Just wanted to pass on a great organization in Hartford for anyone who may be looking for something worthwhile to support…The Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford….they teach adults (not kids) to read – about 2/3 are immigrants learning English as a Second Language and about 1/3 are adults who speak English but never learned to read. 

I sat in on a class in December and was really impressed with how professionally run the organization is and also how committed the students were – some hoping to read to their grandkids for the first time, some hoping to start a business, some working to go back and get their GED. 

There are several ways to help:

1)  Become a tutor – this is a commitment of teaching a 1.5 hour class one evening a week or in the late morning (for mom’s who find themselves with a break while their kids are at school!).  They ask for a year commitment.  My husband, Mike, is currently doing the training for it.  There are other ways you can volunteer your time too, with less of a commitment.

2)  Buy a seat at the CeleBRAINtion Charity Evening on Tuesday, April 29th at the West Hartford Conference Center in Blueback Square from 5:30 – 9:00.  It’s $150 donation to go and should be a great night!  Mike and I will be the photographers at the event!  Drop us an email if you decide to go!

3)  Send in a donation.

I think it’s easy to take reading for granted until you visit an organization like this.  It’s a great way to get involved in Hartford and I think impacting one adult with the ability to read will have a ripple effect we can’t imagine.  Please feel free to contact Mike, me, or the organization if you’d like to hear more about it.