Justice, Equity & Diversity: Santa Monica Public Library celebrates adult learners and their volunteer tutors
December 18, 2024 3:02 PM
by Cecile Oreste
This month, the Santa Monica Public Library hosted its annual Literacy Education for Adults & Families, or LEAF, Year-End Celebration, honoring achievements in lifelong learning and community engagement.
More than 70 friends, family members and Library staff gathered to celebrate the successes of Career Online High School, or COHS, graduates and the partnerships between adult learners and their volunteer tutors.
The celebration included a graduation procession and speeches from Library staff, who highlighted the LEAF program’s impact on individuals and the broader community. LEAF encompasses several adult learning programs, including COHS, adult literacy tutoring, citizenship classes and more.
These achievements include:
- Helping nearly 700 patrons through the Library’s Tech & Tasks program, a drop-in service that provides one-on-one assistance with reading documents, writing resumes, conducting job searches, navigating government websites and more.
- Providing 23 learners with more than 650 hours of adult literacy tutoring, resulting in three learners getting a better job, at least 10 learners voting in an election and eight learners reading a more difficult book than they were previously able.
- Offering more than 60 hours of one-on-one English as a Second Language tutoring in just three months.
In addition, the celebration featured an author talk with former program participant Suzie Kim, who discussed her self-published book “Humans of Santa Monica.” Kim’s letter to author Brandon Stanton of “Humans of New York” won the Intermediate Category of the California State Library's 2024 Writer to Writer Challenge. In her letter, she wrote about how he helped inspire her to write her book, which she recently finished and published.
Empowering adults through literacy
The Santa Monica Public Library’s adult literacy tutoring program is a cornerstone of its commitment to lifelong learning. This program provides one-on-one support to adults who are learning to read and write or seeking to improve their literacy skills. Volunteer tutors meet with learners once or twice a week for one to two hours, tailoring lessons to meet personal goals.
“For learners, these goals are life-changing,” Literacy Program Specialist Tara Crow said. “Participants have achieved milestones such as reading a book for the first time, gaining employment, sharing a storybook with their children, volunteering in the community and even voting for the first time. These accomplishments demonstrate the transformative power of literacy in building confidence, independence and a stronger connection to the world around us.”
Earning diplomas through Career Online High School
The Career Online High School program, funded by the California State Library, provides adult learners with the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and a career certificate. This self-paced program is designed to accommodate adult students' busy lives The Library offers a limited number of scholarships each year to help participants pursue their education goals.
“Graduating from COHS is a remarkable achievement, often representing a new chapter of opportunity for students,” said Librarian Barbara Fleeman, who helps organize the program. “Whether seeking a better job, continuing education or setting an example for their families, graduates leave the program equipped with tools to succeed and inspire others.”
A community committed to learning
The LEAF Year-End Celebration demonstrates the Library’s role as a vital resource for personal growth and community building. By offering programs like adult literacy tutoring and COHS, Santa Monica Public Library empowers individuals to overcome challenges, achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.
For more information about the Library’s literacy programs, visit Santa Monica Public Library's website or email literacy.program@santamonica.gov.
Photos:
Header: Career Online High School graduates Iris Cruz and Lorena Villalta
Photo 1: (From left) Librarian Barbara Fleeman, Career Online High School graduate Iris Cruz, Strategic Ambassador for Smart Horizons Online Education Valerie Hardie, and Career Online High School graduate Lorena Villalta.
Photo 2: Adult learner Suzie Kim with Library staff and volunteer tutors
Authored By
Cecile Oreste
Communications and Marketing Coordinator