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OUR FUNDRAISING EVENTS The Richardson Adult Literacy Center relies on the generosity of the community to deliver on its mission of empowering ESL students and enriching the community. Each year we hold two fun, exciting, and often, sold-out fundraising events: Murder Mystery and Buns & Roses Romance Tea for Literacy . We hope you will join us this year! Murder Mystery 2024 Find Out More Buns & Roses Romance Tea for Literacy Find Out More

Latest News Conte nts Letter fr om the Director Student News Featured Program Volunteer News Upcoming Events Letter from the Director Thank you to all for welcoming me to RALC. I’m continually impressed and humbled by the kindness and dedication of the staff, board members, volunteers, and students. You are the inspiration behind my get-it-done attitude and drive. My goal is to lead RALC into financial stability and sustainability so that we may offer adult literacy classes, citizenship classes, and workforce development programs for current and future generations of families. To reach that goal, we must build relationships within the community and remind people that RALC not only positively impacts individuals and families, but also employers and the community as a whole. I believe this so passionately that I haven’t been able to suppress it. I have talked about our value and mission at the teacher kick-off, at the RALC Board retreat, at Women in Leadership meetings and luncheons, at Richardson Chamber of Commerce events, at the Region 10 Title III event, at the Dialogue Institute, at a grant-writing workshop, and at every business social I could possibly attend in the last two months. I am pleased that so many organizations and professionals are onboard to support RALC and partner with us in new ways. (I’ll save the details for later.) What is even more impressive is the willingness of the staff, volunteers, and RALC Board to jump in and do more than ever before to help acquire more funds and build relationships with the community. Because of everyone’s efforts, we are off to a wonderful start in 2024. Please help us keep the momentum going by spreading the word about our annual Murder Mystery event on April 13th. The proceeds all go to RALC, and we need the additional funds for more classes and to expand the Career Bridge program. Thank you for your continued support of RALC, and stay tuned for updates. Please know that I’m always available to listen to new ideas, concerns, or possible partnerships. I may be “on the go” a lot, but I will always make time for RALC students, volunteers, and sponsors. Ann Banks RALC Executive Director Student Spotlight Dmytro RALC Level 4 A student, Dmytro, is originally from Ukraine. He and his wife, Maryna (also a RALC student) came to the United States in 2021. In Ukraine, Dmytro was a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and crisis manager for a large clothing manufacturer. He has a doctorate in Economics and Cybernetics. ​ When Dmytro came to the United States, his English was limited. He shared, “I knew that coming to the United States, I was starting from the bottom. But it did not break me.” Dmytro started working as a handyman and began taking the Level 3 B class with RALC. He remembers that when he started the 3B class, his English was at “25 percent of what it is now.” Dmytro reports, “That class and RALC changed my life. The teachers were amazing.” Their dynamic and engaging style helped Dmytro improve his ability to communicate in English by at least 50 percent, he says. In June of 2023, Dmytro decided to open his own handyman business called Alsolut Handyman, LLC . Alsolut stands for “Alternative Solution.” Dmytro shared that he had a colleague who could translate for him on the job so that he could communicate with customers. Unfortunately, that colleague moved away at the end of 2023. Dmytro realized that because of his classes at RALC, he could communicate with his customers. He actually didn’t need a translator! Alsolut Handyman now employs 12 people, and Dmytro is determined to keep coming to English classes with RALC. ​ Dmytro shared that RALC has helped him reach his goal of starting a business. “I feel stronger. I can understand more and I know that I am learning a lot.” Featured Program Citizenship Class The Spring 2024 semester marks the 4th consecutive collaboration between RALC and the immigration law firm of Berry, Appleman, and Leiden (BAL) to offer a six-week Citizenship Test Preparation course for adults in Richardson and surrounding communities. Funded by BAL and developed and coordinated by RALC, this course provides adults seeking U.S. citizenship with thorough preparation for the naturalization process and the specific content of all aspects of the citizenship test. For the second semester in a row, the class is available in both an in person and online format, enabling more students to participate in the format that works best for them. Facilitated by both BAL attorneys and paralegals and RALC volunteer teachers, the class enables students to build their confidence and feel well-prepared to succeed in their goal to become a U.S. citizen. A survey of the Fall 2023 class included the following positive feedback from students: ”It’s a big help with my English and understanding the country where I live now (its history and its structure)” “The [text]book is great. I am more confident now than before.” Former Citizenship Class student Victor Davila, who successfully passed his citizenship test after taking the course in Spring 2023, will be speaking to this semester’s students at the final classes on March 19 (online) and 20 (in person). Victor will share how the class helped prepare him to successfully pass the U.S. citizenship test and how becoming a citizen has impacted his life. Volunteer Spotlight Alina Dam Before the Richardson Public Library was under construction, Alina would study there between her classes at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). She regularly saw flyers advertising opportunties to volunteer to teach English with the Richardson Adult Literacy Center (RALC) program. Last summer, when she had some free time, she applied. ​ Alina is currently a thrid year student stuyding neuroscience at UTD. She plans to go to medical school, but she is open to other opportunities such as research or teaching. Started tutoring little kids in high school. Never really had experience teaching adults, and wanted to broaden her horizon and have better communication with adults. ​ Enjoy teaching and helping other people learn and having their ah ha moments. ​ Overall my volunteer experience has been really rewarding. She told her friend, "This is the most fun experience I have had. Not only do I have an impact on students lives every week, but everyone is so supportived. I've never felt so supported in a volunteer organization." ​ I see student Domitlia speaks up in class more or that Efran is writing more. Their confidence is growing because of the supportive environment that my partner teacher Mark and I provide. They feel free to ask questions. They ask more questions that show that they are engaged and learning. ​ Last semester was Mark's first time ever teaching because I had tutoring experience Never worked with a co-teacher for an extended amount of time. We bounce ideas off each other. We incorporate new activites. We know what we are both good at. I normally do the MCAs, I grade the tests really fast, he comes early and set up. Both of us are good at leading and asking students to read the direction and sharing their answers. ​ build interpersonal skills with adults older than me. UTD and RALC are close to each other. It was convenience and make an impact. ​ My parents and grandparents are immigrants who came from Vietnamese. Her mom learned English from someone, so Alina wanted to pay it forward. Her mom is a hairdresser and she needed English The man who taught her was very foundational to her. He wanted her to be nurse. talking to clients. mom owns her own salon it's Lee's HairPro on Arapho. Grandparents also learned English. Grandma was a teaching assistant at a school and had to learn English. Other grandma was a dental assistant. All of them speak English. English was Alina's 2nd language. Work at a cardiologist office and has an opportunity to speak with clients in Vietnamese. Also studied Spanish in high school. ​ Mark and Alina taught 1A last fall and now teaching 1B, so they still have many of the same students like Victoria, Efran, Lorena, etc. They have become a lot more confident. They tended to speak in their native tongue more offten last semester, but they are now trying to share and explain in English. Previously they used Google translate, but they don't do it at all anymore. ​ I was able to ​ Lorena gave Mark and Alina a gift with a mug and owl ornament and a card with a note that I'm giving you this owl because my family calls me an owl in spanish, not only because of my big eyes but because of my desire to learn. She listens/or watches in English (Mark recommended that they immerse themselves in English.) ​ I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Upcoming Events

Donar DONATE NOW Your Gift Has an Impact Este es su formulario de donación. Anime a los visitantes de su sitio a hacer una donación hoy proporcionando información adicional sobre su organización, o cómo su contribución puede ayudar mejor a lograr sus objetivos. Our program is impactful! Listen to one of our students. student textbooks & wor kbooks - each student receives textbooks and workbooks to support their le arning; ​ classroom materials - notebooks, pens, markers, notepads, index cards, teaching tools; ​ volunteer teacher training & support - volunteer teachers are trained in the ESL curriculum; regular meetings provide support, teaching tips, guidance; ​ ​ ​ ​ IT resources - Zoom, internet, Google Classroom, volunteer database; ​ staff training and support - maintain current ESL teaching methods & tools, develop weekly curriculum for all levels, recruit, assess, test and coach students, recruit, train and support volunteers; ​ general operations - financial, fundraising, community partnerships, events, board development, communications; Contributions to RALC help fund: ​ Shop and Support Kroger Community Rewards Support RALC while you shop for groceries at Kroger. Visit the Kroger Community Awards page to designate RALC as the nonprofit you support. Each time you use your Kroger shopper's card while buying groceries, Kroger will donate a percentage of funds to community organizations like RALC. Make a direct impact on our program by buying items from RALC's Amazon Wish List . RALC needs supplies like dry erase markers, copy paper, index cards, and pencils to support our students and teachers in the classroom. Amazon Wish List Donate to RALC through PayPal Giving Fund, an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) public charity (Federal Tax ID: 45-0931286) that uses PayPal technology and financial support to fundraise for causes, without charging donors or charities for our services. PayPal Charity Donations

Centro de alfabetización de adultos de Richardson Empoderando a los estudiantes de ESL. Enriqueciendo a la comunidad Quienes somos Con más de 19,000 adultos en nuestra comunidad que no hablan inglés bien o en absoluto, nuestro trabajo se enfoca en capacitar a maestros voluntarios de ESL, reclutar estudiantes adultos y ubicar a los estudiantes en la instrucción adecuada en el salón de clases. Los estudiantes asisten a clases impartidas por maestros de ESL voluntarios capacitados tanto en línea como en varios lugares en Richardson y las ciudades circundantes del norte de Texas. What We Offer RALC's mission is only possible through the generosity of our volunteers and our community. We offer many different ways to support us, become involved, or to take advantage of our programs. Click on the buttons below to explore. Learn More Learn More Learn More Support RALC Adult English Learning Volunteer Support RALC when you make purchases of books, T-shirts, hoodies and more! Shop to Support Save the date: Saturday, April 13, 2024 Event Info Sponsors Our Impact Report Read about how Richardson Adult Literacy Center impacts our community below. 2022-2023 Impact Report Contáctenos alfabetización@ralc.org 972-644-5119 Centro de alfabetización de adultos de Richardson 701 West Belt Line Road, Richardson, TX, EE. UU. Our Mailing Address: PO Box 835936 Richardson, TX 75083-5936 , USA