Voices of Literacy Connects, March 2018

In January and February of 2018, members of the Writing Workshop conducted a series of interviews with members of the Literacy Connects staff. These are the group-written stories from those interviews.

In the Reading and Understanding class, many of these students drew sketches and wrote short texts based on a reading of The Rabbits. They also drew sketches based on The Forgiveness Garden. These sketches and text are part of an insert in this newsletter.

Betty Stauffer, Executive Director 

Betty Stauffer is the executive director of Literacy Connects. Betty was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Her first job was in high school selling women’s clothing in a department store at Christmas time. She went to college to become a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse in Cleveland for a few years. She began volunteering after her two  children, a boy and a girl, were born. She helped start a food bank in Cleveland and ran a program to help find housing for the homeless.

“Working with these folks was a real education,” Betty said. “I got to see what people were up against. They were wonderful people who were never given a fair chance in life.”

During this time, she visited family in Tucson. She liked the weather and wanted a “fresh start” in Tucson. She moved to Tucson 18 years ago. After many years of volunteering for and running non-profit organizations, Betty decided, “Fundraising is exhausting.” So, she became program director to work with women and children who were victims of domestic violence and let other people do the fundraising.

She was hired as a director of a small non-profit organization, ”Literacy Volunteers.” In 2011, five literacy programs combined into Literacy Connects. She became executive director of Literacy Connects. She coordinates the five programs as the Big Boss. As director, she does planning, fundraising, and directing people in all of the parts of Literacy Connects.

One of Betty’s favorite programs is “Stories that Soar.” Children write their own stories and express themselves in their own ways. Actors then perform the stories on stage and bring them to life. Betty said, “This really helps kids find their voice.”

Stories that Soar plans to use the old church at Literacy Connects for its program. In the afternoons, Literacy Connects plans to use that building for after-school programs for neighborhood kids. Another goal is to provide garden space for the local International Refugee Committee. Literacy Connects is planning to provide land for Habitat for Humanity to build nine houses.

With all these goals, Betty has no time or plans for retirement. She wants more people to come to Literacy Connects so they could have careers and be independent. Betty has a big heart. She enjoys what she does and finds work that is fulfilling and makes her happy. She has passion for what she does, and she must have a lot of patience.

Forrest Pope — Intern with a Plan

Forrest Pope, a University of Arizona master’s degree student, spoke to Literacy Connects Writers’ Workshop students Jan. 25. He’ll be working as an intern at Literacy Connects, focusing on distance learning.

Forrest brings a long background of educational experience. After getting an environmental science degree from Northern Arizona University, he went to Costa Rica intending to spend three months as a researcher. Instead, he was there for three years. He learned Spanish while teaching English as a Second Language courses. Then, he moved to Mexico, where he taught at the middle and high school level.

“Teaching is a culture-building process,” Forrest said. It’s better to “get to them” at a younger age. Following graduation, he plans to help develop curriculum and the increased use of educational resources. “Computers can open up a lot of possibilities for people in rural areas,” he said. They also help students with physical disabilities unable to come to classes personally, but who could learn by using computers.

Forrest currently works at the Pima Partnership, helping students in middle and high school. Including his Costa Rico and Mexico experience, he has taught for eight years.

Writing Workshop Students

OMAR CUNNINGHAM — I was born in a very poor country and I prayed for a better life every day. God send me an angel. Believe me, she’s a blessing because since she came into my life, I have been growing.  I have everything I wish for. School is going great for me. I love it so much.

PAUL GREEN — I was born in Jamaica and then moved to New York when I was 30 years old. I drove an ambulance with my brother. In 2015, I came to Tucson and I like it here. I come to Literacy Connects because I want to have a good education, to be independent, and I love my teachers.

LILIAN MUTWOTA — I love myself. If I don’t love myself, I will not love anybody else. I want to pass my GED and go to college and play musical instruments and do some composing. If I finish school, I want to get a job with music and I will be happy with the job I have. I was born in Kenya and went to school there through the 8th grade. I moved to Tucson in 2011. I went to Pima College, which recommended I come to Literacy Connects.

FRANCISCA PERAZA — I was born in Santana, Mexico, and I moved to the United States in 1985. I brought my two sons, ages 9 and 5, when I arrived in Tucson after living for 17 years in Nogales, Mexico. In Mexico, I worked in a store called Mexican Curies.  In Tucson, I enrolled my sons in elementary school and I had a job as a salesperson in The Second Store.

PAUL OSUNA — I was born in Tucson, an organic desert where coyotes howl a nighttime lullaby. The sun sets behind a vast land of rocky mountains that are inhabited by a wide range of animals and cacti.

EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ — I was born in Tucson. I have been coming to Literacy Connects for four months. My dream is to become a better reader and writer. I want to become more independent.

DIANA MARIE SIQUEIROS — I have lived in Tucson all my life. I have four sisters and two brothers. I have two boys. I am trying to get my GED to get a better job and to become more independent.

RANIA TUTU — I am from the Sudan. I moved Egypt and was there for 12 years. I moved to the USA with my family. I have two brothers, one daughter, and my mom here, too. We live together. I have a daughter. We live together, but my big brother is in Nebraska with my uncle. My younger brother lives with us and goes to school. My daughter also goes to school. I worked at the Doubletree for three years and then I started to go to school at Literacy Connects. My goal is to be a nurse because I like to help sick people to feel better.

EASYLYN WILLIAMS — I was born in Grenada in February 1937 in a nice neighborhood. I used to sign in concert and in a choir. Then I traveled to Puerto Rico, where I had a frightening experience. I returned to Grenada and worked in a hotel. When we had Carnival in Grenada, it used to be a blast from sunrise to sunset.