Many would agree that the key to success in America is literacy. Knowing how to read & write proficiently in English opens doors to jobs, financial independence, and enables our neighbors to communicate and connect. Not to mention, reading is an enjoyable pastime, allowing us to drift away into our own fantasy world or learn more about our favorite topics. There are some fantastic programs in our community whose purpose is the growth of literacy, and I recently had the pleasure of sitting down to learn about one of them.
This past month, I was able to sit down with Dr. RJ Lightsey and Kelly Stegall to learn about their Adult Literacy Program at South Piedmont Community College. The program was previously under Common Heart, but has recently become associated with SPCC, leading them to further their opportunities in not only Union but also Anson county.
Dr. RJ Lightsey is the Literacy Services Director at SPCC. He took on the role in order to ensure services and share support to all members of our community. While SPCC offers literacy support through their High School Equivalency, ESOL, and Compass Education programs, this will be the first time they have offered one-on-one literacy tutoring services. The addition of this program to SPCC “added fuel to the fire to get things moving-in a good way.”
The Literacy Services program matches those from our community who are seeking to read with volunteers to help them reach their goals. Dr. Lightsey shared with me that a goal could be as simple as learning the alphabet or learning to pronounce a new word in 1-2 weeks. These goals vary depending on the person, however they are all achievable.
Dr. Lightsey learns of new students through resources such as local food pantries like Common Heart, local churches, schools, non-profits, and even Union county library locations. Kelly Stegall, the head of College & Career readiness, shares with me “there are no prerequisites for volunteers, other than being invested, understanding, and having a heart.”
Volunteers within the program will be put through standard training developed by SPCC, then matched with a student who is believed to be a good fit. The volunteer and student work together to determine a schedule and meeting place. SPCC offers classrooms for the sessions to take place, though another common meeting place is within one of the many Union county library locations.
There are currently 17 students within the program, though Dr. Lightsey explained that he plans on reaching 30 by the end of the year as they continue to expand their threshold to other counties & communities. A 1 on 1 strategy is used within the tutoring sessions, as it builds a more personal relationship between the tutor and the student.
Kelly Stegall shared that she was extremely excited to grow the program under SPCC, and continue to use their resources to help more people in the community achieve their goals. If you or someone you know is interested in tutoring or volunteering, please contact Dr. Lightsey to get started. His contact information is below.
R.J. Lightsey, D. Div.
Literacy Services Director
South Piedmont Community College
PO Box 5041
Monroe, NC 28111
704.290.5261 (Office)
870.556.3076 (Cell)