Esperance Mukeshayezu and Carol Pratt meet three days a week for an hour and a half at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage. Mukeshayezu escaped genocide in Rwanda and Pratt, a volunteer tutor at the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, helps her improve her English skills.
“All across the state, all across the country, we do find that there are adults who struggle to read and the term functional literacy really means reading at 0 to fourth grade level,” Michael Evans, the executive director of the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, said. “Most documents for adults struggling to read at that level, they may not be able to read it independently. So that might mean the mail you receive, the applications you need to fill out if you try to apply for a job — not being able to search those jobs and be able to see how you fit.”
“Jay Parsons is one of the most committed and compassionate educators I have ever met. His service as a volunteer tutor and instructor positively impacts the lives of the learners who are fortunate to work with him. He also inspires others to volunteer and teach adults by his example and his remarkable lifelong dedication to education,” Evans said.
“I told my students this year, you’re a godsend. You keep me active and involved and get me up in the morning,” Parsons said.
“I told my students this year, you’re a godsend. You keep me active and involved and get me up in the morning,” Parsons said.
