Special shoutout to selfless tutors at ‘Love of Literacy’ event

New York Times bestselling author Will Schwalbe returned in person as the keynote speaker at the Love of Literacy Luncheon at the Bent Pine Country Club to benefit Literacy Services of Indian River County. Previously, during a virtual COVID visit, he spoke of his books, “The End of Your Life Book Club” and “Books for Living,” and this year shared insights into his latest, “We Should Not Be Friends.”

The annual event also celebrates the accomplishments of LSIRC students and the volunteer tutors who help them realize their individual goals.

“We hope that today’s program will be entertaining and informative as we share stories of the positive impact that our volunteer tutoring services have on the lives of our adult students, their families and our community,” said JoAnn Hitt, board president, in welcome.

During their busy 2022-23 fiscal year, she said the nonprofit provided more than 10,000 hours of free tutoring, including basic adult literacy, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and preparations for exams such as GEDs, U.S. citizenships and career certifications.

“Our students come from 35 different countries, and speak over 20 different languages, so we are helping people from all over the world. And we’re also helping families,” said Shannon Maitland, executive director. “We are making lots of ripples in the community.”

Elida Gomez, community engagement coordinator, introduced this year’s Students of the Year and their tutors, who all expressed their gratitude.

Jane Bentley tutored Glenn Brown, Literacy Student of the Year, and recalled his asking if tutors got paid.

“And, of course, my answer was no. But being here and seeing and hearing all the success stories, I’ve decided this, today, is what I call payback,” said Bentley.

Brown said he has achieved his initial goal of becoming a personal trainer, and now hopes to open his own gym and fitness center.

Charles McNabb has tutored Silvia Monreal, ESOL Student of the Year, for seven years, and spoke of her determination to succeed, even earning a high school diploma in just two years.

Monreal recalled the distress of being unable to communicate effectively when her daughter had a medical emergency.

“Besides such critical situations, learning English has done so much for me. It has created many more opportunities for a more fulfilling life,” she said.

Board member and tutor Lauren Michaels, who has helped nine students pass their citizenship exams, chatted with Schwalbe in a conversational format about his latest book, newly out in paperback.

“‘We Should Not Be Friends’ is a warm, funny and heartfelt account about an improbable and life-changing college friendship that developed and is still developing over the past 40 years,” said Michaels.

“And Will is, importantly for us here at Literacy Services, a longtime advocate of libraries, he is an advocate of literacy, and he is a bookaholic. Love that word,” she added, before launching into their dialogue.

The book, Schwalbe said, tells of the unlikely friendship he formed with a fellow student during their senior year at Yale, after they had been asked to join a 15-member secret society comprised of students from a vast array of dissimilar interests and backgrounds.

Not unlike the way our country is divided today, each had their own internal biases and had made prejudicial assumptions. Eventually, he said, they learned that “many more people share our values than we might imagine, if we only get past surface appearances.”

For more information, visit LiteracyServicesIRC.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis