A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Diane Shimota

Chef Curtis Aikens, Food Network Star, to speak on “The Power of Literacy”

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Celebrated chef and five-time cookbook author Curtis Aikens, a Food Network star, will speak Friday, April 17, at 6:00 p.m. at the Contemporary Club about his courageous journey in learning to read at age 26 and using these new skills to become a culinary icon and author. This FREE community event is sponsored by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.

Chef Curtis Aikens joins a Redlands Adult Literacy Writing Workshop remotely

Reflecting his passionate support of adult learners, Chef Aikens recently joined a Redlands Adult Literacy Program writing workshop over Zoom and shared his personal story about how literacy changed his life. Chef Aikens described to workshop attendees how he did not learn to read until he was 26. Chef Aikens’ parents didn’t even know about their son’s struggle. Growing up in rural Georgia, Chef Aikens faked his way through school and was even accepted into college on a football scholarship. Echoing the comments that we hear from many adult learners, Chef Aikens said, “I felt too embarrassed to ask for help, too ashamed to admit I couldn’t understand anything on the page.”

Still burdened by his secret, at age of 26, Chef Aikens saw a public service ad on TV that gave him hope—a literacy organization said he could get help learning to read and write! Aikens reached out and began working with two volunteer tutors. Over time, they helped him unlock the world of books and the written word. His life was transformed. He eventually earned his master’s degree in education and became an avid advocate for literacy. He encouraged the attendees at the writing workshop to “Feel strong enough to reach out—tell your story to your community.”

A storyteller at heart, Chef Aikens’ enthusiasm is contagious. He told the writing workshop attendees, “The biggest challenge is to ask for help.” He encouraged them, “It’s okay to be vulnerable.” He also told them that the key to his success was sticking to his goals. He encouraged them to commit to their learning even when it is tough. He said, “I made sure I went to [my literacy] class every Thursday night. You can do it, too!”

(Left to right) Adult Learner Rosalia Bautista and her tutor, Marcy Beaubelle

Writing workshop attendee Rosalia Bautista said, “For me, it was a lot of emotion to hear him talk about how he grows vegetables and how his mama taught him how to cook. He gave me a lot of motivation to keep going with my teacher to learn to read and write in English. He makes it easy to learn.” When asked about her experience with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, Bautista said, “I’m so glad to be here. Everyone has patience and passion for the community here to do their work.”  She added, “The first time I saw the library, I thought, it reminds me of the buildings—the mission churches—in my town where I come from in Oaxaca. When I came inside the library, I’m [sic] so excited to see all the books. I see all the displays and the tables with information about the literacy program and I thought: This is my time to learn.”

Chef Aikens is passionate about the importance of adult literacy. At the workshop, he emphasized: “I tell folks, ‘If you can read, you can succeed.’” Chef Aikens’ story truly represents how “Literacy Changes Lives!”

Chef Aikens will speak about the “Power of Literacy” on April 17, at 6:00 p.m. at the Contemporary Club. He will share his personal story about his literacy and culinary journeys. In gratitude, adult learners and tutors are writing their own stories about the importance of food and cooking as a community gift to Chef Aikens. You are invited to participate, by writing your own story about food. If you choose to send in a story, please include your name and limit it to 500 words. Compositions should be sent to literacy@akspl.org by Friday, March 20.

We expect that Chef Aikens’ presentation will be a very popular event, so doors will open at the Contemporary Club at 5:30 p.m. This FREE literacy event is sponsored by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, and made possible through generous contributions from adult literacy donors, the Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library, and the A.K. Smiley Public Library Endowment fund.

Consider the impact of those two volunteers in Chef Aikens’ journey to literacy. You can change your life or the lives of others in our community. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program provides free tutoring help for adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills. If you know someone who would benefit, or if you would like to volunteer, please visit A.K. Smiley Public Library and ask for the Adult Literacy Coordinator. All information is treated confidentially.

The next Tutor Orientation Class is Tuesday, April 21, 2026. For more information or to save your space, contact the program at 909-307-7377 or email: literacy@akspl.org. To learn more, visit www.akspl.org.

