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In New Jersey, the wealthiest state in the nation, four
out of ten adults can't read well enough to fill out a job
application and one out of five people can't read a newspaper.
To address this problem, this Caucus Up Close special looks
at the on-going problem of low literacy among young people
and adults in our state. The program begins with a mini-documentary
that spotlights the work of organizations that are working
to eradicate this problem. A panel of four, including professionals
and individuals who have been helped by literacy organizations,
examines the complex implications of low literacy and its
effect upon the individual, family and society at-large.
Tape Piece - The program begins with a
mini-documentary produced by Laura Jones which gives an
overview of the literacy problem in New Jersey. We visit
with Literacy Volunteers in Mercer County and talk with
its executive director June Vogel to see their program in
action. We examine the need for basic literacy skills and
those who are learning English as a second language. We’ll
also talk with participants in the program DeShawn Tye,
Vlakilen Gimpilevich and Natalia Gimpilevich Maximoney.
Literacy Volunteers of Mercer County is committed to enabling
adults with limited literacy proficiencies to achieve personal,
job-related, community and family-oriented goals.
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Elissa Director |
Stella Segura
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Chip Madsen
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Penni Wild
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Guests
Elissa Director – Who is the Executive
Director of Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey.
Stella Segura – Service Coordinator
of the “English as a Second Language” program at the Plainfield Public Library,
where she was once a student.
Chip Madsen – Deputy Executive Director
of Protestant Community Centers Incorporated, which provides literacy training to kids.
Penni Wild – Executive Director
of New Jersey Reads: The Foundation for Literacy.
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