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Best of Texas: Language Learning

October 17, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas aims to bring local experts together to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, December 19, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This session will focus on best practices in language learning, language acquisition, and ESL/ESOL in community-based adult and family literacy programs.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

We’ll start with Dr. Katie Welch (UT-Arlington) to share some data and information about ESL in Texas. Then we’ll switch to an interview format with Betty Reyes (Refugee Language Project) and Ysela Arechiga (Literacy Volunteers of Laredo) who will tell us about their ESL programs and insights they have for language-learning among adult literacy students.

Guests this month:

Welch, Katie

Katie Welch
Educational Consultant
Welch Education

Katie Welch, Ph.D., is a university instructor, teacher trainer, and active volunteer in adult ed classrooms. In addition to teaching international students in UT-Arlington’s English Language Institute and volunteering weekly in a community-based ESL/GED program, Katie currently provides professional development to language teachers through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State, Cambridge University Press, and Literacy ConneXus.

Katie’s innovative classroom ideas have been published in academic journals such as Language and American Speech, and she presents regularly at national and international conferences, including TESOL International, COABE, and the National Center for Families Learning.

Reyes-Medina, Betty 300px

Betty Reyes-Medina
Director of Language Services
Refugee Language Project

Betty Reyes-Medina serves as the Director of Language Services at the Refugee Language Project (RLP) in Amarillo, Texas. Initially joining RLP as a volunteer, she was officially hired in 2022 to lead the Interpreting Services program and oversee the Storybook Project and ESL initiatives. In her efforts to effectively serve the language needs of the refugee population in Amarillo, Betty developed an in-house curriculum tailored to Literacy, Beginner, and Intermediate students. This curriculum has been successfully implemented and continues to yield positive results in the classroom. Betty and her team are passionate about fostering a relational approach to teaching English, emphasizing community and connection.

Betty’s English education journey began in Chile while serving in the United Nations program English Opens Doors. There, she fell in love with teaching and helping others get better access to opportunities through language education. Her deep commitment to service and education inspired her to establish Mochilas para la Esperanza in 2012, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting underserved communities in the Caribbean and Central America. After finishing her M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, Betty was hired as a professor at the University of Puerto Rico and other private institutions, where she taught courses in Basic and Intermediate English, Conversational English, Literature, and Research Writing.

Arechiga, Ysela M 300px.

Ysela Arechiga
ESL Specialist
Literacy Volunteers of Laredo

Ysela M. Arechiga retired in December 2022 from the position of Assistant Director, Field Operations – Mission Support for the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Laredo Field Office. Mrs. Arechiga was administratively responsible for managing a $45 million dollar budget and a broad portfolio of departments including Human Capital, Finance, Facilities, Field Training Programs, Strategic Communications, and Labor/Employee Relations. Ysela now volunteers with several organizations including Literacy Volunteers of Laredo, Laredo Theater Guild International and St. Patrick’s Church (Lector) and in her spare time, crochets.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker joined Literacy Texas in January 2024, after a successful run as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, a small non-profit that made a big impact on the Texarkana community during her tenure. Dr. Walker helped the organization find financial stability and expanded innovative academic and workforce program options for adult learners at her center. She and her team launched the first 100 Families Alliance in Texas, and this innovative approach to holistic support for students led to impressive growth in enrollment and goal completion rates for those she serves.

Dr. Walker was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned two decades and impacted thousands of students. She is a certified Texas teacher and principal, and she has worked in both adjunct faculty and staff positions in higher education. She has also led professional development trainings for teachers and administrators and served as a public speaker. She earned a doctorate in education leadership from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and her dissertation research focused on the importance of holistic support for adult learners. She holds a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Special thanks to:

Katie Welch & Welch Education

Betty Reyes-Medina & Refugee Language Project

Ysela Arechiga & Literacy Volunteers of Laredo

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 12/20/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, community, esl, ideas, literacy programs, research based

Breaking the Stigma: Addressing Mental Health & Substance Use Within Health Literacy

October 8, 2024 by Jenny Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Author: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas Executive Director

My dad and I had a complicated relationship. I loved him, and I know he loved me, but his mental health and substance use issues kept him from being the parent I needed and kept our family in a constant state of instability and stress. He refused to get help, and he lost his career, his family, and his health in the process.

By 2018, he was homeless.  

My dad later told me about how he began having terrible headaches with pain so intense that he would pass out. His appearance reflected his lifestyle, so health care providers were understandably suspicious when he walked into a local health clinic complaining of headaches and asking for medicine to help with the pain. He was sent away multiple times with acetaminophen.

As my dad’s visits to the clinic became more frequent, one doctor decided – out of frustration with his persistent request for pain medicine – to order an MRI to prove to my dad there was nothing wrong.  

The MRI revealed that a large brain tumor was causing his headaches, and subsequent tests found that his cancer was aggressive and had spread throughout his entire body. Without his mental health and substance use issues, he might have found the disease earlier and had a chance to fight it. Instead, he died a few months later.  

Our family’s story is not as uncommon as one might think. According to research from the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, there are 1.6 million Texans struggling with substance use disorder, and a vast majority are receiving no intervention. It is common for them to also have mental health concerns.  

When I began my work in adult literacy, I realized that many of my students struggled with these issues. They reminded me of my dad, and I realized that I owed it to these adult learners – and the children in their homes – to use my experience to ensure our health literacy program included education about mental health and substance use. My hope was to turn our personal tragedy into something very positive. 

As part of our program, we connected with mental health providers in our community to find free or low-cost services, and we invited social work interns from the local university to join our team. We also partnered with a local chapter of Narcotics Anonymous to host weekly meetings in one of our classrooms. I did not sit in on the meetings, but the highlight of my week was knowing that room would become a safe space for a community of men and women learning how to create a healthier life.  

As organizations are looking to begin or expand health literacy at their learning centers, I encourage leaders to remember mental health and substance use as important components to a well-rounded program. I cannot help but think about how those supports might have made a difference for my dad and for our family.  

October is Health Literacy Month, and we’re focusing on health-related topics throughout the month. Find general resources here, and plan to join us at Best of Texas: Health Literacy on October 31.

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Filed Under: Advocacy, Health Literacy Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, ideas, literacy programs

Best of Texas: Family Literacy

September 25, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas aims to bring local experts together to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

This online panel discussion will be held on:

Thursday, November 21, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

We’ll hear from Fran-Victoria Stephens (Story Square) who will share important information about the generational impact of family literacy.

Other guests will include Anjela Martinez and LeeAnn Jennings (Harris County Public Library) to give us a strong understanding about how public libraries are making a difference.  

Guests this month:

Stephens, Fran-Victoria

Fran-Victoria Stephens
Founder & President
Story Square

Fran-Victoria Stephens is a former attorney and journalist who became the Founder and President of Story Square, Inc. – an evidence-based education social enterprise. After the pandemic, when she witnessed firsthand how parents faced the daunting task of serving as their children’s primary resource for education, she decided parents needed to experience the mission and spirit of Story Square on a larger stage. So, in 2022 she expanded the organization’s work and began Story Square’s Lit with Families Texas Family Literacy Festival, which takes place annually at downtown Houston’s Discovery Green.

Fran-Victoria is an impact addict and obsessed with the impact today’s small actions have on enduring change for our future. She is an avid researcher, writer, civil rights and education advocate, lecturer, and a self-proclaimed neoteric. She specializes in building new things. From idea generation, process design, implementation, and then evaluation, she has created lectures, programs, and Story Square with a focus on operationalizing her passion and education in civil rights law. These vehicles that carry out her passion serve her personal mission: to academically open minds and spiritually speak to hearts. Her hope is that her work widens our imaginative capacity to excavate new pathways for equity that lead to a collective, interdependent freedom. 

Martinez, Anjela

Anjela Martinez
Assistant Manager, Youth Services
Harris County Public Library

Anjela Martinez is the Youth Services Assistant Manager at Harris County Public Library. She has over a decade of experience in public libraries and leads system-wide literacy programs like Summer Reading and Growing Readers at HCPL.

Anjela grew up in libraries and understands the importance libraries play in fostering literacy and lifelong learning. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, baking, traveling, and going on adventures with her dog Lobo. 

Jennings, LeeAnn 300px

LeeAnn Jennings
Youth Literacy Services Specialist
Harris County Public Library

LeeAnn Jennings is the Youth Literacy Services Specialist for Harris County Public Library. LeeAnn is a former school teacher who made the switch to public libraries in 2017. She helps coordinates HCPL’s county wide youth literacy programs such as Book Buddies, Tournament of Books, Growing Readers, and the Summer Reading Program.

As someone with dyslexia, LeeAnn was a struggling reader in school until she discovered the mythical “one book” that turned her into an avid reader- and now she helps other children discover their book! LeeAnn enjoys reading, crafting, and playing pretend with her Dungeons and Dragons group.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker joined Literacy Texas in January 2024, after a successful run as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, a small non-profit that made a big impact on the Texarkana community during her tenure. Dr. Walker helped the organization find financial stability and expanded innovative academic and workforce program options for adult learners at her center. She and her team launched the first 100 Families Alliance in Texas, and this innovative approach to holistic support for students led to impressive growth in enrollment and goal completion rates for those she serves.

Dr. Walker was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned two decades and impacted thousands of students. She is a certified Texas teacher and principal, and she has worked in both adjunct faculty and staff positions in higher education. She has also led professional development trainings for teachers and administrators and served as a public speaker. She earned a doctorate in education leadership from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and her dissertation research focused on the importance of holistic support for adult learners. She holds a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Special thanks to:

Fran-Victoria Stephens

Anjela Martinez

LeeAnn Jennings

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 11/25/24

Tagged With: cbo, community, family literacy, ideas, literacy programs

Best of Texas: Health Literacy

September 25, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas aims to bring local experts together to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, October 31, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

Many adult students and families need health literacy for their own lives. And others make a whole career out of it! Learn from some local Texas experts about what they’re doing in their programs to help connect adult learners to health literacy opportunities.

Join us for this virtual session where we will hear from Dr. Teresa Wagner, Director of the University of North Texas Health Science Center State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. She will share information about her program and how health literacy impacts underserved communities in Texas. We will also chat with Natasha Duncan (East Texas Literacy Council) and Cindy Sutherin (Ysleta Community Learning Center) who have successful health occupations programs in their learning centers.  

Guests this month:

Sizemore, Cindy 300px

Cindy Sutherin
Director
Ysleta Community Learning Center

Cindy Sutherin is a passionate, driven educator with over 30 years experience across all ages, from 3 years to 70+ year-old students. She has worked in multi-lingual and multi-cultural education, program development, student advocacy, and leadership development.

She is currently the director of the Ysleta Community Learning Center, YCLC, in El Paso Texas which serves adults seeking education and training for greater economic opportunity and access. 

YCLC focuses on working with students to develop pathways to career advancement that include language, literacy, and training primarily in the career fields of Transportation, Distribution and Logistics and Health Science. 

Duncan, Natasha

Natasha Duncan
Executive Director
East Texas Literacy Council

Natasha Duncan is the Executive Director for the East Texas Literacy Council in Longview Texas. Her background is in early child education from the University of Maryland. She has a passion for Adult Education in her community.

Natasha has 20 plus years in non-profit management; her extensive background of working in low-income communities helped her to focus her efforts on the lasting effects that education can have on families and the catalyst it can be for future generations. She is a proud wife, and mother of two Longview Lobos.

This year Natasha was featured as a member in our community that makes a difference with Texas Bank and Trust; she keeps active community representation of adult education and nonprofit leadership with her Chamber of Commerce. She has enjoyed collaborating with Longview ISD, city organizations and Greater Longview United Way for speaking engagements, sits on several community boards in her city and has a passion for making a difference in her community. 

Wagner, Teresa

Teresa Wagner
Director
UNTHSC State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center

Dr. Wagner is a registered and licensed dietitian with a doctorate in public health. She’s certified in Public Health, Patient Safety, Lifestyle Medicine, Health Coaching, and a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. Dr. Wagner is an associate professor in the School of Public Health at UNT Health Science Center.

Dr. Wagner is the Director of the UNTHSC State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. Her research focuses on alleviating health disparities in underserved communities through health literacy. She’s a sought-after presenter and mentor who works to certify community health workers as conduits to health literacy who help alleviate community barriers to health.

As a result of her work, she has received the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award and the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University. In 2023, she received the UNTHSC School of Health Professions Faculty Achievement Award. In 2024, she received the Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award and a Global Service Award from the International Health Literacy Association.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker joined Literacy Texas in January 2024, after a successful run as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, a small non-profit that made a big impact on the Texarkana community during her tenure. Dr. Walker helped the organization find financial stability and expanded innovative academic and workforce program options for adult learners at her center. She and her team launched the first 100 Families Alliance in Texas, and this innovative approach to holistic support for students led to impressive growth in enrollment and goal completion rates for those she serves.

Dr. Walker was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned two decades and impacted thousands of students. She is a certified Texas teacher and principal, and she has worked in both adjunct faculty and staff positions in higher education. She has also led professional development trainings for teachers and administrators and served as a public speaker. She earned a doctorate in education leadership from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and her dissertation research focused on the importance of holistic support for adult learners. She holds a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Special thanks to:

Cindy Sutherin

Natasha Duncan

Teresa Wagner

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated: 10/31/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, community, ideas, literacy programs

Coffee With Literacy Texas

September 23, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

Want to ask a question?

Need some help, or want some new ideas or resources for your literacy program?

Have some feedback or a request for an upcoming training session?

Drop by this virtual session and chat with the Literacy Texas team. All literacy questions welcome!

Join us online on Thursday, October 10, any time between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM (there’s no official “start” to this event, so come whenever you like – and stay for as long or as short a time as you like).

No prior registration is needed. We’re looking forward to sharing a cup of (virtual) coffee with you and seeing where the conversation takes us!

Click here on October 10 to join the session
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STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 9/24/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, literacy programs

Best of Texas: Outreach & Advocacy

September 12, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas aims to bring local experts together to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

Thank you so much for coming!

This event is now over.

This online discussion will be held on:

Thursday, September 26, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This panel discussion will focus on how to do outreach and advocacy in your local community.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

Join Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker to learn about preferred practices for advocacy and outreach. Learn practical tips for building relationships with elected officials, media, and business leaders in your community. Jenny will show you how to access and understand adult literacy data for your county.

She will then be joined by Federico Salas-Isnardi from the Houston Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy who will talk about the exciting advocacy work happening in Houston and his work through the national All-In Campaign.

There will be time available for advocacy questions and answers with Jenny and Federico.  

Salas-Isnardi, Federico

Federico Salas-Isnardi
Director
Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy

Federico Salas-Isnardi is Director of the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy in Houston, Texas, where he leads innovative collaborations to address issues at the intersection of adult education and equity. He oversaw the development of Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint, a strategic plan to rebrand and reimagine Adult Literacy with a focus on digital equity.

A linguist by training, Federico is an adult ESL and literacy educator, diversity, social justice and equity trainer, and professional developer with 35 years of experience in adult education.

Federico was interim CEO of Literacy Texas in 2018 after serving as an ex-officio member of the Literacy Texas Board for 9 years. He is currently a member of the Coordinating Council of the Adult Literacy National Action Plan and serves on the board of advisors of the TexShare Consortium of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker joined Literacy Texas in January 2024, after a successful run as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, a small non-profit that made a big impact on the Texarkana community during her tenure. Dr. Walker helped the organization find financial stability and expanded innovative academic and workforce program options for adult learners at her center. She and her team launched the first 100 Families Alliance in Texas, and this innovative approach to holistic support for students led to impressive growth in enrollment and goal completion rates for those she serves.

Dr. Walker was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned two decades and impacted thousands of students. She is a certified Texas teacher and principal, and she has worked in both adjunct faculty and staff positions in higher education. She has also led professional development trainings for teachers and administrators and served as a public speaker. She earned a doctorate in education leadership from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and her dissertation research focused on the importance of holistic support for adult learners. She holds a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 

Registration will open soon – watch this space

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Special thanks to:

Federico Salas-Isnardi & The Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, community, ideas, literacy programs

What Leaders Need: Community Collaboration

August 21, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

When resources are tight, it can be difficult to know where to turn to get answers on core topics – but those answers are crucial to leaders’ ability to offer quality programs. 

The What Leaders Need online training series for new and emerging literacy leaders is presented via a tri-state partnership. Literacy Texas is proud to partner with Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas and Oklahoma Literacy Coalition to bring quality professional development to literacy leaders across three states.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS WHAT LEADERS NEED SESSION:

Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

  • Basic details
  • About this topic
  • Meet the presenters
  • Online registration
  • PD Certificates
  • Downloads and printable documents
  • Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, June 5, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 8:50 AM. 

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This training session is offered free of charge to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

ABOUT THIS TOPIC

In non-profit organizations, we carry the weight of many heavy challenges facing our student population. Imagine how light our adult literacy load would feel if we were able to spread the weight across many shoulders. Imagine how much more you could do if you had more hands to help.

In this special panel discussion, literacy leaders will discuss collaboration in their communities – what’s worked, what they’ve learned, and how to bring your community together for a common goal.

MEET THE PRESENTERS

Peyton-Jones, DesJean

DesJean Peyton-Jones

Executive Director, Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Oklahoma County

DesJean Peyton-Jones is the Executive Director for Opportunities Industrialization Center of Oklahoma County, Inc. (OIC), a nonprofit adult literacy agency. She is a professional life coach, has a background in advertising, organizational management, education and training. DesJean’s professional areas of emphasis include life coaching and career coaching, with a focus on “unsticking the stuck.”

Richardson, Sarah

Sarah Richardson

Executive Director, Literacy Council of the Ouachitas

Sarah Richardson has served as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of the Ouachitas since July 2020, leading the organization to increase its impact by over 400% through expanded services, increased funding, and outreach to multiple counties. Under her leadership, the council successfully secured additional state literacy funding and launched innovative programs to bridge education and workforce development.

With a background in early childhood and special education, Sarah holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and is currently a PhD Candidate in Change Leadership at The University of Central Arkansas. A dedicated advocate for lifelong learning, she has spearheaded collaborative efforts to improve adult literacy, economic mobility, and community resilience.

In addition to her professional work, Sarah is actively engaged in her community through leadership roles in the Hot Springs Area Chamber, National Park College Foundation, and Rotary. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, kayaking, hiking, and traveling with her family.

Rivas, Kristina

Kristina Rivas

Executive Director, Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties

Kristina brings with her over 20 years of combined experience in healthcare, marketing, higher education, and as a former small business owner. This work is incredibly personal to her. She knows exactly what can happen when a community steps in because she is the first generation removed from generational poverty.

Kristina completed her Human and Family Development thesis and graduated with a Master of Science in Human Services from Stephen F. Austin State University.

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.

PD CERTIFICATES

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

DOWNLOADS & PRINTABLE DOCUMENTS

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

Downloadable PDF flyer for this training session is coming soon.

SPECIAL THANKS

Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Oklahoma County

Literacy Council of the Ouachitas

Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Page checked/updated: 3/20/25

Tagged With: adult literacy, community, ideas, leadership, literacy programs, professional development, program administrators, webinar

What Leaders Need: Nonprofit Finances

August 21, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

When resources are tight, it can be difficult to know where to turn to get answers on core topics – but those answers are crucial to leaders’ ability to offer quality programs. 

The What Leaders Need online training series for new and emerging literacy leaders is presented via a tri-state partnership. Literacy Texas is proud to partner with Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas and Oklahoma Literacy Coalition to bring quality professional development to literacy leaders across three states.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS WHAT LEADERS NEED SESSION:

Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

  • Basic details
  • About this topic
  • Meet the presenter
  • Online registration
  • PD Certificates
  • Downloads and printable documents
  • Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Tuesday, February 18, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 8:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This training session is offered free of charge to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

Join us for “[Topic]: [Full title]”, led by [brief description/credentials] [presenter name].

This literacy training session will focus on [topic]. Presenter [name] will take us through [short description of session].

ABOUT THIS TOPIC

Nonprofit organizations can have positive effects on communities and people by delivering services, providing advocacy, and building community.

Behind the scenes, powerful missions, innovative programs, and passionate staff and volunteers are supported by financial activities and decisions. Healthy nonprofit organizations employ financial management practices that build stability and flexibility both for today and in the future.

But nonprofit finances can be an opaque topic, and sometimes one that nonprofit leaders have to grapple with before they have all the training they may need and want.

Come along to this session to hear from one of the best about how to keep everything straight, employ due diligence – and feel confident in your checks and balances.

This session will discuss the 12 Golden Rules of Nonprofit Finance, and the Financial Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards.

MEET THE PRESENTER

Clark, Vicki

Presenter: Vicki Clark

Consultant | Clark & Sanchez Consulting

Vicki Clark is an optimist. She loves people and shows up in the world as a learner and a servant leader.

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Vicki has devoted the past 30 years of her career to building capacity of organizations and individuals; inspiring community and business leaders to take action. She is known for her work in the specialty areas of leadership development, inclusion and diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism assessment, training and facilitation, board development, strategic planning, volunteer resource development and effective communication. Her work spans dozens of corporate clients, nonprofits and government organizations.

She sits on numerous boards, including the National Diaper Bank, and is a regular trainer at community and leadership organizations such as United Way and the Association of Junior Leagues International. Her work as a consultant, coach, trainer and speaker have given her infinite opportunities to learn from and share with people from all walks of life.

Vicki meets people where they are, never gives up, and believes in the power of prayer. Even at her age and with all that she has experienced, she continues to be A WORK IN PROGRESS.

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

Registration will open soon – watch this space

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.

PD CERTIFICATES

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

DOWNLOADS & PRINTABLE DOCUMENTS

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

Downloadable PDF flyer for this training session is coming soon.

SPECIAL THANKS

Clark & Sanchez Consulting

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Page checked/updated: 2/18/25

Tagged With: adult literacy, leadership, literacy programs, professional development, program administrators, webinar

What Leaders Need: Program Evaluation

August 21, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

The “What Leaders Need” training series for new and emerging literacy leaders is proud to present:

Program Evaluation: The How and the Why

This online leadership training session will be held on Thursday, December 5, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM.

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 8:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

REGISTRATION

This training event is a special collaborative activity of Literacy Texas, Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas, and Oklahoma Literacy Coalition, and is offered free of charge to nonprofit professionals in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

ABOUT THIS TRAINING SESSION

How do you know if you are making progress toward your organization’s ambitious vision and mission?
How do you quantify your program’s impact?
Are there ways you could work smarter, not harder?

Data and evaluation practices are fundamental to answering these questions, and yet, small and medium-sized organizations often feel ill-equipped to tackle them.

In this session, we’ll demystify some foundational data and evaluation concepts and recommend tangible ways in which your organization can implement new approaches to begin building a data-informed culture.

Join us to learn:

  • How to build and refine the foundation of a successful evaluation plan: Your organization’s logic model;
  • Strategies for defining, measuring, and reporting on program outcomes;
  • Approaches to process evaluation and leading ongoing quality improvement efforts; and
  • Tools and instruments to support data collection.
Click here to read more about the What Leaders Need training series
Swain, Sarah

Presenter: Sarah Swain

Sarah Swain has spent the last 15 years designing and evaluating social service programs across a variety of populations and issue areas, including adult education, college access, workforce readiness, community development, immigration, small business, senior services, urban farming, and more!

Sarah is a curious learner who believes there is a solution (or many solutions!) to big nonprofit challenges and is energized by building systems that help programs operate at their best. Her approach integrates community voice, research, and evaluation – viewing each as a key ingredient to program effectiveness and innovation.

Sarah is passionate about making data and evaluation practices more accessible to small and medium-sized organizations.

PD Certificates

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

Downloads

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

A downloadable PDF flyer for this What Leaders Need training is coming soon.

Special thanks to:

[presenter]

Sarah Swain

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Page checked/updated: 12/5/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, data, leadership, literacy programs, professional development, program administrators, webinar

What Leaders Need: Fundraising for Nonprofits

August 21, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Thank you so much for coming!

This event is now over.

The “What Leaders Need” training series for new and emerging literacy leaders is proud to present:

What Leaders Need: How to Write a Fundraising Plan

This online leadership training session with special guest presenter Rachel Muir will be held on Tuesday, September 24, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 8:50 AM. 

This training event is a special collaborative activity of Literacy Texas, Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas, and Oklahoma Literacy Coalition, and is offered free of charge to nonprofit professionals in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

ABOUT THIS TRAINING SESSION

Are your fundraising operations disorganized, unplanned, last-minute, or reactionary?

If your largest funder went away tomorrow would you be able to make up the difference?

You wouldn’t drive a car blindfolded, so why would you fundraise without a plan? Your success depends on the decisions you make about your fundraising strategy.

Join us to learn:

  • The winning ingredients (and eye-candy examples) of successful fundraising plans
  • The simple three-step process to building your fundraising plan
  • How to set realistic measurable goals and ensure they are followed
  • Examples and templates to follow
  • How to create a fundraising budget with plenty of approaches and formats to choose from

As a special bonus, you’ll get easy-to-implement fundraising plan templates and budgets.

Click here to read more about the What Leaders Need training series
Muir, Rachel

Presenter: Rachel Muir

When she was 26, Rachel Muir launched Girlstart – a non-profit empowering girls in math, science, engineering and technology – in the living room of her apartment with $500 and a credit card.  Several years later she had raised over $10 million and was featured on Oprah, CNN, and the Today show.  

Today Rachel delivers workshops and offers a monthly membership, League of Extraordinary Fundraisers, transforming people into confident, successful fundraisers.  Learn more about Rachel at rachelmuir.com.

PD Certificates

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

Special thanks to:

Rachel Muir

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Page checked/updated: 9/25/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, leadership, literacy programs, professional development, program administrators, research based, webinar

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  • Home
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      • Location & Venue
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      • Scholarships & Grants
      • Sponsors & Exhibitors
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  • Why Literacy?
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  • About
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    • Celebrating Students
      • 2024 Student Hall of Fame
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