To Tell The Truth

Katrina McKinney

Katrina McKinney, SEM Participant

 

The Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, hosted by the DC Adult and Family Literacy Coalition (DC-AFLC), began this Monday, September 21, with an essay contest and celebration. The event, which had a great turnout,  was held at the Busboys and Poets in the Brookland neighborhood in Northeast, DC.

Any adult learner studying in an adult basic education (ABE), family literacy, english as a second language (ESL), or GED program in DC could enter the contest. The prompt for the essay was for the learners to write an essay to their council member explaining some of the obstacles they face in pursuing their education, taking care of their families, and/or getting a good job, and what could the Council do to address these obstacles.

The contest was judged in five categories: basic/beginning learner, intermediate learner, advanced learner, english as a second language learner, and essays in spanish.

Katrina McKinney, a SEM participant won the intermediate learner essay category!

There was also a panel on adult education at the celebration event.

“Dollar for dollar, adult literacy has such a great return,” said Andy Shallal, owner of Busboys and Poets.

Councilmember Elissa Silverman added, “how you spend your dollars as a city shows your priorities, and sometimes our budgets haven’t reflected that.”

Riley Grime, SEM ABE Instructor

Riley Grime, SEM ABE Instructor

 

For information regarding donating to Southeast Ministry, our programs, or volunteering, please visit. www.southeastministrydc.org, or call 202-562-2636.

 

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