Literacy Mid-South Annual Report 2012

BACK IN THE BLACK

Literacy Mid-South 2012 Annual Report

www.literacymidsouth.org

Literacy Mid-South student Leslie Moore bravely marched with an “I Am A Man” sign as a sanitation worker participating in the sanitation strikes led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sadly, Leslie was unable to read the signs around him, the pamphlets on civil rights, or newspaper articles about the march. Having only finished school through the sixth grade, Leslie managed to go more than 60 years without learning to read until he became a Literacy Mid-South student.

In 1968 Memphis needed to change. Sanitation workers wanted equality, proper treatment and pay. As a 21 year old Leslie recalls, “police pointing shotguns at us, tear gas, people being thrown in jail. You name it,” he said, “that all happened.” Leslie and the other sanitation workers courageously stood for the people of Memphis who needed a voice, and Dr. King helped give it to them

As a young man in the midst of chaotic violent clashes between the police and striking workers, Leslie listened to Dr. King’s speech that fateful April night before his assassination. He remembers distinctly how powerful Dr. King’s voice was in the midst of the largest indoor crowd of the Civil Rights Movement’s history. “He had a lot power behind every word that he was saying… he had the voice of a trumpet,” Leslie said.

Listening to Dr. King’s last speech moved Leslie. After being a sanitation worker his entire adult life, some 40 years later Reverend King’s

passion for bettering people’s lives still stuck with Leslie as he finally decided to pursue his own dreams of becoming a preacher. Frustrated, he came to Literacy Mid-South because he felt that he could not properly fulfill the duties of a preacher if he could not

read. Even though he was getting a later start to reading than most, he knew in order to help his future congregation to the best of his ability, he needed to read.

Seeking help at Literacy Mid-South gives Leslie the tools he needs to work to better the community through the written word. Leslie said he asked God to send him some way to learn to read, and then he heard about Literacy

Mid-South’s Adult Learning Program. Leslie’s persistence in his tutoring is inspiring and he says that he practices daily. Leslie has stopped simply memorizing words and now reads full sentences.

Literacy Mid-South has brought pride to Leslie through reading. Preaching is his calling and reading helps him get there. Leslie had gone a long time without knowing how to read, but he said, “I wanted to better myself, not only to help myself, but help other folk.”

Now, he encourages the people he meets struggling with literacy to not give up “I tell them now to hang on in there,” he said. Leslie is just one amazing example of how Literacy Mid-South can change one life but positively affects many more. ■

Change is good.

B a c k i n t h e B l a c k


Kevin Dean Executive Director

Over the last year, Literacy Mid-South has truly unlocked the organization’s unlimited potential to advance literacy in the Mid-South. We are moving through our organizational renewal and into a promising future with new staff members and more streamlined, revitalized programming. Every staff member and our volunteers have put in countless hours this year to make it one of immense progress. And thanks to your strong support, Literacy Mid-South is now an organization leading the state in learning models and providing even more benefits to our community as we help citizens become life-long learners.

Literacy Mid-South’s Adult Learning Program adopted a new, more self-directed learning model for our students, which puts learning directly in their hands utilizing real world examples and small groups. Adults learn differently than children, and we encourage collaborative learning within small groups in which adults guide each other through learning, helping each student gain the tools he or she needs to better navigate their own world with reading. We have implemented this new model into our volunteer trainings, emphasizing the importance of empowering our students through literacy, not just telling them what we think they need to know. Each Literacy Mid-South adult student is now provided with a detailed learning plan, outlining their personal goals and placed in a small group of adults with similar goals, or enrolled in classes to help them meet their learning objectives. We also have new Reading Companion software and iPads in our updated computer lab that interacts and works with students on reading, pronunciation, grammar and spelling.

The Smart Memphis Coalition has enabled Literacy Mid-South to become an educational leader in our community. With over 125 members, Smart Memphis has held numerous, at-capacity seminars, workshops, trainings, and other events to encourage community collaboration and make sure literacy is at the forefront of our community priorities. Literacy Mid-South is proud to partner with so many wonderful organizations and we know that we alone cannot help everyone, especially with 120,000 functionally illiterate adults in the Mid-South. Combating illiteracy takes the whole community.

We were very excited about our events this year, such as Super Gala, Literacy is Key, the Corporate Spelling Bee, and Literatini, just to name a few. Our events fostered wonderful momentum in our community, enabling us to advocate the importance of literacy as a basic human need. The support from these events helped us reach more people than ever before.

Literacy Mid-South’s next year will only be better. As our supporters, we look to you to share our efforts with family, friends, and colleagues. Ensuring that our mission is furthered throughout the community is in your hands. Please continue to donate your time, resources, and efforts to the best of your ability as we strongly and passionate move forward. Without you, we wouldn’t exist.



Whitney Harmon Board Chair

The Next Year:

Coming off of a remarkable year, Literacy Mid-South is moving forward in dynamic ways. As an organization we have so much energy and excitement about the work we are doing in the community, the people who are changing their lives through the use of our services, and those we are working even harder to reach. Literacy Mid-South acknowledges the challenges nonprofits face in difficult economic times like these, but with the vision of Kevin Dean as our guide, we continue to test new ways to expand our reach through more efficient and effective means.

