Thanks to FOX17 West Michigan for featuring our Family Literacy program and partnership with Kentwood Public Schools in this article:
Kentwood parents learn English to better connect with their kids' schools
When Ed Taylor came to the Literacy Center of West Michigan, he was fighting serious disease and didn't know how much time he had left. But rather than letting the uncertainty of his life stop him, Ed decided it was time to focus on something deeply important to him - improving his reading and writing. "There's a big difference between reading and understanding what you're reading," he told us when reflecting on why he reached out for help.
Lesvia first enrolled in English classes with the Literacy Center in 2012, attending sessions held at her child’s elementary school. Since then, she has remained an active learner—building her English skills year after year while also becoming a steady leader in her school community.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan was pleased to have its partnership with Corewell Health featured on this issue of WGVU's Mutually Inclusive television show. Click here to watch!
Maria Guadalupe’s journey with the Literacy Center has taken her from her daughter’s school, to her health clinic, and now to her workplace. At each step, literacy has opened new doors for her and her family.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan is pleased to share an excerpt of the Learner Spark, Issue No. 3, now available as a free PDF download. Learner Spark is a learner-written magazine that features original stories created by adult learners across Literacy Center programs. Each piece reflects lived experience and is published in the writer’s own words, supporting literacy growth while honoring the voices and perspectives of the people at the heart of our work. Consider becoming a volunteer literacy coach today to support adult learners like Elizabet!
The Literacy Center of West Michigan is pleased to publish Learner Spark, Issue No. 3, now available as a free PDF download. Learner Spark is a learner-written magazine that shares original stories from adult learners across Literacy Center programs. The writing reflects learners’ lived experiences and is published in their own words as part of ongoing literacy development.
When Alexandra arrived in West Michigan from Haiti, she carried with her something powerful: a commitment to caring for others.
When volunteer coach McKenna began meeting with Hong virtually in June 2024, it quickly became clear that Hong’s love for learning, and her love for her family, go hand in hand. A mother of three, Hong often has her children nearby during their virtual coaching sessions. Their cheerful interruptions are always welcome, until her coach gently reminds them, “Okay, time for mom to study English!”
Tabo is a participant in the MI Impact program at the Literacy Center, a contextualized English and healthcare career training program in partnership with Corewell Health.
At the Literacy Center of West Michigan, we help adults build the literacy and language skills they need to reach their goals. The Learner Spark is one way we celebrate that growth—it's our in-house magazine written by learners, for learners. Each story highlights the goals, challenges, and achievements of our learners in their own words. Read Olesya’s story here:
A groundbreaking partnership is redefining workforce development in West Michigan — and local media is taking notice. WZZM-13 recently featured the MI Impact program, an innovative collaboration led by the Literacy Center of West Michigan with Corewell Health and supported through the statewide MI Impact grant initiative. The segment highlighted how the program connects English-learning and immigrant adults to high-demand healthcare careers through a model that combines paid employment, English instruction, and credentialed training — helping to fill critical staffing gaps while opening doors to economic mobility.
When Jorge arrived from Cuba, he had a degree in electrical engineering but limited English. After taking Workplace English classes through his company, he advanced from the foundry floor to the R&D lab—eventually becoming Lab Manager.
We remember Ed for his quiet determination and deep commitment to literacy. Even in the face of serious illness, he continued to show up—ready to grow, connect, and learn.
"Hello. My name is Iryna. I’m from Ukraine. I lived in a big industrial city of Zaporizhzhia. I had a stable and peaceful life with my family. There are four of us. I have two kids. My daughter is 13 years-old and son is 11 years-old. I worked as a cosmetologist at the salon. I loved my job.
One day, the war comes into my country. It was the worsen day in my life. Thousands of lives were destroyed. To protect my kids and my parents I decided to move to the USA. My husband stays in Ukraine. My sister lives in Grand Rapids. That’s why we came here.