Interview with a Reading Specialist at Center for Literacy

For the requirements for one of my courses, I interview a lady named Sunday, who is a reading specialist for the Center of Literacy.Sunday is also a current student in the Reading/Writing/Literacy program at the Graduate School of Education at UPenn. Since 1968, The Center for Literacy has been the nation's largest community-based nonprofit literacy provider, and the first in Pennsylvania. The main building in Philadelphia is located on 48th and Baltimore. Its mission is to provide a range of literacy services, including reading, writing, math, life and work skills, to help a diverse population of learners meet their needs and achieve their personal and employment-related goals. Although, Sunday’s direct employer is the Center for Literacy, she is subcontracted to teach in an “E3 center” in North Philadelphia. The expanding E3 Power Centers, which stands for Empowerment, Education, and Employment, are in response to the rising numbers of out-of-school youth. Currently, there are five sites located throughout the city. The centers are community-based programs currently serving both at-risk-in-school youth and out-of-school youth between the ages of 14-21. The E3 model is designed to promote self-sufficiency through advancement opportunities for education, employment and/or skills training. Depending on the E3 site, there are a range of activities and classes offered (e.g. Pre GED, GED, tutoring, Mural Arts, Work Readiness Training, Work Exposure, etc.).Since they are community-based, different reputable organizations are responsible for operating the Centers, while the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is considered the ‘funder.’ Sunday shares with me, that the contract is granted through DHS, and other funding sources (including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). Her primary responsibility as the Literacy Specialist is to support learners who are reading below a fourth grade reading level, among other functions. The academic goal for out-of-school youth is obtaining a GED, while in-school youth seek support in obtaining a high school diploma. Sunday suggests that there are various definitions of out-of-school-youth, as many students may have left school due to personal reasons, or, adjudicated youth, for example. She also shared with me, that there are generally more out-of-school youth than in school youth served in a fiscal year.