Literacy Minnesota

Join us Friday, September 6 to celebrate International Literacy Day! Come for food, community, information about our new Pre-GED® program and lots of free giveaways.

The event is from 3-7 p.m. at our Minneapolis Open Door location, 627 West Broadway Ave.

Thank you to Amplifon Group and Miracle-Ear Foundation for sponsoring this event!

For Literacy Minnesota, service is a solid commitment. Last week we celebrated 40 YEARS of national service programs!

Our Literacy Leadership members support capacity-building projects to promote literacy across several states, and our Summer Reads members support childhood literacy in Minnesota. We were fortunate to gather current and former members together to celebrate four decades of continuous and impactful service.

Thank you to all of our service members. Whether you served 40 years ago, or are registered to serve next year, we appreciate you!

Happy Friday! Literacy Minnesota is hiring the following positions:

Director of Operations (IT, Facilities, Contracts)
Substitute Teacher

Become a part of the Minnesota Adult Education community! Stay up to date with our job postings and view the full listings at this link: bit.ly/48imjrC

We are thrilled to be collaborating with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership to support this new initiative in honor of Alisha Odhiambo's legacy. Please share this opportunity with your networks to help spread the word about the scholarship!

Alisha Faye Ellwood Odhiambo Health Literacy Scholarship The Alisha Odhiambo Scholarship is currently funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and administered by the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership, a program of Literacy Minnesota. One scholarship will be awarded each year during the nationally recognized October Health Literacy Month. 

𝙇𝙄𝙁𝙀𝙇𝙊𝙉𝙂 𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂: We believe the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey and that we all have something to teach each other.

Lifelong learning is one of Literacy Minnesota's essential core values. And we believe that every member of our community is capable of being a lifelong learner.

Read about the other values that we champion in our new strategic plan: bit.ly/4cGvbJu

𝙎𝙀𝙇𝙁-𝘿𝙀𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙈𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉: We believe individuals have the power to create their own potential through teaching, learning and community involvement.

We are determined to prioritize self-determination! It is one of the core values outlined in our strategic plan that spans from 2024-2027.

Join us in our mission, and keep reading: bit.ly/4cGvbJu

𝙅𝙐𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘾𝙀: We believe advocacy is necessary to bring about systemic changes that address inequality and create more just communities.

Justice is an essential value that we hold at Literacy Minnesota. To read our mission and vision statements, visit this link: bit.ly/4cGvbJu

𝙀𝙌𝙐𝙄𝙏𝙔: We believe people of all identities, abilities and lived experiences deserve access to the transformative educational opportunities they need to thrive.

Equity is one of the core values in our 2024-2027 strategic plan. Read more here: bit.ly/4cGvbJu

In our new strategic plan that runs from 2024-2027, we have reimagined our core values.

𝙄𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙑𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉: We believe in responding to the ever-changing needs of our communities and take an expansive view of literacy to create new pathways for learning.

Read more about our strategic plan here: bit.ly/4cGvbJu

What can you do in one year? Join AmeriCorps to find out!

Check out our programs and apply:

AmeriCorps

We are incredibly excited to launch our new Mission and Vision Statements! As the field of literacy expands, so does our work! Our updated mission and vision statements reflect Literacy Minnesota’s desire to not only spark innovation in literacy, but also to connect people, build community and mobilize change.

In our new strategic plan, that runs from July 2024 to June 2027, we believe in 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆!

Click this link to see the full strategic plan: bit.ly/4cGvbJu

Happy Pride! 🌈 We hope everyone has a safe and fun filled weekend here in the Twin Cities. Check out Twin Cities Pride for all the events, and shout out to their team for putting together an amazing accessibility guide and providing resources for attendees to use during the celebrations.

As a part of our core values, Literacy Minnesota is committed to helping create an equitable and just society, in and out of the world of literacy education. Juneteenth is a day that marks the true start to the U.S. abolition of slavery (read more information from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture: s.si.edu/4cvYkHj). In addition to participating in festivities happening around the Twin Cities, further celebrate Juneteenth year-round by supporting Black-owned and operated businesses and advocating for policies that improve access and opportunities for all in our community bit.ly/45yqEGt.

How will you be celebrating ?

Where to Support Black-Owned Businesses in the Twin Cities How you spend your money has a huge, visible impact on your local community. Here are a few spots where you can show tangible support.

As Juneteenth approaches on Wednesday, June 19, we're spreading the word about upcoming celebrations held around the Twin Cities.

Check out the Juneteenth Family Celebration at the State Capitol on June 22: bit.ly/4b07Dhh

And visit this article from the Sahan Journal to see all public events from around Minneapolis and Saint Paul: bit.ly/3VChiWW

Here’s where to celebrate Juneteenth across the Twin Cities Juneteenth events in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the Twin Cities include a block party, a carnival, free food and live music.

Ready to read? We are!

Literacy Minnesota's Summer Reads members had a blast at orientation, training all the skills they will need to support children's summer programs across Minnesota.

Today they started their service assignments to inspire a love of reading in the next generation and support continued learning through the summer. Thank you, Summer Reads members!

Pride Month is an incredible time for celebration, especially here in the Twin Cities. Literacy Minnesota is dedicated to inclusivity and wishes all of those in our community a happy Pride Month! ✨

We are privileged to partner with the WCA Foundation, a signature fund of The Minneapolis Foundation, to support financial literacy programs for women. Financial literacy is an essential skill and an often overlooked driver of equity and justice.

Grants That Champion the Needs of Women WCA Foundation awards funding to 26 organizations

We’re thrilled to be a part of AmeriCorps! Together with 28 AmeriCorps members, Literacy Minnesota will launch a multi-state Digital Navigation Corps to provide digital job readiness skills and create pathways of economic opportunities for adults 16 years and older from low-income and historically under-invested communities.

Learn more about this award and the program work to come: bit.ly/4dBOvsF

Looking for something meaningful and fun to do this summer? Columbia Heights Public Schools' Adventure Club is seeking a Summer Reads Mentor to serve with their program from June 3 - August 24.

This year, Literacy Minnesota partnered with our friends at Ampact to continue bringing Summer Reads to our communities.

By serving as a special cohort of Summer Impact Corps members, Summer Reads Mentors receive additional professional development and training opportunities - as well as extra support during their summer of service!

You can apply directly at bit.ly/4bdP6PP or learn a little more at literacymn.org/summerreads. Space is limited and positions are filling quickly - apply today!

Want to become a literacy tutor? Here are some upcoming training webinars in April that will prepare you for teaching and tutoring. Register at this link: bit.ly/3Ou4nCt.

𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆
April 23, 1 p.m.
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝗦𝗟 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀
April 26, 1 p.m.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗔𝗜𝗥-𝗠𝗡
April 30, 1 p.m.

Register online! bit.ly/3Ou4nCt.

Literacy Minnesota wishes a very Happy Eid to all who celebrate.

Muslims across Minnesota and across the globe will break their Ramadan fast today and celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Eid Mubarak!

Just 10 more days to vote for Literacy Minnesota!

Literacy Minnesota is nominated for the "Best Adult Learning" and "Best Nonprofit Organization" categories for the Minnesota's Best awards. You can help us by voting for Literacy Minnesota at this link: https://bit.ly/3VzOGho.

Each voter can vote once per day and voting ends April 17.

We had a blast at COABE 2024 in Nashville!

Last month, Literacy Minnesota staff members traveled to Music City to attend the 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 conference. We had some great conversations about Adult Education, literacy learning and digital equity.

See you next year Coalition on Adult Basic Education !

Literacy Minnesota welcomed Representative Ilhan Omar to visit our newest Open Door site in North Minneapolis.

After touring the education center, she joined a roundtable discussion with Literacy Minnesota staff, volunteers, community members and community partner organizations Al-Maa'uun and The Power of People Leadership Institute.

The discussion focused on the critical importance of literacy education and expanding access. Representative Omar shared her personal connection to Adult Education: watching her grandfather attend free English and citizenship classes in Minnesota and eventually passing the citizenship test at age 80.

Thank you to all who attended!

Internet access is important! To get connected, everyone needs a device, an internet connection and digital literacy skills.

Our recent event, Tech in Your World - Digital Equity Fair, was created to provide tech resources and expand digital equity. Special thanks to our community partners: Neighborhood House, CareerForce, and Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota.

You can learn more about free computer classes near you by calling 800-222-1990.

The polls are open for the Minnesota's Best awards!

Literacy Minnesota is nominated for the "Best Adult Learning" and "Best Nonprofit Organization" categories. You can help us by voting for Literacy Minnesota at this link: https://bit.ly/3VzOGho.

Each voter can vote once per day and voting lasts until April 17.