These efforts include a renovation of our Adult Program curriculum to not only address the immediate needs of our students, but also to offer different ways for those students to learn. We recognize there is no one size fits all model when it comes to learning, and we are forming relationships with other literacy organizations across the country to discover new teaching tools that will make a bigger impact in our community. Another way we are working to expand our reach in the community is through fostering relationships among the literacy organizations in Memphis through our Smart Memphis Coalition. This Coalition offers its more than 100 member organizations not only the support of the other member organizations, but also training opportunities, resources, and a unified voice in the continued advocacy efforts of Literacy Mid-South.

The past year is just an example of the passion in Literacy Mid-South’s mission, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to honor our mission in the upcoming year. We are an organization made up of individuals who believe literacy is not only a right, but also a tool every member of our community deserves to make a difference in their life. Literacy Mid-South believes that through literacy, lives are changed and communities are empowered. Therefore we remain committed to being the driving force in the mid-south addressing illiteracy and the destructive impact it has on over 120,000 individuals in our community.



Teri Sullivan Advisory Board Chair

We are living in the midst of great and rapid change. It seems that technology (computers, smart phones, etc) is being improved with each second, making what we currently use obsolete before we even begin using it. People who cannot read (or who cannot read well) were already behind the curve. With these constant advances, the chasm only widens.

As I have watched bookstores, post offices, newspapers, and more close their doors forever, I have become increasingly concerned about what this means for jobs. It doesn’t take a large workforce to make a book available electronically. In the paper world, many people are needed to print, assemble, ship and sell books. And it takes nearly an army to create, print and distribute a daily newspaper. It seems that almost every single industry that employs large numbers of workers is in danger. And those that continue successfully are sending many jobs overseas, citing cost efficiency and an increasingly uneducated workforce in America.

So what this means is that America is developing a new kind of economy. We seem to be moving away from manufacturing and into service. Computers may run many things, but we still need people to create, service and program them. This means that an educated workforce becomes increasingly important.

The work done each day by Literacy Mid-South has never been more needed. People cannot fully participate in their communities if they cannot read. Illiteracy creates danger in individual lives (inability to read safety messages, traffic signs, prescriptions). We cannot get driver’s licenses, if we cannot read the application. And with the new Voter ID laws, not having a driver’s license (or a valid photo ID- also requiring paperwork) means a person cannot participate in electing officials who represent him/her.

Reading is essential, but not just for individuals. It is vital to keep up with a changing economy, to make our city competitive for corporations to bring jobs to the community, to lower poverty and crime rates, and to contribute to the welfare of everyone.

I hope you will join me in supporting the important work of Literacy Mid-South.



With more than 120,000 Memphians who cannot read above a sixth grade level, Literacy Mid-South has realized that we simply cannot try to conquer illiteracy on our own. In January of 2012, Literacy Mid-South launched the Smart Memphis Coalition. The Smart Memphis Coalition was created to expand the quality and impact of community educational services by providing advanced training, resources, and opportunities for collaboration. After a year of focus groups and consultants, we found that many other educational organizations were struggling for funding, training, and impactful and sustainable program models. By bringing organizations together to learn and collaborate, Literacy Mid-South intends to broaden our reach into the community by serving the organizations that serve low income and low literate populations.

Jeanette McKinley, Assistant Director of Administration and Educational Programs at Urban Youth Initiative was a part of an initial focus group informing Literacy Mid-South on the community’s expectations and what could be done better. She said the focus group recognized the need for the community and nonprofits to have more information on literacy and that Smart Memphis was filling a void by providing networking and opportunities to gain resources.

“Smart Memphis has already helped me foster stronger relationships with other community organizations that can help my organization. It’s a great tool for communication and resource sharing. My expectations are that Literacy Mid-South is the literacy expert in our community and now that we are collaborating through Smart Memphis, I know I can call with questions and get the answers I need. My perspective on the changes at Literacy Mid-South is very positive,” she said.

Already, the Smart Memphis Coalition has provided six educational seminars for local tutors, a citywide Literacy Summit, a technology seminar, and book and school supply giveaways worth more than $100,000. In 2013, the Coalition will also:

•Developanonlineliteracylandscapethatwill provide access to resources for parents, children, and adult learners in various communities across the Mid-South. This landscape will also allow organizations to find “literacy deserts” in Memphis and target communities that are lacking educational resources.

•Providemorethan$100,000 worth of resources to local educational providers in the form of books, school supplies, mini-grants, and pro bono consultation from our corporate partners.

•Providebettercommunityoutreachtounderserved populations in Memphis through strategic collaborations with other nonprofit organizations.

•Createonlineresourcesfortutorsof all organizations that will be available on our website to download free of charge.

•Kickoffacity-widereadingcampaignin March 2013.

Executive Director Kevin Dean adds, “Our Coalition has the opportunity to improve outcomes for both children and adults living in tough neighborhoods. By reaching the organizations that serve the communities that we don’t, we can make the biggest impact in this history of our organization.” ■

Smart Memphis



The writing was on the wall: Literacy Mid-South’s Adult Learning Program needed a facelift. After nearly forty years of embracing the “Each One Teach One” model, national trends indicated that our Adult Learning Program was miles behind other programs across the United States. Collaborative learning, a new model that puts the learners first and allows volunteer tutors to facilitate learning through a partnership with the student, was a more progressive model that had been discussed but never truly implemented in the Adult Learning Program. While effective, the traditional “Each One Teach One” tutor-student relationship usually lapses into the formal teacher-student approach of “you need to learn what I know.” However, the more progressive collaborative learning approach is an exploratory, experiential, truly educational approach where both the facilitator and the student know something about the topic, share from each perspective, and appreciate a broader understanding of an issue, event, or person.

