Contact information:
Mercedes C. Williams,
Executive Director
Tutor Program
550 N. Holbrook St,
Plymouth, MI 48170

Phone 734.416.4906
commlit@pccs.k12.mi.us

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

Carol G. Saunders: President
Retired PCCS principal & Board of Education member

Penny Joy: Vice-President
Curriculum Coord. PCCS

Edwin Schulz: Treasurer
CPA
Sutherland & Yoe, P.C.

Directors

Ronald W. Lowe
Judge, 35th District Court

Ed Quant
Retired, Human Relations

Todd Taylor
Aflac, Independent Agent

Allan Levy
IRIE, Owner/V.P. Marketing

Denise Sedman
Marketing Consultant

Bill Coughlin
Communication/Development Consultant

Who we are: The Community Literacy Council is a volunteer non-profit community organization. Based at the Starkweather Education Center in Plymouth, the Council provides free one-on-one tutoring or small conversation groups to adults primarily in the Plymouth-Canton area. Our services are free and the tutors are volunteers who are trained to tutor adults in English reading, writing and communication skills. Students and tutors meet in a public location, for approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours a week.

If you want to be a tutor (A background in education is not required): · Download the volunteer application and send it to the office by regular mail. (Or call/Email to have one sent to you) · Commit to working with a student once a week · Attend a 14-hour Tutor Training seminar in the Lit-Smart method of tutoring · Meet with an assigned student once a week for a one-year commitment.

Traudy & Junko - Read Junko's story

If you are in need of a tutor: · Must be 16 years old and up · Download the student application and send it to the office by regular mail. (Or call/Email to have one sent to you) · Meet with a trained professional reading specialist for a simple assessment. (Appointment made by the office) · Commit to meet with an assigned tutor once a week for a one-year commitment · Tutors are volunteers and not trained to serve special needs students. (Call the office for more information) · Focus is on students functioning below a ninth grade level

Bob & Ruth - Read Ruth's story

Upcoming Events:

Free New Tutor Training

When: Five part session:
Mon./Wed. Jan. 21, 23, 28, 39 & Feb. 4th, 1:30 p.m.– 4:30 p.m.

Where: Plymouth District Library
223 S. Main St.
Plymouth, MI 48170
(N. of Ann Arbor Trail)

R.S.V.P: Community Literacy Council
By Sept. 10th, 2007 at 734-416-4906
Litserve New Tutor Training Manuals provided by:
ProLiteracy Worldwide National Book Scholarship Fund

All other materials and snacks provided for free.

Give the gift of literacy– become a tutor!

Other ways to support the Community Literacy Council:

Become a volunteer: Help in the office, with governance (Board of Directors), with fundraising or special events. Just contact the office to find out more.

Send a monetary gift today: The Community Literacy Council, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization, so your gift is tax deductible. Please mail your contribution today. Thank you!

Past Events:

National Honor Society Students Take Spelling Bee Prize!

The audience roared when the Educational Excellence Foundation team, represented by PCCS National Honor Society students, took first place at the Community Literacy Council’s (CLC) 17th Annual Spelling Bee Benefit. 

In 2006, over 60 volunteers donated more than 2900 hours tutoring adult students and giving them the gift of literacy.  Many of these students attained their goals-whether it was to read to their children, get a job or pass the citizenship test.

According to the US Department of Education, at least 30 million adults in the US. Have Below Basic Literacy Skills. Combined federal, state and philanthropic funding for adult basic education and literacy serve less than 10% of students who need instruction. 

On October 17th, however over 120 teams, sponsors and audience members came out to show their support for the CLC’s annual fund raising benefit, which took place at event sponsor’s Yazaki North America Inc.’s Canton auditorium.  Other event sponsors included Alphagraphics, Michigan Educational Credit Union and Salem High School.

Sixteen teams fought to be named champion, trying to spell words such as “psittacism.” First place NHS team members included Nevan Shokar, Ryan Kolesar and Kathy Lu, who won the traveling trophy for their sponsor and took home gift certificates donated by E.G. Nicks.  The, “Sedulous Spellers” team from Plymouth Rotary Foundation put up a good fight and although they had to settle for second place, they also received gift certificates donated by Sean O’Callaghan’s Irish Pub.

The judges also award high school students in the audience were also award the “Team spirit” basket donated by Michigan Made & More, for their enthusiastic support of all the teams.  A conciliation prize of 3 pocket dictionaries, donated by The Book Cellar & Café, was given out to the first team eliminated.

Officials included Emcee, Dr. James Ryan, Superintendent PCCS; Judges,  Ms. Jean Tabor, Canton Public Library Director and Ms. Pat Thomas, Plymouth District Library Director;  Pronouncers, Mr. George Belvitch, PCCS Director of Elementary Education and Ms. Deborah Taracuk, Schoolcraft College & Univ. of Michigan Dearborn, English Instructor; and finally Timekeeper, The Honorable Ron Lowe, 35th District Court Judge.

THANK YOU SPELLING BEE SPONSORS

Gold Sponsors:  Yazaki North America, Inc., Alphagraphics, Nichigan Educational Credit Union and Salem High School

Silver Sponsors:  Blackwell Ford, Inc., Canton Chamber of Commerce, Canton Public Library, Canton Rotary, Community Financial, Education Excellence Foundation, Friends of Plymouth District Library, Horton Plumbing, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth District Library, Rotary Club of Plymouth (Noon) and Tonday Elementary School

Friends of Literacy: 
Frank Agostini - E.G. Nick 
Sandy Marulis – Michigan Made & More
John Kelly – Sean O’Callaghan’s Irish Pub