BLUEGRASS LITERACY is a non profit Adult Literacy
Provider (age 15 +) in Central Kentucky. The program offers FREE
ABE (Adult Basic-low level reader) support, GED Study Skills
Instruction, and English Classes for English as a Second Language
Students in Lexington and several adjacent communities.
Via its LITERACY BLOOMS PROJECTS the program offers a
number of Service Learning options that mentor adults that need
to expand or acquire new or improved skills to advance
in their daily lives. (Wholesome Table is a series of
sessions that help refugee and other women learn to better keep
a healthy safe kitchen and shop,prep, and cook local foods within
their family resources (Contact Lavenia 338-6392). Wholesome Table
spring sessions start in late March 2012.
The Pincushion Project is an on-going women's sewing program that
offers free sewing training and a variety of art and fabric activities for
teens/women (Contact 299 5982).
In 2010 we started our Puppets for Peace Project with teens
from refugee community. The program provides free puppet programmming
for teens and pre teens on a regular basis through the Lexington community
Call 299-5982 if you are interested in
volunteering or participanting in puppet workshop sessions or
have a group of young pre-teen or teens that would like to
participate with Bluegrass Literacy's Puppets for Peace Project.
The project is sponsored by Lexington Peace and Justice Council. Bluegrass
Literacy also provides activity sessions throughout the year for younger children
with various social service sites in areas where we provide language class support.
Bluegrass Literacy works with a number of affiliates in the Lexington
area and has over 40 outreach sites where it provides classes and other
program activities. Some affiliates include: Goodwill Industries,
The Living Arts and Science Center, Outreach with The Lexington Public Library,
UK Extension Sevice, LIGHTHOUSE, The Lexington Episcopal Diocese
-Mission House, Knight Foundation via Bluegrass Community
Foundation, KY Farm Managers, Community Action,Southern Hills
Methodist Church, KY Women's Foundation, Partners for Youth, Pro Literacy,
VALUE-Voice of Adult Learners United for Education, 5th Third
Bank, several domestic and social service sites, and a number
of farms and local business sites.
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SPANISH CLASSES v 5.24.12 : there be space for new adult students interested in learning to improve or speak Spanish (Monday p.m.) or Russian (Wed p.m.) in late spring and summer 2012 schedule. French will be offered in summer schedule if there is enough interest. Russian and French session taught by a native speaker. If you are interested in attending any of these class options Email: spencer@qx.net to register for Spanish, French, or Russian Class schedule 2012 options (we require at least five students for a class and no more than 10) We ask a $5 donation per session for a 10 week ($50)Spanish, French, or Russian Language Class (all Beg Level in Spring and Summer session in 2012)
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WINNER of
Bluegrass Literacy's Annual "Perspectives"
Writing Contest Fall 2011
Bluegrass Literacy and the Central Kentucky Council for Peace Justice (CKCPJ) congratulate all the finalists in this year's writing contest:
Christel Broady, Bobbie Smith Bryant, Katie Bush, Donald Gabbard, Kelly Gunning, Gaye Holman. The winner of this year's award, Susan E. Lindsey was recognized and shared her winning work at an event on October 23,2011. Her entry, intitled "DEMOLITION DAY" was inspired by a personal experience.
Demolition Day by Susan E. Lindsey
My daughter and I stare at the 80 year old coal bin. Demolishing this old bin is the first step in our plan to finish her basement and crate more living space. Since both of us are currently unemployed and experienced do-it-yourselfers, with more time than money, we’re doing much of the work ourselves.
The bin fills a corner of her basement. They floor-to-ceiling walls enclose a space about eight by ten feet. The builder- whose identity is lost to the years –built this bin to last. It had to hold tons of coal to heat the house. The bin was tightly constructed and now we are going to destroy his hard work
We’re wearing old jeans, T-shirts, safety goggles, and heavy leather gloves. We have our tools ready—a hammer, a hatchet, a chisel, and a huge sledge hammer. We’ve both had our tetanus shots.
We circle the bin, trying to determine the best approach. We’ve already ascertained that none of the walls are supporting walls, so we’re pretty sure that the living room won’t crash down on us. I advocate for the calculated strategic approach, removing nails and disassembling the bin like a puzzle. My daughter argues for sheet brute force. She picks up the sledge hammer and with a mighty swing, bashes the bottom of a wall. Wood splinters skitter across the concrete floor. We both laugh manically—delighted with what we’re about to do.