To implement these sweeping changes to the program, Literacy Mid-South began retraining all of the current volunteers about how to implement collaborative learning into their weekly tutoring sessions. The new volunteer orientation added new training sessions to

include the topics of collaborative learning and how adults learn differently from children. A new computer lab was outfitted with new software that promotes collaborative learning, and an iPad lab was built for students and volunteers to enjoy together. Large classes of up to 30 people were eliminated and replaced by small groups of 6 or less. A new tutor resource room was created to provide

resources for tutors.

Most importantly, students are now empowered to direct their learning. When a new student comes into the program, Adult Learning Program staff work collaboratively with each adult learner to develop personal literacy goals and an individualized learning path. Adult students are now allowed to learn what they want to learn, providing them

with literacy skills that they can immediately implement in their daily lives.

After only a year, Literacy Mid-South’s efforts in creating a new learning model for our students is being replicated statewide, and Adult Learning Program staff have been asked to present at conferences and meetings throughout Tennessee. We are very proud of the changes we have made to our program, and we have even bigger plans for 2012-2013. Stay tuned! ■

Our Programs


Adult Learning Program


This year, in efforts to build a stronger preventative side to generational literacy issues, the Family Literacy Program conducted a series of workshops to parents and caregivers of families in low-income households, covering topics such as: Why Read Aloud, Brain Development, Starting a Home Library, Six Pre-Reading Skills, Age-Appropriate Books, Repetition and Repeated Reading, Dialogic Reading, TV vs. Reading, and Kindergarten Ready Preparations. These workshops discussed how important young children’s exposure to reading is and how families can generate life long learning.

Participants were given free books and backpacks with school supplies. This program was integral in learning about the current literacy practices between parents and their pre-K-aged children in low-income households. Literacy Mid-South engaged other nonprofits in these workshops, providing them with the opportunity to highlight family literacy in their own programs. As we built strong

relationships with other organizations and their programs became more centered on family literacy, we happily recognized the need to let others take over to avoid duplicating services. After ten years of serving the community, Literacy Mid-South ended the Family Literacy Program on June 30, 2012. We are so happy to have garnered support for this important community issue and are happy that so many organizations are carrying the torch.

Through the Family Literacy Program we equipped partnering organizations with the tools they needed to advocate for family literacy, and we continue to do so as those organizations are now members of the Smart Memphis Coalition. As members they are supported with continuing education on family literacy, as well as resources, both professionally and with physical supplies. Working together in the community only makes education stronger, and Literacy Mid-South is leading the collaborative efforts to build a stronger foundation for our society. ■

Family Literacy Program


Academy Tutoring The Academy Tutoring Project celebrated its final year of service to charter schools in the Mid-South. Through the years, the program has served thousands of children who were falling behind in school. This year, Literacy Mid-South handed the program off to the charter schools, who are now equipped to handle their individual programs. Through the Academy Tutoring Project four schools will be able to take on the program and individualize their own tutoring. Literacy Mid-South spent the year preparing schools to run their own programs and provided a detailed development plan to transition them, including a “Tutor In A Box” tool. Tutor In A Box is a resource kit for tutors to help them help their students reach their academic goals more successfully. Schools were also provided trainings on how to select volunteers and place them with students. Tutors are trained and then placed with a student struggling with reading or math, while also serving as mentors.

The four schools that the Academy Tutoring program served were also integrated into Literacy Mid-South’s Smart Memphis Coalition to ensure that we continue to support their students’ literacy needs. We’re so happy to have been a part of helping so many children, and we look forward to serving these schools in the future through our various programs. ■


Special Events


Super Gala 2012

Literatini


Special Events


The Great Book Drop

James and the Giant Peach

Literacy Is Key Kappa Kappa Gama Luncheon


Literacy Mid-South student Boubacar Bah is fluent in three different languages, but until 2010 he went his whole life without learning to read. Originally from Guinea, West Africa, he never had any formal schooling, but Boubacar has made a new life in Memphis with his family as the owner of a service station. He came to Literacy Mid-South to be able to write and read to improve his business skills, but Boubacar also wanted to learn to read for his two little girls.

Twice a week Boubacar takes time out of his workday to work with his tutor, Anne Townsend. Anne and Boubacar could not appear to be more different, but the friendship they share has changed each of them. Anne has been volunteering at Literacy Mid-South for two years and has watched Boubacar make leaps and bounds in his reading development. “Before coming to volunteer here it was very hard for me to imagine someone not having that ability. Literacy affects every single part of an adult’s

life and I wanted to make a difference for someone by helping them learn to read. I have an enthusiasm for learning and I think that is my favorite part of volunteering,

getting to see my student expand his own passion for learning,” Anne said.

