Literacy Connexus Inc

THE MISSION OF LITERACY CONNEXUS - FOUNDED IN 2004 - IS TO HELP CHURCHES HELP PEOPLE WITH LITERACY NEEDS. 4.8 MILLION ADULTS LIVING IN TEXAS QUALIFY FOR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION. MANY OF THESE PERSONS NEED HELP WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.ADDITIONALLY, LITERACY CONNEXUS HELPS CHURCHES ADDRESS THE LITERACY NEEDS OF CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL READINESS AND AVOIDING THE SUMMER READING SLIDE. WE NOW PARTNER WITH LEARN (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) FOR LIFE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WHO DO NOT READ WELL ENOUGH TO STUDY FOR THE GED. LITERACY CONNEXUS PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCHES ENGAGED IN LITERACY.

TEACHING ENGLISH CONNEXUS - TEC'S ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS TEX (TEACHING ENGLISH WITH EXCELLENCE), THE LITERACY CONNEXUS PROGRAM OF TRAINING VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES IS NOW TECS - TEACHING ENGLISH CONNEXUS. THIS CHANGE IN NAME REFLECTS AN EXPANSION OF OUR PROGRAMING BEYOND TEXAS AS WELL AS A FOCUS ON USING TECHNOLOGY MORE IN OUR TRAINING. A TEAM OF NINE SKILLED VOLUNTEER TRAINERS PROVIDE A BLEND OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION TO CHURCH-BASED VOLUNTEERS. THESE VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE CLASSES IN ENGLISH TO INTERNATIONALS, REFUGEES, ASYLEES AND IMMIGRANTS. LITERACY CONNEXUS DEVELOPED THE TECS TRAINING PROGRAM IN 2007 AND HAS PROVIDED TRAINING TO VOLUNTEERS IN MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CONGREGATIONS IN TEXAS.

SINCE 2014, L.E.A.R.N. FOR LIFE (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) HAS SERVED ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE READING SKILLS ARE LOW ENOUGH TO PRESENT A BARRIER TO THEIR REACHING PERSONAL GOALS AS WELL AS MAKING PROGRESS IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. OUR STUDENTS, GENERALLY NATIVE OR OTHERWISE PROFICIENT ENGLISH SPEAKERS, ARE DRIVEN BY THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT OR SEEK FURTHER EDUCATION, TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, OR TO MEET OTHER PERSONAL NEEDS SUCH AS READING THE BIBLE. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SUPPORTS THIS EFFORT FOR AN ALL-VOLUNTEER GROUP OF TUTORS WHO ARE ALSO MENTORED IN THE PROCESS OF MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH ADULT. WHERE NEEDED, OUR STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO OTHER CLASSES THROUGH OUR TARRANT COUNTY ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY CONSORTIUM OR OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. UNDERLYING ALL OUR WORK IS OUR CONNECTION WITH OTHER LOCAL AND STATE PROGRAMS TO COLLABORATE, PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND REMAIN AWARE OF PROGRESS IN THE FIELD.

TEACHING ENGLISH CONNEXUS - TEC'S ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS TEX (TEACHING ENGLISH WITH EXCELLENCE), THE LITERACY CONNEXUS PROGRAM OF TRAINING VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES IS NOW TECS - TEACHING ENGLISH CONNEXUS. THIS CHANGE IN NAME REFLECTS AN EXPANSION OF OUR PROGRAMING BEYOND TEXAS AS WELL AS A FOCUS ON USING TECHNOLOGY MORE IN OUR TRAINING. A TEAM OF NINE SKILLED VOLUNTEER TRAINERS PROVIDE A BLEND OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION TO CHURCH-BASED VOLUNTEERS. THESE VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE CLASSES IN ENGLISH TO INTERNATIONALS, REFUGEES, ASYLEES AND IMMIGRANTS. LITERACY CONNEXUS DEVELOPED THE TECS TRAINING PROGRAM IN 2007 AND HAS PROVIDED TRAINING TO VOLUNTEERS IN MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CONGREGATIONS IN TEXAS.

