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Adult Literacy in Roanoke got national recognition in December when Marsha Tait, senior vice president of public affairs for ProLiteracy Worldwide, recognized accomplishments of Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley (LVRV) and many of the people and organizations that contributed to the group’s success.
For 20 years Roanokers needing adult literacy service have turned to Literacy Volunteers. Tait recognized the accomplishment and paid tribute to outstanding LVRV learners and tutors. Tait’s comments were directed to an audience of program board of director members, volunteers, participants and community citizens. Ceremonies were held at 10 a.m. at the LVRV Learning Center.
“Literacy is a problem we need to face dead on,” said Tait. “Nationally, more than 90 million Americans have trouble reading and/or writing. In Virginia, approximately four out of ten adult workers have basic skill deficiencies. And, in Roanoke alone, 25 percent of adults are considered functionally illiterate. However, organizations like Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley, its staff, volunteers, tutors, donors, board of directors and others, are to be commended for making a difference. Last year alone, more than 350 people sought out adult literacy services in Roanoke.”
Tait presented a plaque to LVRV executive director, Annette Loschert, for the organization’s accomplishments over the past 20 years, which include becoming an accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America. She also recognized LVRV tutors-of-the- year Dennis Pendleton and Joe Caselles and a group of outstanding ESOL learners, including Wang Fei, Merilene Fleurima, Sook Kim, Rosalia Munoz, and Noel Rizk, with gifts of Scrabble and leather ProLiteracy Worldwide bookmarks. Additionally, she presented a certificate of appreciation to the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), which adopted the group as its public service project this year.
Thursday afternoon, Tait delivered a keynote presentation to more than 50 people at PRSA’s Blue Ridge Chapter luncheon meeting at The Hotel Roanoke. She touched on Roanoke Valley’s literacy issues from a national perspective and discussed the public relations challenges and opportunities involved in the merger of Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. in 2002 to become ProLiteracy Worldwide. Her appearance in Roanoke rounded out the PRSA chapter’s first year community partnership with LVRV as its official public service project.
In her role as senior vice president of public affairs for ProLiteracy Worldwide, Tait oversees and coordinates public relations, public policy advocacy and awareness building initiatives.
ProLiteracy Worldwide is the world’s largest organization of community-based literacy programs. It represents 1,200 program affiliates and 3,000 individual members in the United States and works with 96 partners in 50 developing countries abroad. Its mission is to sponsor educational programs and services that empower adults and their families to acquire the literacy practices and skills that they need to function more effectively in their daily lives and to participate in the transformation of their societies.
Since 1985, LVRV volunteers and staff have helped more than 2,500 adult learners succeed in their families, jobs and communities. An accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America, LVRV offers programs for both basic literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
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