Anne has watched Boubacar progress from a bottom tier reading level to a more advanced level, which is truly amazing considering

he works full-time providing for his family. Anne has also seen major improvements in Boubacar’s writing and the pride he takes in his academic progress. “He has an interest in reading now and is so enthusiastic to be here. I am always in awe of Boubacar’s interesting life and his perseverance,” Anne said. As Boubacar progresses in his reading skills, he is better equipped as a business man, but also for his young family. Anne has helped him give his daughters an irreplaceable gift, a father who can read to his children. ■

Volunteers Help Students Put Down Literacy Roots



Leo AlessiJoy AlmondDebra AndersonDonna ApplewhiteFrank ArmstrongCynthia AustinWhitney BaerDavid BarkerJim BarnettAmeen BasheerJanie BatesAdrienne BeallAnn BendallMaria BibbsMegan BlackMary BlairAshli BlowVince BoberskiJudy BoganLouise Bowens-BrownBonnie BrewerCassandra BrittmonNorma “Charlie” BrownRebecca BrownTae BrownAnne BrunsonBill BullockSarah ButtsAlison CampanyMargaret CardwellJestine CarterPaula CarterAmanda ClarksonMary ClineDustin CokeingShirley ColePhoebe CopelandJaime CowartFrancesca CozzaChandley CrawfordDebra CrutchfieldPauletta DabneyJoey DarnellDelois DaughertyMike DeaderickTerry DigelMichael DockeryShari Doles

Jim DormanLolly EasleyWard EbersoleGina EnnisDonna EssaryTom EwartJanis FabokRobert FagleySharon FieldsLeah Fitzpatrick Aaron FowlesLynn FranklinJorja FrazierNoel FultonEarnestine GainwellAlfred GarrettWalter GibsonSerafina GinleyJeanetta GlassRegina GordonSonia GordonCissy GreeneLaura H. GreinkePatrice GriffinWanda GriffinIan HallJane HampshireJean HandleyBelinda HardyBelinda HardySandra HarrisSharmika HarrisCherri HattonDebbie HayesVan Alan HeidelbergDebbie HerrJudith HicksVeronica HicksCraig HodgeVicki HoeglundDonna HoffmanCynthia HollandBill HookerSusan HopsonReva HouseAlicia HowardAllison HowardHattie Howard

Nancy HowellBrenda HudsonAngela HughesSusan InmanRita IvoryAshley JacksonKaren JarvisDanian JerryDenise JohnsonLisa JohnsonSallie JohnsonApril JonesJoyce JonesLeslie JonesLorean JonesTammy JonesDiana KabakoffSusan KellyAnthony KirkendhallCynthia KirkpatrickRachel KosmitisCarmen KreiderAsiyah KurtzJoe KyleLou LangleyJeanne LarkinJulie LatchamPatsy LaVelleMary Beth LawingSandy LawrenceGladys LoweKaty MackSuzanne MaloneCharlotte MaloneyHope MartinTom MartinJim MatthewsCurt MayhewJanet Mc LureMary Lou McCaaAnna McCabeJesse McCabeMichael McCloskeyPhilip McDermottJackey McDowellDiane McFarlandElza McKennaAlann Meadows

Michele MillerRosetta MillerRoberta V. MillsEmma Jean MooreHester MooreElizabeth MosbyArris MurphyVicki MurrellWilliam NealTerri NilsonEdna NortonJon OberhausenFrancis OffiongJanice OusleyDorothy Jean OwenJewell PaigeJacqueline PalmerKimberly ParkerJeff PeacockTeri PeacockMike PeughVirginia PhillipsSarah PiazzaLinda PillowJoe PipkinDavid PopeAnn PoteatJohn S. PottsAlfred PowellBarry Powell, Sr. Pat PrimroseMary PullenRobert RaiteriTony RallingsAmanda RastJan RaubianJudy RawlesLinda RichmondWilliam RobertsAndre RobinsonDeborah RogersEllie RolfesEmily RuchMelanie RuddJim RussellCarolyn SainoAndrea SanderMarvin Sanford

Wayne ShannonMalorie SimonNorma SimonLorene SimsSandra Smegelsky Bryce SmithSharrion SmithTamatha SmithDan SniderCandace SpearmanChad StandishJohn StevensonPrudy StevensonDavid StoneSally StoverPamela StrayhornJanice StubbsGerald StudebakerLinda SwiftMark TanenbaumSandra TanenbaumPat TaylorWilma TaylorJaspie ThorntonJapsie ThortonSharon ToddAnne TownsendCary VaughnEmmye WalkerLynn WalkerTonya WallaceBetty WatkinsAnne WebbGreg WeidenhofferMary Alice WelshWinter WicksRobert WienerGloria WilliamsPage WilliamsonBetsy WisemanLisa WordJohn WrightJohn YoungNisha Yun

Volunteers



Literacy Mid-South, Inc.

Statements of Activities

Years Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

Year Ended Year EndedUnrestricted Net Assets June 30, 2012 June 30, 2011

Support

United Way Services funding $ 118,018 $ 124,130

Business Organizations 234,160 116,706

Government Grants 20,000 0

Individuals 156,173 62,654

Fundraising 74,406 24,646

Investment Income 25 270

Total Unrestricted Support $ 602,782 $ 328,406

Net Assets Released From Restricitions -0- -0-

Total Unrestricted Support and Reclassifications $ 602,782 $ 328,406

Expenses

Program Services $ 324,965 $ 359,153

Management and General 163,438 215,317

Fundraising 26,690 1,605

Total Expenses $ 515,093 $ 576,075

Increase (Decrease) in Unrestricted Net Assets $ 87,689 $ (247,669)

Financials


United Way Individuals

Fundraising

Investment Income

Business Organizations

Government Grants


Individuals

Michael AcreeGlenda K. AlexanderSharon AmmonsAnna AndersonColin AntayaTimothy ArmorFrank J. ArmstrongMary BandyThomas BarnettWilliam Batts and Curtis Petty Jonathan H BennettAnna Marie and Brad BirkedahlJohn BoganDenise Bollheimer Joe BooneNora BooneMary BowenAarti BowmanMaury BronsteinDarlene BrooksElaine BrownFrances E BrownLana Brown Mary Lou Brown Lori and Reuben BrunsonSheryl BuchalskiChristine BuckSarah ButtsJody CallahanAlison CampanyJoyce CampbellKerri CampbellLawrence H.CampbellRobert and Ann CampbellDawn Cannon-RechBryan CapoothChad CapoothRoseanna CapoothJudy CardErik and Quinn CarlsonLonzie CarterMaureen CarterPaula D. CatesCathy ChandlerHarpreet Cheema

