Dominican Sisters of Peace

Dominican Learning Center

1111 East Stewart Avenue
Columbus, OH, 43206
614.444.7330
Fax: 614.444.3628
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Executive Director

Education Improves Lives.

In 1994, the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs established the Dominican Learning Center to respond to the growing literacy needs in Columbus, Ohio. Since the Center’s opening, Columbus has consistently ranked as the number one city in the United States for growth of immigrant and refugee populations.

According to Columbus Literacy Council statistics, 20% of adults in Columbus lack the reading, writing, and basic math skills needed to function effectively in daily life. Additionally, it has been shown that an adult without a high school diploma earns 45% less than a high school graduate. Also, 50% of the chronically unemployed have low literacy levels.

Since the time of the Center’s founding, it has grown both in the number of students served and the number of volunteers. Students and tutors from all over the city come together to work one-on-one to enhance reading skills, prepare for GED examinations, or learn English as a Second Language (ESL).

Mission
Statement of Concern
Vision
Value Statement
Services Offered
History
Location
DLC Volunteer Opportunities
DLC Tutoring Workshops
DLC Supporters
DLC Calendar of Events
Student Writings
Advisory Council
Affiliations
Brochure
Organizational Chart

Mission

The Dominican Learning Center (DLC) provides one-to-one tutoring to help adults to improve their skills in reading, writing, spelling, speaking, listening, mathematics and basic computer use.

Statement of Concern

Over 90,000 adults in Columbus, Ohio are functionally illiterate. Their reading ability is at a level of between fourth grade to eighth grade. The Dominican Learning Center (DLC) targets individual adult learners who have low reading levels, as well as adults wanting to pass GED examinations or learn English as a Second Language (ESL). Through one-on-one instruction and modeling of Christian concern, the DLC assists adult students to master learning skills and concomitantly raise their self esteem.

In 1994 the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs embarked on a project to locate a literacy center in a low income, poverty stricken neighborhood with available public transportation. Of the population the Center serves, 60% are minorities. These students are predominately in the age range of 25-44 and are desperately seeking employment. Three quarters of the students are seeking English as a second language (ESL) assistance.

Many participants are looking for individualized instruction and most other centers do not provide it. The average student at the Dominican Learning Center demonstrates an advancement of one to two grade levels in a year.

Vision

The Dominican Learning Center envisions a world in which everyone in every neighborhood can read, write, compute, and use technology to experience a healthy, productive, fulfilling, and peaceful life.

Value Statement

The Dominican Learning Center (DLC) is committed to respecting the dignity, unique talents and individuality of every learner served.  The DLC provides excellent, innovative instruction in a welcoming and peaceful environment in order to inspire, motivate, and build self confidence.

Services Offered

Adult Basic Education (ABE) – for adult students needing to upgrade their skills in Reading, Writing, Basic English or basic Mathematics before entering a GED program.

Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) – for adults who did not graduate from high School and want to earn a high school equivalency diploma.  Students who are working on a GED must come to the Dominican Learning Center, not a Library or Satellite Program.

English as a Second Language (ESL) – designed for those whose native language is not English.

Citizenship – for adults who have an alien registration card, have resided in the United States for at least five years, met the necessary requirements, and wish to become citizens of the United States.

Conversation Buddies or Classes – for ESL adults whose native language is not English.  These adults want to improve their speaking skills.

Computer Skills – one to one instruction for a student on an intermediate to advanced level who want to learn basic computer.

Family Education – will be offered in the evening twice a month beginning in September 2010 at St. Thomas Satellite Program.  January of 2011 we will begin the program at Livingston Avenue Elementary School.  From then on it will be offered every Thursday at one of the two sites.

 

History

The Dominican Learning Center was established in June, 1994, at the directive of the Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs. The Congregation has served the Columbus area since 1868 as educators and has taught in and administered elementary and secondary schools as well as two colleges. In order to respond to a Congregational directive and a Columbus community need for increased adult literacy the Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs empowered the first Director, Sr. Marie Granger, a faculty member of Ohio Dominican University, to secure a facility at a site in a low income neighborhood; to equip the facility with educational materials and equipment; to recruit and train volunteer staff in various methods of instruction, including the respected Laubach approach (now known as Pro Literacy America), and to design an instructional program. The Congregation gave start-up funds to initiate the Literacy Project and challenged the Director to seek additional funding from a variety of other sources to continue the effort.

