“Reading is so boring. Why do we have to read?” This was always the question raised by many of our children in our afterschool program. Reading was not the highlight of their day. In fact, many of our children would fall asleep or simply stare at the wall.

In the spring of 2011, we were introduced to the Literacy Coalition and began a collaborative partnership that includes the implementation of the KidzLit curriculum through the After School Reads Program. KidzLit is designed to encourage reading as well as to create an environment that supports fun activities related to literacy. The program also provides the children an opportunity to make real world connections through reading.

I have been coming to the Adult Education Center since September 2009. My skills have improved a lot since I first started even though I still have a way to go. One of the main reasons that I have been able to improve is because of the personal help from the school’s tutor, Mr. John Schmidt.

He has helped me by explaining things in a simple way. He is very tolerant and patient. He always encourages me to continue and tells me that I can do it. I am so grateful that there is a program like this, and there is a special tutor that is interested in working with me so that I can one day reach my goal of passing my GED.

—Raymond Myles, Adult Learner

Courtney Moore has been working for the City of West Palm Beach in the Water Distribution Division for seven years. Warren Currick has been working there for 32 years. Recently, a state law mandated that water distribution employees must have their high school diploma or GED and pass the License 3 state test.

Marie Kettlie Seme first enrolled in the Village Readers Family Education Program in 2000. When she began, she did not know a word of English. Over the years, she has been promoted through the class levels of Village Readers and is currently in the most advanced class.

With a lot of hard work, Miss Kettlie now works at Broken Sound Country Club in Boca Raton as an aide to the elderly and as housekeeper. She is grateful that she is now able to communicate better with her co-workers, supervisors and clients at work.

As the Turning Bullies into Buddies Program came out of its pilot stages and began its first year in October 2011, the West Jupiter Community Center was eager to join in and embrace the anti-bullying books, launch engaging discussions and participate in the activities.

Gradually creating an environment that is non-conducive to bullying is exactly what the center’s director had aspired to when she enrolled her center in this new innovative program. Edna Runner, site director, states that two of the books really spoke to her population. The youth at the center selected No More Bullies! by Susan Hood for their recent anti-bullying banner project. Throughout the months of January and February, the children took the words and message of this bully-made-into-a-buddy-themed book, talked it over, role-played and worked with a local artist to create a big colorful banner that is proudly displayed across the front entry.

In the Reach Out and Read (ROR) program, the Literacy Coalition provides new books to pediatricians who give them to families during well-child visits, along with advice to parents to share books daily with their kids.

ROR is an ingenious way of bringing the gift of knowledge to any child who thought that he or she was just going to the doctor. Such serendipitous discoveries are the inspirations that have changed the world we know today. This is a grassroots program that gives back to society and the individual a 100 percent return on investment.