Redlands Adult Literacy Program celebrates its beneficial impact with Adult Learners and Volunteers

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On December 2, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program held its annual holiday celebration. This celebration is an opportunity for adult learners and tutors to meet each other and celebrate all that has been accomplished in the prior year. In addition to recognizing adult learners for their hard work and their progress in meeting goals such as reading to their children, gaining new or better employment, or furthering their own education, the program honored learners who had gained their citizenship and voted for the first time and learners who have become leaders within the adult literacy program.

Bris Roque, Jeanne Fortier, Diane Shimota at the Adult Literacy holiday party

This year, a volunteer tutor, Jeanne Fortier, and an adult learner, Bris Roque, were invited to share their experience in the adult literacy program with the 100 attendees at the celebration. Their remarks reflect the thoughts of many tutors and learners, so excerpts have been included in this article.

Jeanne Fortier, a tutor for almost 13 years, noted that volunteering with the Redlands Adult Literacy program has been “both an honor and a privilege, and I have received far more than I have given.”

She went on to say, “I began this amazing journey after my husband died very suddenly the month after I retired. My life was not going as we had planned. Then one day a friend told me about the Redlands Adult Literacy Program at the Library. I met Trudy Waldron and Katherine Gifford who were volunteer leaders of the group. Trudy took me under her wing, and I started helping with the small but mighty [adult literacy] group at Lugonia Elementary School. I was hooked and soon became a tutor…”

In 2016, Jeanne took a leadership role in the Reading and Conversation with Friends class by leading weekly discussions about articles from the periodical, News for You. Jeanne observed: “I have watched the learners improve their reading skills, critical thinking, vocabulary, and grammar. A few have even liked doing crossword puzzles!”

Jeanne has also volunteered with the Adult Literacy Computer Classes, Book Club, and other administrative tasks. In computer classes, taught by Kim Green, Jeanne shared: “I watched [Kim’s] students go from learning to start programs, to typing, to editing, and finally to creating stories, letters and poetry, and saving their work. The learners began to help each other learn new skills, and this was so exciting to see.”

In her conclusion, Jeanne offered, “… I would like to say that we all know that working to improve reading and writing skills is hard. I am so proud of the learners for taking this journey with us, and the tutors and staff for cheering them on. Adult Literacy ‘changes lives,’ and it has definitely changed mine for the better.”

Bris Roque, an adult learner, described her experience, “When I first came to the library looking for an English Learning Program, Diane greeted me with the warmth and kindness you all know.  From the beginning, she listened to me attentively and with interest. After a brief interview, she told me she would find a tutor for me, someone who matched my needs and fit my schedule.”

“When I started the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, I expected a class where I could learn grammar, spelling, improve my vocabulary, and get help organizing my ideas into correct sentences – and I found it. Plus, I gained an experienced, kind, and determined friend. Darcel is my tutor; she is extraordinary and incredibly fun. My vocabulary has really grown… She also encourages me to learn more and different things.”

“This program has not [only] been good for me, it has also been good for my family; we meet once a month in the Family Literacy Program. In each session, we explore a new and different book. Thanks to this, we have grown our own family library. They [the instructors] have shown me different ways to … make a book interesting for my children. We have played games, cooked, and explored science and technology. They have also provided us with resources to be better parents. My children feel truly appreciated by the people who lead [the Family Literacy Program].”

Bris concluded her talk by saying, “This program is helping to develop an empathetic community. Everyone is welcome and respected here. This is a safe place to learn–reading and writing connects us!”

Perhaps you know of an adult who wants help with reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their life by contacting Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 7377 or email literacy@akspl.org. All inquiries are treated confidentially. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program relies on its volunteers. The next Volunteer Tutor Orientation class is on January 20, 2026. If you are interested in attending the class or in learning more about volunteering with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, please contact Diane Shimota.

Redlands celebrates Adult Literacy Day with adult learner-authors

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Adult Learner Authors at the Celebration of Authors, September 28, 2025

On September 16, the Redlands City Council approved a proclamation declaring September 28, 2025 “Adult Literacy Day in the City of Redlands.” Mayor Mario Saucedo presented the proclamation to Bill Hatfield, Library Board President, Don McCue, Director of A.K. Smiley Public Library, Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Program Coordinator, Katerina Biryukova, Adult Learner Leader, and Katherine Gifford, her tutor. Through this proclamation, the Council affirmed its commitment to educational equity and encouraged Redlands residents to promote literacy efforts and education throughout our community. Since 2010, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has been providing free, confidential, one-to-one tutoring tailored to the specific needs of adult literacy learners. This past fiscal year, the program was able to serve 92 hardworking adult learners with the support of over 100 dedicated volunteers.

This month also marked the publication of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program’s eighth volume of the literacy anthology, Our Stories, A Collection of Writings. Each year, adult learners are encouraged to capture in writing their personal stories. Their contributions reflect a wide range of reading and writing levels. For some authors, the first step was simply dictating their stories to tutors and then working through the writing process with their tutors’ help. Other learners spent months rewriting multiple drafts until they were satisfied and ready to submit their work for publication. Regardless of their literacy level, these adult learner-authors work hard to develop important literacy skills that will help them to better communicate in the workplace, with their families, and in the community.

To honor “Adult Literacy Day,” the Redlands Adult Literacy Program invited the community to celebrate with adult learner-authors, who read the works they had contributed to the adult literacy anthology. This Celebration of Authors has become a much-anticipated annual event. This year, 26 adult learner-authors read their stories to an overflow crowd of tutors, learners, families, friends, and community members. As each author finished reading their work, the audience could feel the learner’s pride, confidence, and relief as they completed this challenging goal.

Audience members shared how inspiring it was to hear adult learners read their own writing. One tutor said, “The stories gave me a reason to feel hope.” Another shared, “The readings demonstrated the importance of A.K. Smiley Public Library to our community and the life changing impact that improved literacy has on adult learners, their families, and the community of Redlands.” Renee Kennedy, Family Literacy Lead, observed, “The multigenerational impact of literacy is evidenced in the Budding Blossom chapter of the anthology where the children of adult learners wrote stories of their own for publication.” Some of these children stood proudly with their parents when a group photo of authors was taken.

To read this compilation of inspiring writings, visit A.K. Smiley Public Library. Copies of Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, Volume 8 are now available for checkout.

If you know of an adult who wants help with reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their life by contacting Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4110 or email literacy@akspl.org. All inquiries are treated confidentially. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program welcomes new volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, please contact Diane Shimota.

The act of writing promotes adult literacy

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Writer-to-Writer Challenge participant Cinderella Tran

Writing is a core element of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. This year, nine adult learners from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program at Smiley Library entered the Writer-to-Writer Challenge, a competition sponsored by the California State Library. The annual Writer-to-Writer Challenge invites adult literacy learners throughout California to read a book and then write a letter to its author, living or dead, sharing how reading their book has inspired them or impacted their life.

Writing a letter to an author requires adult learners to practice many skills, including: obtaining a library card and checking out a book that interests them, reading the book and comprehending its core message, revising a letter to the author so it communicates effectively, and finally, submitting the learner’s letter and application. All participants are recognized by the California State Library, and winners will be invited to read their letters at upcoming local literacy network events. Each of the nine adult learners from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program improved their literacy skills by participating in this challenge, and a few agreed to share their thoughts for this article.

Adult learner Cinderella Tran has participated in the challenge for the past several years. Cinderella said, “I enjoy participating in the Writer-to-Writer Challenge every year because it challenges me to improve my vocabulary and writing skills and allows me to share my feelings with authors about their books.”

This year Cinderella wrote to Margaret Cousins, author of Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia. By reading this book, Cinderella learned that Ben Franklin was called a bookworm. Cinderella shared that she also wants to become a bookworm. She learned a lot about Ben Franklin and recommended the book to the adult learner book club. Cinderella wrote, “I admire Ben Franklin’s good heart; he helped adults and children to become literate. For me, I am improving my literacy skills to advocate for my daughter.”

Another adult literacy entrant, Vanessa Michel, won Honorable Mention in the advanced writer category for the letter she wrote to Sarah Fabiny, author of Who Was Frida Kahlo? She shared that reading this book made her understand courage. Vanessa wrote, “Now I realize that I can read books in the language that I always wanted to learn… Thank you for sharing your book and teaching us that women, regardless of their physical condition have the right to express themselves freely, whether with paintings, books, music, etc…. every time I see Frida’s story, anywhere, I visualize myself pursuing new projects, goals, and dreams. I know I’ll one day end up writing my own story.”

