A native of Venezuela, Magda M. came to the United States seven years ago. “In my home country I was an insurance broker for 43 years,” she says. It wasn’t long before the retiree was eager to begin fully engaging in her new American life. After hearing about the Literacy Council from a friend who...
Catherine Coundjeris’ love of words and writing has been a constant in her life, from her days teaching college students the art of writing to her decision to share her passion for literacy with students needing help learning the basics. “After moving to Frederick, I sought out the Literacy Council Of Frederick County in 2011,”...
We invite you to meet Patrik M., our featured student this month in our “Learner Spotlight”. Patrik M. came to the Unites States from Cameroon in January 2023. His mother-in-law introduced him to the Literacy Council of Frederick County in March 2023. He was matched with his tutor Cyndi M. and the two developed a special...
The Literacy Council has been quietly growing its English-language instruction to parents of children in Frederick County Title 1 elementary schools. Founded in 2017 with three schools, the Parent Literacy Program has now doubled the size of its reach to six schools, and last year, helped 70 parents learn how to speak, write, and read...
This summer, the book club at the Literacy Council met for three sessions and tackled the heartbreaking story of Christy Lefteri’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo. It was a fictional account of a husband and wife who as refugees from Syria experienced the horrifying circumstances of war, and yet maintained hope though their personal resilience, persistence,...
Catherine Mock has the kind of resume—from corporate training, running an insurance consulting business and strategic planning, to human resources and volunteer leadership—that makes her a formidable president of the Literacy Council Board of Directors. “I am very excited about my role on the board and to work with people who share my passion” about...
This past April, I shared a farewell message, announcing my retirement from the Literacy Council after ten years as Executive Director. https://www.frederickliteracy.org/a-new-chapter-begins-farewell-message-from-our-executive-director/. Since that time, the outpouring of messages from throughout this wonderful community … including students, volunteers, our community partners, our Board of Directors, and fellow Literacy Council co-workers … leave me incredibly grateful...
We invite you to meet Tetiana F., our featured student this month in our “Learner Spotlight”. Featured adult learners represent the Literacy Council’s programs, including authors from Reflections: Voices of English Learners, the Literacy Council’s literary magazine, as well as adult learners in other programs. Tetiana F. contributed her story to the sixth edition. My name...
The Literacy Council of Frederick County’s Board of Directors at its June Board Meeting approved its slate of new officers for the coming year fiscal year which begins this month. We are also excited to welcome and introduce our four new members! New officers (from left to right) include President Catherine Mock; Vice-President...
Ed Rose is known among his peers at the Literacy Council for his generosity and heart. In fact, the tutor’s end-of-semester gifts to his students are colorful handmade leather shawls he brings back from his trips to Cotacachi, a little village in Ecuador famous for its handmade leather goods. He is very impressed by how...
