Leedahl, whose parents were Norwegian immigrants, obtained a master’s degree and became an ordained pastor. Her first LSIRC student grew up in Mexico and married a man from Indian River County.
“She so wanted to become a citizen and I really wanted her to succeed,” said Leedahl. When she did, “I could tell that she was so happy, and I felt like a proud mother. I am now working with my third citizenship student, and I absolutely love it.”
Indian River County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Joe Abollo said his parents had emigrated from Argentina to build a better life for their family. One of his father’s proudest moments was becoming an American citizen. However, as a child, Abollo struggled with homework and felt isolated from his schoolmates, as Spanish was his primary language. Now a LSIRC board member, he appreciates how life-changing its programs can be.
“As you can imagine, I can relate directly, as my parents came here from Argentina with that struggle to try to achieve that success,” said Abollo.
Alumna Marie Gutierrez could not speak English when she, her husband and children emigrated from Venezuela, so she took a job as a housekeeper and later a server at Sea Oaks.
A visit to the library, where she discovered Literacy Services, changed their lives completely. Her tutor helped them to become citizens, and she has since received a master’s in social work from the University of Central Florida.
“Now my dream is to have my private practice next year. All this journey could not be possible without the help of Literacy Services,” said Gutierrez. She added that Literacy Services expanded her dreams and planted a seed for her children to have even bigger dreams.
For more information, visit LiteracyServicesIRC.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