Michelle ChildressCathering M. ChiltonBridget CiaramitaroAmanda ClarksonDorothy CleavesCheryl and William CobbSean and Beverly CokerElizabeth ColemanJan ColgateSherry ComptonKannon ConwayPhoebe CopelandMargaret CowansQuiana CoxCheryl Crabb Elaine E. CrewsJames L. CrewsAnn Dahmer Rob DayBill and Terri DeanKevin DeanCaitlin DempseyKin DempseyJohn DentonLynn Diebold Shannon DixonGina DouglasJohn P. DouglasGeorge Douglas Jr.Steven DouglassJudith Drescher Ben DukeDouglas Ducan Samantha DurantStacy EarlyKelly EarnestMonica EddiePenny EdwardsJerry and Pam EhrhartRichard EisemanMichael and Lois EnglishRobyn EvansTamara FarmerHerschel FeibelmanRachel FeinmanEvanett FieldsLeah FitzpatrickMolly Fitzpatrick

Beverly FletcherDaniel J. FlickKirby and Glenn FloydEmily Fox-HillShelley FragaleRicky and Renee’ Frazier Bill and Juanita FreelandMegan FullerArthur FulmerElizabeth GatesKevin GeiserJanet GerberBrent Gerhart Margo GermanyMaggie GiffinDennis GillespieAlvin A. GordonBeth GravesBrenda GreenBob and Sherry GreeneLaura GreinkeWanda GriffinSuzanne GronemeyerKristy GunnKerri GuytonSammy and Marilyn HaithcockDebra HallHolt HallKen HallSue HallDejuanica HamptonJeff HamrickIrene HansenWhitney HarmonAshley HarperJames HaySutton Mora and Kerry HayesRuth G. HaysJoe HawesCarolyn S. HeadJames and Mona HearnNicholas HeinzKristen Herring-HurdJudith HicksRose Ann HicksKathy HiggenbothamJoel and Jennifer Hobson

Our Donors July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012


Companies/Organizations

ABS Employees

American Snuff Charitable Trust

Arawata Garden Club

Books from the Past

Book Sellers at Laurelwood

Blue Bell Creamers L.P.

Cargill Inc.

City of Memphis

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Columbia Baptist Fellowship

CommTrans

Cricket Communications, Inc.

D/B/A Star Academy

Endocrine Clinic Staff

Golden Gate Development Corp.

Hastings Entertainment, Inc.

Hermitage Chapter, DAR

Hilton Worldwide

IBM

International Paper Foundation

Industrial Developments

Knights of Columbus Council

Lichterman Loewenberg Foundation

Memphis Book Club

Mid-South Science & Fiction Conventions, Inc.

Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church

North Carolina State University

Oakland Mills Interfaith Center

Orion Federal Credit Union

Pfizer Foundation

Plough Foundation

Scripps Howard Foundation

S.T. John M.B. Church

Tinder Box 344


Carol and Buddy HodgeVicki HoeglundRay HoffmanSarah M. HortonAlicia HowardDave and Amy HoweWalter Howell Ward HuddlestonAnnelle and Joseph HugginsMarilyn HughesAnnette HuntMark HutchinsLaura F. IngramRita B. IvoryShannon IzquierdoShirley M. JackGwendolyn JacksonPatrick JacksonJanet JamesMikea JamesKaren JarvisDaisy M. JeffersonLora JobeAlana JohnsonCaroline JohnsonDavid and Sherry JohnsonKim JohnsonRoyal JohnsonErica JonesCatherine JoyceJohn KaltnerMillie Katzen Paula and Sanford KelseyHolli KenneyAngeline KernKevin KernThomas L. KingJason KnightLindsay KrosnesElizabeth KulesaKathy LadnerJanis LangeCasey Lawhead Karen LawhornCharles and Mary Beth LawingBeth and Kye LeeRene and Roland LeeBradley and Courtney Leon

Karl and Heather LettowHerbert and Marjorie LevyDavid LindstromJames LorensenJohn and Jessica LukensGeorge MabonKatherine L. MalicanSuzanne MaloneJohn MarshallLeigh MartinSharon MartinTed MartinFrank and Linda McCallaDavid McCaslinWilson McCloyPhilip McDermottJackey McDowellShawn McGhee Elza and Michael McKennaMeghan MedfordGeorge MenendezBryan MoodyCarolyn MorganJohn MorrisonMarian Morrison Hilda MullenGail MurryWilliam NealPhilip NewsomDavid and Teresa Nickel Gary and Aggie NiessCynthia NunnallyElaine and David Orland Claire C. OwenJohn Padvic Ashley PadgettGreg Parham Mrs. R. PateyRon PattersonJeff and Terri PeacockJeanette PeeplesKimberly PerryAda PersonJoyce PettitLiz PhillipsTammy PhillipsJoshua PoagLes and Penny PopowJo L. Potter