We quickly develop a system—she whacks the wood several times while I stand out of the way. Then I move in and yank any stubborn nails and wrench the board away from its long-time neighbors. The nails screech as the claw hammer levers them out of the old wood. Soon our pile of boards grows tall and nails litter the floor. Each time she smashes into the structure, decades of old dust rains onto our heads. It’s in our hair and ears; we inhale it with each breath.
We vent our frustrations through this act of physically destroying something. Whack! That one’s aimed at the impossible former boss. Whack! That one’s aimed at an economy that seems stubbornly resistant to growth. Whack! That one is for hiring manages who never call back. But after the venting is done we move into another phase. We start talking about the positive—our plans for the space, the sequence of work, bids we’ve received for the electric and plumbing, our anticipation about the project.
We take a break for lunch. We wash up, laughing at the coal smidges on our faces and arms. We look like characters from a Dickens novel. While we eat, we discuss our graph-paper sketches again, making slight adjustments. We talk about carpet versus hardwood flooring, drywall versus suspended ceilings, and different types of lighting fixtures.
Rested and refueled, we head back to the basement.
By mid afternoon we are down to framing studs. She leaves to pickup the kids from school. I take my turn with the sledge hammer. Boards creak, nails screech, splinters fly. Bit by bit, the walls come down revealing a long hidden window in the corner. The space opens up and the whole basement is lighter.
My daughter arrives home and the kids race down the stairs to see how the project is coming. By the time my son-in-law gets home the demolition is done. We pick up nails and gather wood splinters, then get out the shop vac and clean yup the remaining coal dust and dirt. Where a good sized structure stood that morning there is now a clean, empty spot of concrete floor and empty walls.
I head home—tired, but happy. I jump in the shower and wash away the coal dust. I know that many long days of hard work lie ahead of us. We will have sore muscles, splinters in our fingers, bruises and bumps, but at the end of it, we will have something tangible to show for our work—three new rooms: a study, bedroom, and a “man cave” for my son-in-law.
But we will also have something intangible and just as valuable—weeks of working side –by-side, lots of laughs and sweat, mishaps and new stories to tell. Every swing of our hammers, every roller full of paint, every window shade hung binds us together.
Susan E. Lindsey is a free lance writer an independent book editor and publicist. She is the owner of Louisville based Savvy Communication LLC. Her essays have appeared in Underwired and, the Highlander. She currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky, and can be reached at:
susanlindsey@ssvvy-comm.com
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CHANGE A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!
Help an adult learn to read or speak better English!
Plan to attend the Next New Volunteer/Tutor Orientation.
Become a Literacy Tutor. You do not have to speak another
language or be a trained teacher.
Tutor Training is Free Next Training for new tutor help will be in late March
CONTACT : spencer@qx.net or 859 299 5982 to register for next training <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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THE MISSION OF BLUEGRASS LITERACY is to promote life
long learning, and to empower individual learners (15 years of age
and older) to improve their reading, writing, or help them learn English
as a second language. We also offer life skills support as needed
for adult learners.
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If you represent a Business, Church, or Service Organization
Interested in Supporting Adult Language Skills at your location:
1. Make a list of adults that will participate at your location and Contact
Bluegrass Literacy - 859 299 5982 spencer@qx.net
2. Provide us with a contact person from your site and access information
3. Provide us with specific time/dates for class instruction and start date desired
We can also provide training for your own site volunteers if that is something that is of interest.
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and we will arrange a drop off or pick up of WISH LIST Items.
Canon # 5 or # 8 Printer Cartridges
or ccartridges for Pimxa 560 Canon Printer
Holiday Decor items
Puppets/puppet related items
(1/2 to inch dowel rods,acrylic paints, colorful small children's tops or costumes/masks
or large doll clothing)
fabric & sewing notions/volunteers with sewing skills
craft supplies for jewerly making or buttons,
feathers, decorative papers, ribbon,
other kinds of craft supplies, wrapping paper,
novelty bags
paper craft color bits & pieces
copy paper =colored or white
general office supplies
laptop that will support (Windows 7)WORD and email needs)
volunteer help for Puppet Project or w/ Women's Service Learning Project Sessions
Hand made sewn items for fund raising projects
Graphic Software
$5 GIFT CARDS: Walmart, Office Depot,Target,Garden Store, Bookstore, Home Depot,Joseph Beth
Good Children's Books
Items that would make good prizes for Scrabblethons, Spelling Bees,
(Adult and Child participants) or newer Adult Novels
Garden items/seeds, potted plants, container garden items,etc.
Novelity Gift Items for use as prizes w/ adult learners
