How very strange—and wonderful— it is to realize that, after working at something for most of your adult life, you still have the capacity to learn. I am someone who avoids too much introspection, but that changed when, after a long career as an editor and writer, I retired from the Smithsonian Institution. Anyone...
The Literacy Council is again honored to be one of 37 nonprofit organizations participating in the Unity Campaign for Frederick County, hosted by United Way of Frederick County. The Unity Campaign supports the over one in three households in Frederick County that struggle to afford basic human necessities! The campaign is focused on funding programs directly supporting the health,...
Matthew can speak more than ten languages. They reveal the adventurous journey he has taken through several countries. Born in Benin, a country in West Africa, he learned French and five local languages. He picked up three more languages in the neighboring country of Togo. When he moved to South Africa, he learned Afrikaans and...
Matthew, 52, was a long way from Frederick when he first began a journey that would ultimately bring him through our doors at the Literacy Council. Matthew was born in Benin, a country in West Africa. Jobs aren’t easy to come by in Benin, but Matthew was good at making work for himself. At a...
Although she may stammer sometimes with her English, the dedication that Jhanet has put into achieving her goals for herself and her family speaks loud and clear volumes. Jhanet, a native of Peru, came to the United States six years ago. After learning about the Frederick County Literacy Council’s Parent Literacy Program, she enrolled in...
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,”...
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...
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...
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...
