Latest News
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:
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”It’s a big help with my English and understanding the country where I live now (its history and its structure)”
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“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.)
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