Mark and Kris PrestidgeNancy D. PrillamanPat Primrose Marilyn RabinowitzLynda RaifordEmilie G. RatnerLaurel ReismanTracy RenfroGreg Renfrow Matthew and Miranda RhoadsBeverly RichardsonKimberly Wood RichardsonThomas RiemanKimberly RingHenry and Sarah RingeMarsha R. RoachPerry RobertChad RobertsThomas RobinsonAndrew RolandSheldon RosengartenJohn and Katherine RussellClaire Ryan and Susan PatnerHarriet Schneider Daudet J. SchreursAlan SeftonLarry SeftonDena SelmerJack and Tricia SeubertRachel ShankmanMamie Shannon Wayne and Suzanne ShannonJudy SheltonAlayne ShoenfeldMary SimmonsBrenda SmithDavid Shannon SparksDorian SpearsVickie StaffordAnnie Lee StancilScot StewardCraig StewartAmanda StoermerJohn and Ann StokesKarla StricklandGwendolyn StuckeyDeborah Talley

Amanda TamburrinoPhyllis TammDavid and Janice TankersleyMichael TauerCarra TaylorRobert and Pat TaylorMichelle TedrickSayra ThackerGlen and Shelley ThomasRebecca ThomasWilliam R. ThompsonTracy ThortonFred TowlerSusan TroutmanPaul TrowerJonathan UhlesDavid UmstedJulie Van WalsemLinda VanceLaura and Steven VeeshartMarjorie VincentAbhi Vyas Donna WaggenerClaudine WalkerWade WalkerAnne WebbGregory and Agnes WebbAlex and Karen WellfordJustin WhitfoldBarry WhiteMaggie WhiteThomas WhiteheadMelynda WhitwellJim WilderConnie WilliamsJeanne WilliamsJessica WilliamsBetty Anne WilsonBetsy WisemanBarry WoodDoug WrightRachel WrightMary Lou YandellRobert YorkJohn YoungRobert YoungJanet ZimmermanTodd Zoblotsky

Our Donors July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012



CAROL L. BECKER Julie Van Walsem DANIEL COPELAND Phoebe Copeland BILLIE BURGIN CRENSHAW Mr. & Mrs. Mike Deaderick KATHERINE SILER DEAN Elsie Bloodworth Terri H. Dean Jerry & Pam Ehrhart James & Mona Hearn Ashley Padgett Marilyn Rabinowitz Glenn & Shelley Thomas Jeanne L. Williams POLLY S. FONTANA Brian W. Meredith DENNIS FREELAND Bill & Juanita Freeland Perveen K. Rustomfram PHYLLIS FULLER Harriet Schneider PEGGY HARWELL Random Readers Book Club LYDIA HOOVER Jeanne L. Williams

SALLIE R. JEFFRIES Sherry Compton JILL LAHTI Ann Dahmer & Kevin Geiser Suzanne Gronemeyer Partridge Lab - St. Jude ALICIA DENISE LOWE Glenn & Shelley Thomas JOHN MARUHNICH Barbara Dawson Alayne Shoenfeld Jeanne L. WilliamsDALE MCDERMOTT Philip McDermott MARY LEE MCNEES Jeanette Peeples PHYLLIS HUGHES MENENDEZ George Menendez MILDRED MILES Kathy Ladner GOLDA DECELL MINOR Larry Sefton SOPHIE NWEEIA Irene Hansen PAT REID The Memphis Book Club

HILLARY ROBSON Jim & Elizabeth Duncan Jack & Tricia Seubert ISABEL SLOAN Daudet J. Schreurs MIRIAM SOLOMON Dr. Derene Akins MRS. D. HADLEY STANCIL Joyce S. Campbell Robert & Ann Campbell Columbia Baptist Fellowship Barbara Dawson Michael & Lois English Bob & Sherry Greene Sammy & Marilyn Haithcock Mark Hutchins Gary & Aggie Niess N. C. State University – Electrical & Computer Engineering Dept. Oakland Mills Interfaith Center Annie Lee Stancil Rebecca Thomas HERBERT TAYLOR, M.D. ABS Employees DEBBIE TUSETH Wayne & Suzanne Shannon

Tributes and Memorials


FAITH BARCROFT Frank & Linda McCalla MR. TOM BARNETT Ashley Dacus NANCY BOGATIN Mr. & Mrs. Page Williamson CAROLYN CARNESALE Betsy Wiseman DR. RICHARD DALE CHILDRESS The Endocrine Clinic Staff MOLLY C. CROSBY Arawata Garden Club KEVIN DEAN Ben Duke Carmen & Joey Weaver SARAH F. DINICOLANTONIO Wade Walker KAY M. DUE Roseanne Russell

LOLLY EASLEY Gail Murray & Joe Hawes HEATHER GROSVENOR Kirby & Glenn Floyd BETH GUNN Abhi Vyas & Harpreet Cheema JIM HANAS Henry & Sarah Ringe MR. & MRS. BOB HENDRIX Mr. & Mrs. Greg Weidenhoffer IDRIVE Robyn Evans BOB LAYMAN Hermitage Chapter, DAR ALICIA DENISE LOWE Ashley Padgett SAMUEL K. MOORE David & Teresa Nickel CORINNE NIENHUIS Dr. Arthur W. Nienhuis

MARILYN RABINOWITZ Margo Germany Bradley & Courtney Leon SLOAN & JULIA REHDER Sarah Moore SAVANNAH & ELLA REYNOLDS Christine Buck MOLLIE & GLENN SAXON Ashley Dacus GERRY & LINDA STALEY Mr. & Mrs. Greg Weidenhoffer TERI SULLIVAN-ELMORE Sharon Ammons JUDY TUCKER Mary Lou Brown MITZIE WRIGHT Ashley Dacus EMERSON & GRIFFIN YANDELL Mary Lou Yandell

