Meet Elizabeth, one of our featured coaches who will be celebrated at Spellebration on Wednesday April 15th.

Meet Eileen, one of our coaches being celebrated at Spellebration on Wednesday April 15th.

Meet Karsten, one of the many coaches being celebrated during Spellebration on Wednesday April 15th.

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.

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 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!”

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:

 Guest Contributor

My name is Tyler Archambault, and I am a recent graduate from Northern Michigan University who started tutoring for the Literacy Center to fulfill the internship requirement for part of my undergraduate degree. Prior to tutoring English for the Literacy Center, I have also tutored students in German and Mandarin Chinese.

Lorenzo Gutierrez moved to Belmont, MI from Saint Albans, VT when he retired in 2018. He has been a Literacy Center tutor since late 2018. He recently spoke with his Literacy Coordinator about his experience. 

Why did you decide to tutor with the Literacy Center? What was it that drew you to this volunteer opportunity?

I moved to Michigan from Vermont in May of 2018. Upon moving to Michigan, I was looking for volunteer opportunities where I could be involved in some way with my new community.

Interviewed by: Carrie Roper, Literacy Coordinator

 Marielena Huerta is a tutor who is also serving as an AmeriCorps member through the Literacy Center's Family Literacy program. Her parents were originally from Mexico, so she understands the challenges adults face as they learn English. Marielena attended college at Aquinas, where she majored in Community Leadership and Interpretation. 

Interviewed by: Thomas Rodgers, Family Literacy Coordinator 

"We've Impacted Each Other's Lives"

Emmalee Anderson has been a tutor with the Literacy Center of West Michigan since July 2018. She first heard about the opportunity during a presentation from the Lieracy Center at her firm, McShane & Bowie. She shared her experiences with her learner, Margoth, in an interview with her literacy coordinator.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do?

I am a paralegal with a law firm. I graduated from Grand Valley with a minor in Spanish and always had a love of languages. I also love to bake and that’s something Margoth and I both do. We bring each other treats. I like traveling, too. My husband and I recently went to Italy. I have dual citizenship and a lot of family in Australia.

Interviewed by: Katherine Payne, Literacy Coordinator

Laurie Zarzecki Emelander is the Finance Director at the Literacy Center of West Michigan, and recently celebrated 25 years with the organization. Laurie has tutored for the past 4 years and spoke with Katherine Payne, Literacy Coordinator, about her experiences.

A Matter of Fact Series

Blogger: Queyonna Hunt (Literacy Coordinator)

It’s been a month of busy energy here at the Literacy Center. We've been basking in the warming weather and enjoying the materials that just popped onto the shelves in our Tutor Library--an amazing eruption of Non-Fiction!

We are delighted to introduce to you this month's Featured Supplementary Resource that is literally a matter of fact!

With a fitting name, the Fact Matters series helps develop learners' foundational knowledge through the topics they will encounter in their science, social studies, and art texts. The best part? There are so many accessible titles in this series.

Bloggers: Thomas Rodgers (Family Literacy Coordinator) and Queyonna Hunt (Literacy Coordinator)

Does your learner have a voracious appetite for knowledge that is difficult to quench?

For some first-time tutors, coming up with lessons that consistently engage learners' literacy goals can feel like a daunting task. With so many available resources, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

This is why we decided to showcase Cambridge University Press's high-interest, real-life topic series, Ventures.  At its core, Ventures is a five-level, standards-based English language learning series for adults.