SINCE 2014, L.E.A.R.N. FOR LIFE (LITERACY EDUCATION AND READING NETWORK) HAS SERVED ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE READING SKILLS ARE LOW ENOUGH TO PRESENT A BARRIER TO THEIR REACHING PERSONAL GOALS AS WELL AS MAKING PROGRESS IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. OUR STUDENTS, GENERALLY NATIVE OR OTHERWISE PROFICIENT ENGLISH SPEAKERS, ARE DRIVEN BY THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT OR SEEK FURTHER EDUCATION, TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, OR TO MEET OTHER PERSONAL NEEDS SUCH AS READING THE BIBLE. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SUPPORTS THIS EFFORT FOR AN ALL-VOLUNTEER GROUP OF TUTORS WHO ARE ALSO MENTORED IN THE PROCESS OF MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH ADULT. WHERE NEEDED, OUR STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO OTHER CLASSES THROUGH OUR TARRANT COUNTY ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY CONSORTIUM OR OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. UNDERLYING ALL OUR WORK IS OUR CONNECTION WITH OTHER LOCAL AND STATE PROGRAMS TO COLLABORATE, PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND REMAIN AWARE OF PROGRESS IN THE FIELD.

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? IS A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY LITERACY CONNEXUS TO DEFEAT A PROBLEM KNOWN AS THE SUMMER SLIDE IN READING ABILITY. DURING THE SUMMER, WHEN SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE CLOSED, CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVE LESS ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS AND SPEND LESS TIME IN LEARNING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAN THEIR WEALTHIER COUNTERPARTS. AS A RESULT, THESE CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO LEARNING LOSS THAT OCCURS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF THIS SUMMER SLIDE ARE BELIEVED TO ACCOUNT FOR MUCH OF THE GAP IN READING ACHIEVEMENT BETWEEN LOW-INCOME AND HIGH-INCOME YOUTH. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, WE EQUIP CHURCHES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BOOKS AT FREE SUMMER MEAL SITES (OPERATED DIRECTLY BY THE GROUP OR AT AN EXISTING USDA FREE SUMMER MEAL SITE WHERE THE GROUP WILL VOLUNTEER). IN RECENT YEARS, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SITUATED IN CHURCHES, PUBLIC SCHOOL CAFETERIAS, AND IN PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. IN ALL THESE SETTINGS, WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? PROGRAM PROVIDERS ESSENTIALLY ACT AS MOBILE LIBRARIES OPERATING DURING ESTABLISHED MEALTIMES, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN IN LOW- INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN READ ENOUGH TO AVOID LEARNING LOSS OVER THE SUMMER.

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? IS A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY LITERACY CONNEXUS TO DEFEAT A PROBLEM KNOWN AS THE SUMMER SLIDE IN READING ABILITY. DURING THE SUMMER, WHEN SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE CLOSED, CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVE LESS ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS AND SPEND LESS TIME IN LEARNING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAN THEIR WEALTHIER COUNTERPARTS. AS A RESULT, THESE CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO LEARNING LOSS THAT OCCURS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF THIS SUMMER SLIDE ARE BELIEVED TO ACCOUNT FOR MUCH OF THE GAP IN READING ACHIEVEMENT BETWEEN LOW-INCOME AND HIGH-INCOME YOUTH. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, WE EQUIP CHURCHES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BOOKS AT FREE SUMMER MEAL SITES (OPERATED DIRECTLY BY THE GROUP OR AT AN EXISTING USDA FREE SUMMER MEAL SITE WHERE THE GROUP WILL VOLUNTEER). IN RECENT YEARS, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SITUATED IN CHURCHES, PUBLIC SCHOOL CAFETERIAS, AND IN PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. IN ALL THESE SETTINGS, WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? PROGRAM PROVIDERS ESSENTIALLY ACT AS MOBILE LIBRARIES OPERATING DURING ESTABLISHED MEALTIMES, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN IN LOW- INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CAN READ ENOUGH TO AVOID LEARNING LOSS OVER THE SUMMER.

READY FOR SCHOOL PREPARES CHILDREN OF REFUGEES FOR KINDERGARTEN. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, LITERACY CONNEXUS HAS PARTNERED WITH COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP FIELD PERSONNEL TO ASSIST CHILDREN OF REFUGEES IN GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL. BASED ON GUIDELINES FROM THE FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THIS EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN FORT WORTH WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF REFUGEE FAMILIES. CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN READY FOR SCHOOL RECEIVE A NEW BOOK EACH WEEK OF THE 20-WEEK PROGRAM. READY FOR SCHOOL IS A FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS PARENTS IN EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN.

READY FOR SCHOOL PREPARES CHILDREN OF REFUGEES FOR KINDERGARTEN. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, LITERACY CONNEXUS HAS PARTNERED WITH COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP FIELD PERSONNEL TO ASSIST CHILDREN OF REFUGEES IN GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL. BASED ON GUIDELINES FROM THE FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THIS EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN FORT WORTH WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF REFUGEE FAMILIES. CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN READY FOR SCHOOL RECEIVE A NEW BOOK EACH WEEK OF THE 20-WEEK PROGRAM. READY FOR SCHOOL IS A FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS PARENTS IN EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN.