On November 17th Beth Wonson spoke to the AAUW members about the positive impacts in people’s lives when they learn how to read and write English.   Beth, the Executive Director of the Central Coast Literacy Council (CCLC), told the group that the Literacy Council was established in 1983 to teach English to an influx of Vietnamese residents in our community.  For almost thirty years the CCLC has offered free English classes and one-on-one tutoring to any adults in Northern Santa Barbara County that want to learn to read and write English.  All services are provided by caring, compassionate volunteers who are trained by CCLC.  

Traditionally English classes were held at learning centers, at libraries, and churches.  However, this year Beth proposed an innovative idea…instead of bringing students to a learning center, why not take tutors to the students’ workplaces.  Beth told about enlisting the cooperation and backing of Driscoll’s Strawberries, C&D Zodiac, and Hardy Diagnostic to teach English before, after, and during work hours.  Beth explained that both the employers and the employees benefit from this partnership.  As other employers and employees learn about the workplace program, the demand for tutors in the workplace has dramatically increased.

Beth discussed the unique structure of the CCLC.  Most literacy groups are associated and funded through local libraries, but the CCLC is a non-profit organization.    This makes CCLC unique in that almost all of the funding comes from private foundations and individual memberships.  Beth stressed that because it is a membership organization by charter, the CCLC belongs to the people and works in service for the community.

 In recognition of the valuable service being provided to the community, it was announced that the Santa Maria AAUW was funding a grant to purchase twelve textbooks and twenty workbooks for the students of the Central Coast Literacy Council.  Beth Wonson happily accepted a check from an AAUW representative to purchase these supplies.