Dear Friends,

 

Meet Durham Literacy students Glendon and Esther Hudson. Glendon and Esther are from Guyana. Glendon moved to the U.S. in 2005 and found employment at Duke Hospital. He enrolled in the DLC’s Adult Literacy program in 2006 and began working with his tutor, Gregg Cusick, to improve his reading and writing and to prepare for the GED tests. As a result of his twice weekly lessons with Gregg, Glendon has improved his reading comprehension by five grade levels, obtained certification that resulted in a pay raise, became a first-time home owner, passed the citizenship test, and voted in an election.

 

Esther joined Glendon in 2013 with no knowledge of U.S. culture. She knew that she would need a GED diploma to pursue a career as a registered nurse. She has been working with her DLC tutor, Laura Bey, since April 2014. In less than a year, she has improved her reading comprehension by four grade levels, obtained a driver’s license, found a job and earned a promotion, and started preparing for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) state board test.

 

Both Glendon and Esther have also made steady progress toward their GED diplomas, and they have made education a priority for their two young sons, Adryel (7 years old) and Micah (1 year old). 

 

One in five Durham residents struggle with fundamental reading skills. Last year, your support enabled the Durham Literacy Center to serve more than 600 students like Glendon and Esther, individuals who are committed to achieving bright futures for their families. You can make a positive impact on more families by supporting the DLC with your tax-deductible contribution.

 

• $25 will buy books for one DLC student.

• $100 will train and provide instructional aids for one volunteer tutor.

• $250 will cover testing fees for one GED class.

 

Thank you for empowering lives through literacy.

 

 

 

 

Lizzie Ellis-Furlong

Executive Director

Durham Literacy Center