Diane Shimota

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.

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.

Many adults enroll in A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program with the goal of improving their reading and writing skills so they can read to their children, help their children with school assignments, and communicate effectively with their children’s teachers and medical professionals. Recognizing the critical importance of literacy within a family, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program initiated family literacy services in 2019. Members of the family literacy program hold monthly meetings to help low-literacy parents develop skills that can support their children’s education, promote the value and pleasure of reading together as a family, and provide solutions to reduce the risk of multi-generational illiteracy.

Initially, the children in family literacy were ages 2 to 7 years old. Now, the program serves children up to the age of 12 and provides books of interest for a wider age group. The family literacy team provides a welcoming and consistent environment which supports learning. Each meeting dives into a book’s theme to involve and make learning fun for the whole family. During the meeting, families are engaged in interactive games, reading and writing, science, art, and math opportunities. The meetings model what parents can do at home to encourage a love of learning in their children.

One of the most important aspects of family literacy meetings is ‘parent time’ where parents meet separately while children participate in various activities. This special time for parents allows parents to ask difficult questions, share ideas with each other, and learn new ways to engage their children with literacy. The parent time helps parents learn new literacy skills that are immediately practiced when they rejoin their children in parent/child time. Family literacy consultant, Joan Prehoda, teaches a strategy that covers a single topic that encourages one aspect of reading, writing, or communication within families. Joan has shared strategies that support parents in many areas of literacy including: teaching the stages of writing development, developing children’s self-esteem, identifying and naming feelings, teaching problem solving skills that help children build their independence, identifying questions to ask children while reading to them to build reading comprehension, and sharing the importance of reading every day.

Over the past five years, the family literacy program has provided more than 1,500 books to build home libraries for family literacy participants. The children are always excited to choose new books to take home at the end of the family literacy meetings. Joan Prehoda shared that “during the last meeting I quietly uncovered the books and had to quickly step out of the way as the children swarmed around the table to see what books were available.” The books are readily available to children at home as the family literacy team has encouraged parents to leave them on shelves or tables in every room of the house and in the car so they can be taken along to appointments where families spend time in waiting rooms. Several parents were excited to report that because books are always within reach, their children are reading more and developing a love of reading.

Joan Prehoda and Renee Kennedy guide the overall family literacy program and are assisted by: Melany Chong who leads children in various interactive activities, Evan Shimota who teaches science lessons, and Barbara Vester who helps with community building exercises. “Without a caring and supportive team, the family literacy meetings would not be successful. Each team member contributes to our welcoming community that helps families develop a level of trust in us,” shares Renee Kennedy.

Future plans include hosting a book club for the older children to participate in.  Together, they will read the first chapter of their book club selection, then they will take the book home to read independently and prepare for a discussion of the book during the next book club meeting.

Renee Kennedy also leads a state-wide family literacy community that is available to leaders of family literacy programs throughout California. These meetings provide an opportunity to share and develop new family literacy practices which enhance family literacy programming at other libraries. “Selecting Renee Kennedy to spearhead the statewide family literacy effort is a reflection of how respected the Smiley Library family literacy program is,” observed Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator at Smiley Library.

The Family Literacy Program seeks to address the special needs of families whose adult members are currently enrolled in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program or who would like to enroll in the adult literacy program in the future. To learn more about the Family Literacy Program, please call Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at (909) 798-7565, ext. 4138, or email literacy@akspl.org.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program also invites you to consider volunteering to be a literacy tutor for adult learners. The next Volunteer Tutor Orientation is April 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Library Assembly Room. Call (909) 798-7565, ext. 4138, or email literacy@aksp.org to reserve a space or to obtain more information.

September was an eventful month for the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. On September 17, the Redlands City Council approved a proclamation declaring September 29, 2024 as “Adult Literacy Day in the City of Redlands.” Mayor Pro Tempore Paul Barich presented the proclamation to Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Program coordinator, Chev Sotheavy, adult learner and author, and Don McCue, director of A.K. Smiley Public Library. Through this proclamation, the Council reaffirmed its recognition of the vital work done by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program along with all its volunteers and community partners and “called upon our residents to promote literacy efforts and education programs throughout our community.” Since 2010, the 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 101 hardworking adult learners because of the support from 111 dedicated volunteers.

In addition to the “Adult Literacy Day” proclamation, the program celebrated publication of its seventh volume of original writing, Our Stories, A Collection of Writings. This collection has become a much-anticipated annual tradition within the program. Each year, adult learners are encouraged to capture in writing their personal journeys to literacy. 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 literacy level, these adult learner-authors share a commitment to the learning process and are developing important literacy skills that will help them to better communicate in the workplace, with their families, and in the community.

To showcase this year’s volume – which features work from over 40 authors – the literacy program hosted a Celebration of Authors on September 29. An audience composed of approximately 150 family members, tutors, adult learners, and community members gathered to honor the newly-published authors and listen as they read their work aloud. The readings ranged from childhood memories and travelogues to powerful stories of survival and hope. One author who made a particularly strong impression was Sharhonda McLaurin with her poem, “I Told the Storm,” excerpted here:

I told the storm, I am aware of your tactics

Have seen your clouds try and block the sun

You have turned beautiful days into gloomy ones

Your wind blows past my window singing songs of defeat and my lips can’t help but sing along

I love sad songs on dark afternoons

I asked the storm why does it enjoy raining on my parade?

It never answered.

To read Ms. McLaurin’s poem in its entirety, as well as the work of other inspiring new writers, visit A.K. Smiley Public Library. Copies of Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, Volume 7 are now available for checkout.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4110, or email literacy@akspl.org.

If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their life by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. Tutoring is free and confidential.