Project Grant 20SRANY002

AN ESTIMATED 60 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN THE FIRST YEAR. OF THIS NUMBER, 100% WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS AFTER PARTICIPATING IN ULSTER LITERACY ASSOCIATION'S (ULA) 20-HOUR LITERACY TUTOR TRAINING PROGRAM. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE ONE-TO-ONE BASIC LITERACY OR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TUTORING FOR ADULTS, ENGLISH CLASSES IN A SCHOOL OR WORKPLACE SETTING, AND TUTORING AT-RISK YOUTH THROUGH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PEACEFUL GUARDIANS PROJECT. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS GRANT IS TO INCREASE ULA'S CAPACITY TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS IN ULSTER COUNTY BY SERVING ADULTS AND YOUNG ADULTS AT THE VERY LOWEST LITERACY LEVELS. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, THE ULSTER LITERACY ASSOCIATION WILL HAVE EXPANDED ITS EXISTING PROGRAM TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND MANAGE 103 UNDUPLICATED VOLUNTEERS. THE CNCS ANNUAL FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $102,709 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $44,017 IN NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES DURING THE FIRST 12-MONTH PERIOD OF THE GRANT. ULA HAS A 39-YEAR TRACK RECORD AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THOSE 16 YEARS AND OLDER WITH MULTIPLE LITERACY-RELATED ISSUES. OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS CURRENTLY SUPPORT OUR MISSION BY TUTORING LEARNERS THROUGHOUT ULSTER COUNTY, SERVING AS BOARD MEMBERS, AND PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL IN-KIND SERVICES. WE RETAIN 75-85% OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TUTORING IS THREE YEARS. THE DEMAND FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IS THRIVING IN ULSTER COUNTY. ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY, "VOLUNTEERISM IN ULSTER COUNTY", BY THE BENJAMIN CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES (2017), 45 PERCENT OF ULSTER COUNTY RESIDENTS SURVEYED SAID THAT THEY HAD VOLUNTEERED AT LEAST ONCE IN THE PAST YEAR. BY EXPANDING OUR TRAINING PROGRAM TO RURAL AREAS AND OFFERING MORE FREQUENT TRAININGS, ULA CAN CAPTURE THIS ENTHUSIASM AND PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR MANY RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 55 TO VOLUNTEER IN THEIR OWN HOME TOWN. OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY BY KEEPING SENIORS INVOLVED, HELPING FAMILIES IMPROVE THEIR LIVES THROUGH LITERACY, AND ENABLING SELF-MOTIVATED ADULTS AND AT-RISK YOUTH TO REACH THEIR GOALS. OUR TUTORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE RETIRED EDUCATORS, SERVE NEARLY 400 LEARNERS ANNUALLY, YET IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 16,000 IN ULSTER COUNTY STILL NEED OUR HELP (2010 CENSUS, PROLITERACY). IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT A LACK OF FUNCTIONAL LITERACY OR ENGLISH LANGUAGE PREVENTS A RUDIMENTARY UNDERSTANDING OF BASIC HEALTH, FINANCIAL, AND CONSUMER ISSUES AND IS THE COMMON THREAD OF THE INCARCERATED AND IMPOVERISHED POPULATIONS. OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES ARE RESEARCH-BASED, EMPLOY THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, AND PROVIDE REAL-LIFE, CONTEXTUALIZED LEARNING DESIGNED TO BUILD PERMANENT LANGUAGE COMPETENCIES. LITERACY LEADS TO EMPLOYMENT, OPPORTUNITIES, AND INDEPENDENCE - GIFTS EVERY ULA VOLUNTEER GIVE TO THEIR LEARNERS EVERY DAY.