Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) will be celebrating the third annual Champions of Literacy on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
You’re invited to nominate an individual, service group, organization or business in the Boundary who demonstrates a commitment to local literacy.
To give you some examples of champions of literacy, here are the stories of five of last year’s winners:
- Jacyln Salter is an outstanding young woman in many ways and has offered much to the literacy community in Grand Forks. She has been a teen volunteer, shelving books and helping out at Grand Forks and District Public Library events for almost three years. She is a member of the Boundary Literacy Advisory, has been a teen mentor with Girls Eye View (a CBAL program for girls) and she is an accomplished creative writer. Jaclyn is an inspiration to youth and adults alike.
- Pat Kelly lives in the Midway area has worked for the Boundary Creek Times for the last four years. He has a passion for writing and can share his stories in a positive manner. Pat volunteers at Greenwood Elementary School and the One to One reading program.
- Wanda Hecht has been the force behind the Aboriginal afterschool program/homework club based out of both Perley and Hutton schools and in the West Boundary. This has been a very successful program, offering small group support for children needing extra attention with their learning. Wanda has been very committed to ensuring these children and their families are assisted with their literacy and development.
- In the realm of health literacy, Julie Damore and James Graham have spent the last year improving the health of many individuals in the Midway area. They have done this by promoting literature on “eating for life” and sharing their knowledge with their community. What a difference they have made.
- Sunshine Valley Community Services (SVCS) has for several years supported and partnered with CBAL in running a weekly literacy program for several of its clients. This program offers a creative learning time – supported with the patience and love of care workers and facilitators. This program gives this unique group of learners the needed repetition to sustain what they know in a fun atmosphere that encourages new learning. Thank you SVCS for being their literacy champions.
If you know an individual or an organization that has made a significant contribution to literacy in Grand Forks and Boundary area, nominate them by filling out a form available at the public libraries in Grand Forks, Greenwood and Midway, as well as the Grand Forks Gazette.
Deadline for nomination is Sept. 4.
– Submitted by the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy