LITERACY VOLUNTEERS

Who Are We?
     Since its beginning, Literacy Volunteers of America--Essex/Franklin Counties, NY has had only one purpose: to provide free confidential instruction by trained volunteers to adults with limited language skills and to help these students attain self-esteem and achieve aims in the areas of education, family, employment and the community. These students with "limited language skills" include those reading under a seventh-grade reading level, those studying for the G.E.D. (high school equivalency diploma), and ESL (English as a Second Language) students, who are newcomers to America hoping to improve their English language skills.
     This service is available to any adult over the age of 16 who requests it. Some adults are referred from other agencies for tutoring. There is also a Roo the Reader Outreach, featuring a costumed kangaroo character visits classrooms and talks about reading and hands out books that are returned home to help parents and families.
     We have four offices spread over our two-county area: in Mineville, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Malone, NY. Many tutoring pairs also meet in libraries or similar public places, at a time that is convenient for learner and tutor.

Email us at:

Mineville@LVEFC.com
Malone@LVEFC.com
SaranacLake@LVEFC.com
LakePlacid@LVEFC.com

Our Mission Statement

Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties provides Basic Literacy (BL), English as a Second Language (ESL), Family Literacy and other services to people in our two-county area.

Our purpose is to enable people (primarily adults) to achieve personal goals through literacy. To accomplish this we recruit and effectively train, utilize, supervise and support volunteers in the delivery of individualized (primarily one-to-one) service in the form of tutoring. It is the policy of LV-Essex/Franklin to accept as priority learners, Basic Literacy students who are reading below a 7th grade level (functioning at level 1 and 2 according to the National Adult Literacy Survey), as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) students. Through individualized literacy instruction, we seek to enable adults with limited literacy proficiencies to achieve personal, job-related and family goals, and to enhance their ability to contribute to their community.

It is also the policy of LV-Essex/Franklin to offer volunteer tutoring service to adults free of charge. We provide instruction to address the individual needs and goals of the learner. This is referred to as student-centered instruction. We value learners as participants in our organization and respect their right to confidentiality.

LV-Essex/Franklin volunteers, supported by a professional staff, serve as tutors, tutor trainers, board members, fundraisers, affiliate cheerleaders, secretaries, administrators, student coaches and in other functions necessary to the achievement of our mission.

LV-Essex/Franklin believes that the ability to read is critical to personal freedom and the maintenance of a democratic society. Our society is dependent on an informed citizenry, and the ability to read is necessary to be informed. As our culture becomes more complex and dependant on technology, literacy becomes even more basic to survival and the achievement of one's potential. These believes have led us to make the following commitments:

We are committed to the personal growth of our learners. This means that we help people acquire basic literacy skills, and by doing this enable them to achieve broader personal goals. This also means that personal needs have precedence over organization needs. Our tutoring is confidential , individualized, and student-centered, at site convenience to the student.

We are committed to the effective use of volunteers. Through training and support, we help build the skills and abilities that enable volunteers to grow and succeed. Through pursuit of the mission, volunteers find satisfaction and fulfillment.

We are committed to improving our society. We recognize literacy as an integral element in the broader goal of economic opportunity and security, social justice and dignity for all. We support others who make a commitment to provide all access to effective literacy service.

We are committed to strengthening and improving our organization. We continue to search for efficiency and creativity in the delivery of our programs; to grow and expand in order to stay the rising tide of illiteracy; to discover new ways of harnessing society's existing resources for the achievement of literacy; and to remain responsive to our students' needs.