In 2003, Sr. Shawn Fitzpatrick assumed the position of Administrator for the Dominican Learning Center. She and administrative team members Sr. Robin Richard, Sr. Marie Granger, Sr. Jo Ann Lamantia, Sr. Mary Ruth Leandres, Sr. Mary Linda Lorenz, Sr. Louise Wilxman, Mrs. Corrine Hughes, and Mrs. Tina Baker manage the day-to-day operations of the Center. The chronology of the program is:

Location

The Dominican Learning Center is located at the corner of East Stewart Avenue and Lockbourne Road in Columbus. It is within easy walking distance of COTA bus stops on Whittier Street.

For a printable brochure (in Adobe PDF format) about the Dominican Learning Center, which includes these directions and the map below, click here.

DLC Volunteer Opportunities

You can help change a life!

Illiteracy is one of the root causes of poverty, hopelessness, violence, and imprisonment. Studies show that nearly 48% of adults in the United states are functionally illiterate, and in the last ten years, Columbus ranks number one for growth of immigrant and refugee populations. You can help change a life by volunteering to tutor one student one hour per week.

The Dominican Learning Center accepts applications for volunteer tutors on an on-going basis. Tutors commit to work with a student approximately one hour per week (although some tutors elect to work with more than one student). Workshops are provided to teach volunteers about tutoring effectively. If you have a high school diploma and are interested in becoming a volunteer tutor, please call us at 614.444.7330 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

Help us help others

If you are interested in volunteering in a capacity other than tutoring, please call us at 614.444.7330 or email us [mailto: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)]  to discuss the possibilities. Administrative, phone answering, receptionist or cleaning help and assistance with periodic individual projects are welcome on a regular or one-time basis.

DLC Tutoring Workshops

All volunteer tutors of the Dominican Learning Center are required to complete two training workshops to learn effective tutoring techniques. Workshops are scheduled periodically to accommodate new volunteers. A general workshop outline is included here, but please contact the DLC (614.444.7330 or by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) for more information.

Workshop 1 - The purpose of the workshop is to prepare tutors to become successful teachers of adult literacy students
Time:  Three and a half hours, usually a Saturday morning, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm.
Dates: (Offered monthly, Sept through June)

Place:
The Dominican Learning Center, 1111 East Stewart Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43206 (see map)

Workshop 2 - Individual instruction for tutors; a follow-up to Workshop 1
Time: Approximately 1 to 1½ hours
Dates: Workshop 2 is scheduled at a date and time acceptable to the tutor prior to teaching his/her first session
Place: The Dominican Learning Center, 1111 East Stewart Avenue, Columbus or at the satellite or library where tutoring will occur

DLC Supporters

The literacy efforts of the Dominican Learning Center have been supported through contributions of corporations, foundations, civic organizations and individuals. Below is a list of some of the contributing organizations.

For more information about supporting the Dominican Learning Center, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), call us toll-free at (877) 277-0508, or visit our Support webpage.

DLC Calendar of Events

September 8, 2010
Tutoring Resumes

November 22-26, 2010
Thanksgiving Holidays

December 17, 2010
Winter Break Begins at noon

January 3, 2011
Tutoring Resumes

January 17, 2011
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

February 21, 2011
President’s Day

April 21, 2011
Spring Break Begins

May 2, 2011
Tutoring Resumes

May 20, 2011
Tutor Appreciation Luncheon Martin de Porres Center 12:30 (no classes)

May 30, 2011
Memorial Day Observance

June 17, 2011
Summer Break Begins at noon

Student Writings

• Virginie Timbila Tchalim
• Mohamed Abdullahi
• David Parks

Advisory Council

The Dominican Learning Center has organized an advisory council whose members promote the Center’s general welfare, advancement and improvement, and provide advice and assistance regarding the operation of the Center’s program, expansion
and outreach.

Members of the Dominican Learning Center Advisory Council are:
Mrs. Tina Baker, Secretary (Ex Officio)
Sr. Jeanne Conrad, OP
Dr. Joseph M. Gentilini, Chairperson
Mr. Robert Holodnak
Mr. John Tucker
Mr. Robert Vaughan
Mr. James K. Williams, Jr., Vice Chairperson

Affiliations

The Dominican Learning Center is affiliated with ProLiteracy Worldwide and the Ohio Literacy Network (OLN). Within the Dominican Family, the Center is part of The Dominican Link.

Vision

Mission

Support