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Success Stories
A
success
story
from the
LC
Valley
Circles
Initiative
and the
course
"Getting
Ahead in
a Just-Gettin'-By
World"
told by
a
participant
in the
course.
I am
a member
of the
second
"Getting
Ahead in
a Just-Gettin'-By
World"
class
sponsored
by LC
Valley
Circles
Initiative,
and
completed
the
16-week
course
in July,
2009. I
participate
in
Circles
because
Circles
Doesn't
just see
me as a
"poor
person";
Circles
respects
my
contributions
to our
community.
That's
important
to me
because,
in
addition
to being
"poor."
I'm also
a
college
graduate,
an
AmeriCorps
alumna
with 2
years of
national
service
and an
active
volunteer.
My
relationships
with
other
Circle
Leaders
and our
Circle
Allies
are
invaluable,
and the
"ripple
effect"
of
Circles
is truly
life-altering.
Two
weeks
ago,
after 4
months
of
unemployment
and no
unemployment
benefits
(AmeriCorps
doesn't
pay into
the
unemployment
fund), I
faced
homelessness.
Circles
paid my
rent
through
a
"Barrier
Removal"
grant
available
only to
Circles
Leaders.
Today is
my third
day at a
job
Circles
helped
me get,
by
providing
access
to
Working
Solutions.
There, I
strengthened
my
resume:
job
searched,
and
practiced
interviewing
skills.
Due to
connections
I made
through
Circles,
my
monthly
income
increased
700
percent.
With
that, my
problems
changed
from not
earning
enough
monthly
income
to
qualify
for rent
controlled
housing
to
earning
too
much.
M.L.
A
success
story
from The
Learning
Club
A former
student,
whose
teacher
decided
that for
many
reasons
(his
higher
test
scores,
becoming
a
proficient
reader,
positive
self-esteem
showing
in the
classroom,
social
behaviors
are more
positive
and an
all
around
happier
child is
attending
school)
that he
is no
longer
in need
of our
service.
Needless
to
state,
the
child is
very
disappointed
that he
is
unable
to
attend
T.L.C.
so that
another
student
needing
our help
may
benefit.
This
child
continues
to ask
if there
is room
for him,
even
though
he knows
he is
doing
well in
school.
One
fourth
grade
student
that
graduated
out from
T.L.C.
asked if
he could
be a
helper
in the
fall for
the
following
school
year. He
stated
that
since
T.L.C.
helped
him with
school
he would
like to
help
T.L.C. I
did have
this
student
come
back in
the fall
to help
with our
program.
A
success
story
from
CASA-
Court
Appointed
Special
Advocates
for
Children:
This
past
year one
of our
volunteers
was
advocating
for
children
whose
mother's
reading
level
didn't
measure
up to
most
third
grade
readers
abilities.
The
children
had been
returned
to their
parents
and were
doing
very
well in
their
home,
but
their
mother's
inability
to read
made it
virtually
impossible
for her
to find
a job.
The CASA
volunteer
knew a
retired
teacher
and with
the
mother's
blessing
asked if
she
would e
interested
in
tutoring
this
young
mother.
Long
story
short,
it was a
perfect
match
between
this
tutor
and
mother.
The
mother
was able
through
everyone's
perseverance
and
encouragement-
to
rapidly
increase
her
reading
aptitude
within a
few
short
months
of twice
weekly
tutoring
sessions.
The
mother
is now
working
and was
able to
pass her
driver's
license
exam
because
of the
help
provided
through
the
efforts
of our
volunteer.
The
mother's
self-esteem
improved,
her
children
were so
proud of
her and
happy to
have her
read
even
mores
stories
to them
at
bedtime,
and the
financial
stability
of the
family
was
greatly
enhanced. |
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