IN HONOR OF:

IN MEMORY OF:


Tributes and Memorials


DR. DERENE AKINS Carol Beachey & Donald Voth CELIE ALTHOFF Carol Beachey & Donald Voth ALEX & MEGAN AREVADO Whitney Harmon ASHLEY & RYAN BAKER Whitney Harmon RICK BARTL Kevin Dean SARAH JO SMITH Dr. J. Patrick Blankinship & Jonathan Hancock ELSIE BLOODWORTH Kevin Dean Carol & Buddy Hodge BRIAN & MANDY BONNER Greg Renfrow BILL BREEN & DANNY O’TOOLE Greg Renfrow SHELLEE M. BROOKS Gerald Nicholas BETSY BURCH Claire Ryan & Susan RatnerTERESE BUSCHER Catherine M. Chilton WARREN CAMPBELL & WADE HARTSFIELD Kevin Dean ANN CHAMBERS Gerald Nicholas MR. & MRS. H.R. CHILTON Catherine M. Chilton JUSTIN & AMY COULSON Greg Renfrow DEROME COX Gerald Nicholas ASHLEY DACUS Whitney Harmon BARBARA DAUSH Judy Shelton MRS. JODY DEADERICK Margo Germany TERRI H. DEAN Kevin Dean ROBERTA DEWATERS Claire Ryan & Susan RatnerMR. & MRS. EARL DIETERING Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin BARBARA DILLON Lynda Raiford HILLERY EFKEMAN Lynda Raiford

BRANDON & ANDREA EVANS Greg Renfrow RICK & ELIZABETH FERGUSON & FAMILY Judy Shelton MR. & MRS. ROBERT L. FOOT Sarah F. DiNicolantonio VIVIAN GARMON Gerald Nicholas BETTY CAROL GERMANY Margo Germany KRIS GREEN Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin MR. & MRS. BRETT GRINDER Alex & Karen Wellford JOHN HAMILTON Margo Germany SUSAN HANCOCK Dr. J. Patrick Blankinship & Jonathan Hancock TERRY, BILL & J. MORGAN HARTER Judy Shelton RICHARD HASSEN Michelle Tedrick CHRIS HAWK Kevin Dean ANN HENSON Margo Germany BILLIE & JENNIE HUGHLEY Gerald Nicholas FOREST & SCOTT IMORDE Judy Shelton ALAN & CAROLYN JASLOW Claire Ryan & Susan RatnerBOB JOHNSON Darlene Brooks SALLIE D. JOHNSON Heather Lawson JASON & LAURA JUDD David & Teresa Nickel GENE & CAROL KATZ Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin BARBARA & ROY KEATHLEY Alex & Karen Wellford DEBBIE KNIGHT Greg Renfrow JOSEPH & RACHEL KNIGHT Greg Renfrow DRS. ALAN & BETH KURLAND Claire Ryan & Susan RatnerMR. & MRS. SCOTT P. LEDBETTER Alex & Karen Wellford

JOHN LOCHEMES Kevin Dean JEREMY & KIM LOUDENBECK Greg Renfrow CAROL ANN MALLORY & SHARON YOUNGER Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin BRENDA MASCHMEYER Margo Germany THE MCBRIDE FAMILY Greg Renfrow CHARLES MCLARTY Teri Sullivan-Elmore CAROLINE MCQUEEN Heather Lawson MRS. DACHELLE MCVEY Teri Sullivan-Elmore ROBERT & GLORIA MERIWETHER Whitney Harmon MARGARET MILLER Gerald Nicholas T.S. & ANN MITCHELL Darlene Brooks RICHARD & SUZANNE MOORE David & Teresa Nickel LYNDA MORGAN Carol Beachey & Donald Voth MR. & MRS. ED MORROW Annelle & Joseph Huggins ROBIE NELSON Gerald Nicholas MR. & MRS. SCOTT NEWMAN & FAMILY Judy Shelton MCKINLEY & SALLIE NEWSOM Gerald Nicholas DENISE NICHOLAS Gerald Nicholas PAUL NICHOLAS Gerald Nicholas RENE NICKEL David & Teresa Nickel MR. & MRS. LOU PARIS Annelle & Joseph Huggins FELIX PESCE Kevin Dean BROOKS & REBECCA RAMSEY Carol Beachey & Donald Voth GRANT RAY Kevin Dean SLOAN & JULIA REHDER David & Teresa Nickel MURRAY & KAREN RISS Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin

JAMES & KATIE ROBERTS Greg Renfrow REBECCA ROLLINS Catherine M. Chilton MIKE & GINGER RUSSELL David & Teresa Nickel MR. & MRS. HUGH RYAN Claire Ryan & Susan RatnerFRAN SABBE Margo Germany BILL SHORT Darlene Brooks DR. MICHAEL SIEGEL Claire Ryan & Susan RatnerLUCAS SINGH & RENE CURLEY Greg Renfrow SARAH JO SMITH Dr. J. Patrick Blankinship & Jonathan Hancock JASON SNOW & MATT UPSHAW Whitney Harmon JANET THOMAS Glenn & Shelley Thomas CESAR & MICKEY TORRES Greg Renfrow JONATHON & JANNA TORRES Greg Renfrow DR. CYNTHIA GRANT TUCKER Claire Ryan & Susan RatnerMIMS & LUCY VANZANDT Carol Beachey & Donald Voth MICHELLE VIGLIETTI Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin CHRISTINA & MICHAEL VINSON Whitney Harmon MR. & MRS. ALEX WELLFORD III Alex & Karen Wellford BARRY WHITE & JUSTIN WHITFORD Kevin Dean DRS. RUSSELL & ANITA WIGGINTON Judy Shelton LAUREN & ALEX WILMER Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin

IN MEMORY OF: JAMES GIBB JOHNSON Carol Beachey & Donald Voth MRS. D. HADLEY STANCIL Penny Edwards

HOLIDAY HONORARIAIN HONOR OF:


Alchemy MemphisMark AllenAmerican’s Incredible Pizza Co.Arcade RestaurantAutomatic SlimsBabcock GiftsBarden Stone BariDavid BarkerHallie BensingerSteve BergerConnie BinkowitzJ Patrick BlankshipBlue Bell Creameries, L.P.Denise BollheimerSuzanne BonefasBooksellers at LaurelwoodBosco’sCharlotte BrayMary Lou BrownTyne Brownlow Darlene BrooksBurke’s Book Store, Inc.Buster’s Liquor and WinesCaesars EntertainmentRussell CangelosiKathleen CareyCeltic CrossingCarly CiancioloCasandra ClarkCelene ClarkEmily ColtharpComcastComics and CollectiblesJessica CoxDabbles Hair CompanyAshley DacusKevin DeanTerri H. Dean Delta Sigma ThetaSarah DinicolantonioDogs Rule Day Care and SchoolLolly EasleyLillian EavesEden Spa and LaserHillery Efkeman

Elvis Presley EnterprisesEpic SalonFedexDebra FishSandra FoxEmily Fox-HillRenee FrazierAdam GainesGarden DistrictGarden Spas and PoolGigi’s Cupcakes of MemphisGillGolf and Games Family ParkGrove GrilleBrenda GreeneAnn Marie Hall Ian HallWhitney HarmonHilton MemphisHilton WorldwideInterim Restaurant and Bar International Paper FoundationKatie IrishAnn JacksonKappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae AssociationEmily A. KeplingerKevin KernBill KidwellLindsay KrosnesAllison Furr LawyerLenny’s Franchisor LLCMargaret and Milton LovellMalco ParadisoMalco TheatersShawn C. MatthewsMBIMcEwen’s on MonroeJulie McKennaMedtronicMemphis Brooks Museum of ArtMemphis College of ArtMemphis Daily NewsMemphis Drum ShopMemphis FlyerMemphis Grizzlies

Memphis RedbirdsMecury Valet CleanersJoan MessmoreMark MillerAngela MooreJohn and Kate MorrisonArris MurphyKimberly MurrayChris MyersDJ NaylorNexairOpera MemphisOrion Federal Credit UnionOrpheum TheatreKirk PaffordSandra PalazoloPavo Salon and SpaPink Palace Family of MuseumsPlayhouse on the SquareMarilyn RabinowitzBrett RagsdaleAlejandra Ramirez Ray and Baudoin Interior DesignRendezvousRepublic BeverageRhodes CollegeSekisuiNoelle W. ShirleyBert SmytheSoul Fish CaféGwendolyn StuckeyTeri SullivanSun StudioSwanky’s Taco Shop Sweet GrassThe Bar-B-Q ShopThe Children’s Museum of MemphisThe Commercial AppealPatti TostiTsunamiTwisted Square ArtUnderground ArtKen WalkerWKNO-FMWKNO-TVPixie Woodall

In-kind Donors



Sadly, this past year one of our students was murdered as he defended himself from an intruder in his home after returning from a class at Literacy Mid-South. James Wilkins, Jr. was a student at LMS for more than 5 years and attended classes regularly every week. In the mornings James would arrive early by bus and generously help clean up the parking lot, sweep the front entrance, and move the newspapers inside.

Last December, he received the “Most Improved Student” award in his math class. The entire class wept when James, who had struggled with his math skills, received the award. James’s determination was admired by those who met him. He was

a very special person at Literacy Mid-South, and he is greatly missed. James’s story is a testament to the struggles our adult students can encounter everyday living in unsafe neighborhoods, facing adversity as they strive to better their lives. ■

This year also brought the loss of a Memphis Literacy Council pioneer, Sue Ellen Ray Stancil. Sue was one of the founders of the Memphis Literacy Council in 1974. Because of her selfless dedication to education, thousands of Memphians have learned to read. Born on a Kentucky farm in 1918, Sue came to Memphis in 1971 with her family and soon began working as a substitute teacher in the Memphis City Schools, and as a volunteer juvenile probation officer. On her last birthday, on which she turned 93 years old, Sue wanted to visit Literacy Mid-South. She arrived smiling, with an ever vibrant mind, thrilled to see one of her past students.

The LMS tutor training room has been dedicated to Sue and named in her honor. In a note of gratitude Sue wrote, “I can think of no greater honor that could be given to me than to have the beautiful tutor training room dedicated to me… We are all part of an organization that offers each person the opportunity to serve in his or her area of strength and allows others to serve in theirs.” Sue was one of two who became the first certified tutor workshop trainers, which she did for 25 years in addition to tutoring individual students weekly. Sue was influential in moving literacy forward in Memphis, and Literacy Mid-South would not be what it is today without her guidance as a founder, board member, tutor, and her inspiration that lives on, motivating us all to improve our community. Sue Stancil left an amazing legacy. ■

We Remember


Documents

Literacy Mid-South Annual Report 2012