On June 10, 2020, Literacy Rochester will be holding the Literacy Luncheon at Locust Hill Country Club. This luncheon celebrates the journey of literacy and the hard work that it takes to overcome its challenges.
This year’s Luncheon Keynote Speaker is a true pillar in the literacy community. She is the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA), now ProLiteracy Worldwide, Ruth Colvin.
Ruth Colvin, for over 60 years, has been combating illiteracy across the United States and abroad in Africa and Asia.
In the early 1960’s, Ruth discovered that Syracuse had more than 11,000 people who were functionally illiterate, and she took steps to combat illiteracy. This was done by first developing tutor training manuals to aid volunteers in this endeavor. Ruth founded LVA and created the ‘English as a Second Language’ training program, then helped to found ‘The National Coalition for Literacy’ in following years to increase public awareness of the issue of illiteracy.
Along with starting literacy programs around the world she has been the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Women’s Day National Award, President’s Volunteer Action Award, and has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Ruth has also written 12 books that cover the topics of tutoring, English as a Second Language, LVA, and of her travels around the world. She will be coming out with her 13th book this Spring, titled My Travels Through Life, Love, and Literacy – A Memoir.
From sharing how she adapted to loss and grief at an early age, to starting a national literacy organization in service of others, Ruth shares her struggles and successes and the stories of those who have touched her life along the way.
Join us as we celebrate literacy and hear about Ruth’s amazing journey that led her to change the world.
Ruth will bring copies of her memoir to be purchased and signed after the luncheon.