Writing to an author helps the reader think about central life themes. Think about your favorite book. What would you say to the author of that book about why it was important to you? How has a book changed your life?

Would you like to share the excitement of adult learners as they read books and gain new literacy skills? If you are interested in becoming a tutor, please contact the Redlands Adult Literacy Program at (909)798-7565 ext. 4110 or email literacy@akspl.org The next volunteer tutor orientation is August 19, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Library. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their lives by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. The program is free and all materials are provided.

Adult Literacy volunteers come from many walks of life

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Adult Literacy tutor
Sarah Osborne

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program at A.K. Smiley Library is going strong after 15 years. The program works because of volunteers who want to be tutors. A frequent misconception is that adult literacy tutors must have prior experience as a classroom teacher. In fact, adult literacy tutors and volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing their unique life skills to help adults improve their reading and writing. This article highlights adult literacy tutor Sarah Osborne, a long-time supporter of the adult literacy program who retired two years ago from Esri. Upon retirement, Sarah took the orientation course to be an adult literacy tutor, and she has already worked with two adult learners.

In explaining why she volunteers, Sarah said, “I’ve always felt that being literate is a gateway to a better life. In order to get a good job, fill out an application, or advance in a job, you need to know how to read. In order to navigate the Internet safely and successfully, you need to know how to read. In order to stay safe on the road, you need to know how to read. This list goes on and on. One thing I’ve discovered is that I’ve learned just as much about life from the learners I work with. Volunteering is very fulfilling.”

In addition to one-on-one tutoring with adults, Sarah has been a volunteer in the weekly literacy computer literacy classes. The computer literacy classes augment one-on-one tutoring by teaching adult learners the technology skills to use kiosks at doctors’ offices, communicate with friends, families, medical professionals, and educators, search for and apply for employment, and find information on the Internet. Sarah brings a unique passion of hers to the adult literacy computer classes. During retirement, Sarah has developed a “Stop the Scam” class that she incorporates into each adult literacy computer class by providing tips on avoiding internet scams. According to Sarah, “In 2025 everyone needs to be computer literate. Part of this literacy is understanding the different types of cybercrimes and how to stay safe from scams.”

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program relies on its volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring to adults who are interested in improving their reading and writing skills. Literacy volunteers also support computer classes, family literacy programs, book clubs, and other activities that help adult learners reach their individual literacy goals. Every volunteer has a unique story about working in adult literacy, and many speak of the joy that comes when they help adults learn a new literacy skill that will be used in their work, personal, and/or family life.

If you have other talents that you would like to share, there are additional volunteer opportunities on the adult literacy hospitality, fundraising, grant writing, and technology committees. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program always needs volunteers to lend a helping hand for book club discussions.

Do you have a passion for reading or writing? Would you like to help someone learn to read? The Redlands Adult Literacy Program provides an opportunity for you to pursue your passion by becoming an adult literacy tutor. Volunteer tutors are the foundation of the Adult Literacy Program because they donate their time to support learners in their quest for reading and writing competency. Says Sarah, “The literacy program is a gem. It’s a very welcoming environment for both the tutors and learners.”

To volunteer to help someone with their reading and writing, please stop by the Circulation Desk at A.K. Smiley Public Library and ask for the Adult Literacy Coordinator or leave your contact information.  The next Tutor Orientation is August 19, 2025.  You can also contact the Literacy program by calling 909.798.7565, ext. 4110 or email: literacy@akspl.org. Tutoring is a great opportunity to help an adult change his or her life through literacy.

To learn more, about Internet scamming, sign up for Sarah’s scam awareness newsletter at EastValleyStopScams.org. Sarah is also willing to speak with community groups about avoiding scams. If you are interested in speaking with her, she can be reached by email at scam.awareness.education@gmail.com. We are grateful for Sarah and every adult literacy volunteer’s contribution to the adult literacy program and their commitment to help adults in our community to improve their literacy.