Adrian Rea Literacy Center

10/08/2026

Heading to the SHU Library Sale next week?

We’re just down the street—and we’re having a moving sale of our own! 🏷️

As we prepare for our move, there are quite a few things we simply can’t take with us. We’ll have:

• Desks & filing cabinets
• Tables of various sizes
• Magazine racks & library carts
• Desk and Office chairs
• Computer monitors
• Office supplies
• Children’s books
• Kitchen items
• And more!

💵 We accept cash, and our donation platform accepts credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App.

• Bring your own moving supplies.
• No steps—we have a ramp entrance.

So if you’re already coming to the SHU Library Sale, make a day of it and stop by Adrian Rea Literacy Center too!

We hope to see you next week!

10/06/2026

On Saturday, we welcomed seven new volunteer tutors to the ARLC family! 🎉

Thank you, Elaine, Jim, Sr. Andy, Matt, Cari, Carol, and Rita, for spending your Saturday morning with us learning about adult literacy and what it means to be a volunteer tutor.

It was inspiring to hear why each of you decided to join us, and we’re excited to match you with a learner and see where this journey takes you.

Thank you for taking the leap and joining us. We’re so glad you’re here!

09/28/2026

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight: Brenda Cole 🌟

When Brenda retired from her career as a psychologist to care for her wife, she found herself missing something she had always valued in her work: connecting with people and helping them achieve goals that were important to them.

A friend encouraged Brenda to get out of the house, and a visit to the library led her to a flyer for Adrian Rea Literacy Center. She immediately saw a connection — tutoring would allow her to interact with people, help them work toward important goals, and support learning. It was exactly the kind of meaningful connection she had been missing.

Brenda admits that starting as a tutor came with some uncertainty. She was learning our curriculum while also learning how to support a learner who was learning English as a Spanish speaker.

Today, Brenda describes tutoring as a collaborative and deeply relational experience. She believes that you receive as much as you give, and that the relationship between tutor and learner is the foundation of the work.

We are so grateful for Brenda and the compassion, experience, and encouragement she brings to Adrian Rea Literacy Center. Thank you, Brenda, for being part of our literacy community! 💙

09/24/2026

We are excited to announce that ARLC has become a charter member of the National Adult Education Honor Society! We will be having our first induction ceremony on October 5th, when we will induct 24 adult learners who were nominated by their tutors based on the following criteria:

Attendance
Work Ethic
Educational Achievement
Leadership and Cooperation

We will be honoring these 24 adult learners, who show up week after week to improve their literacy and to improve their lives.

Learners such as Tomas, who has come to ARLC for several years to improve his English reading and speaking skills. Tomas works 12-hour days, six days a week at a local farm. On his one day off each week, he comes to ARLC to meet with his tutor, Darlene. He arrives determined and ready to work hard, often bringing questions about things that have come up during the week.

Or Sharon, who met with her tutor, Sr. Joanne, almost weekly for eight years. Even when ARLC was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharon and Sr. Joanne continued learning together through phone calls and letters. Sharon was diagnosed with dyslexia and began the program reading at a first-grade level. She worked through eight levels of curriculum and completed the program earlier this year reading at an eighth-grade level. Her progress has opened up more opportunities at work—and made it possible for her to experience the joy of reading to her grandchildren.

These are just two of the many inspiring stories of determination, perseverance, and achievement happening at ARLC.

If you would like to make a donation to support the NAEHS Inductees and our literacy programs at ARLC, please use the link in the comments.

Every gift makes a difference, and your support helps us recognize learners for the incredible work they have accomplished.

09/23/2026

We are searching for a few more special people to join us as volunteer tutors! 💙

📚 New Volunteer Training: October 3 | 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Our volunteer tutors meet weekly with an adult learner to provide 1:1 tutoring in reading, writing, digital literacy, or ESL. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience — a chance to make a real difference and help someone build skills that can improve their life.

You don’t need an education background — we will train you! What you do need is a caring and compassionate heart and the ability to commit to a regular weekly meeting time.

And don’t worry — “weekly” doesn’t mean you can never miss! Vacations, holidays, illness, and the occasional schedule conflict happen. We simply ask that you communicate with your learner and help maintain a consistent routine whenever possible.

If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, this could be your opportunity to make a lasting difference in someone’s life. ❤️

Join us on October 3 and become part of the Adrian Rea Literacy Center community! Link in comments, or you can call 517-264-7320 or email [email protected] for more info.

09/22/2026

Volunteer Spotlight: Elizabeth Fomin

Elizabeth has been a volunteer tutor at the Adrian Rea Literacy Center since April 2024.

Elizabeth was recently interviewed by our Volunteer Coordinator Kristi:

Why did you decide to volunteer at ARLC?

"I had wanted to volunteer in adult literacy for about 20 or 25 years. It started when I was teaching at Henry Ford Community College in the early 2000s and I discovered some students that needed some remediation in literacy - and I thought this is a place where more people are needed. I always imagined I'd do it when I retired. I don't know if I'll ever retire, so I just decided to start."

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at ARLC?
"The learners. All of them are great. My learner is great. My previous learner was from Ukraine and she was wonderful. I miss her."

Is there a moment that stands out for you?
"My learner was invited to speak at a formal event for the literacy center. He was a little nervous about speaking to a crowd of people, but he did an amazing job. I was as proud of him as if he was my own son. It was a beautiful day and very special to see him so confident."

What would you tell someone considering volunteering at ARLC?
"Don’t wait. Don't wait till you retire. Just get started now."

How has it changed you?
"It's made me more aware of the situation of immigrants. It's one thing to hear stories in the news. It's another thing to know somebody who's going through these tribulations. It personalizes the stories you hear."

Has anything surprised you about your experience?
"How brilliant some of the students are. They don't realize how smart they are."

Thank you, Elizabeth, for the time, energy, and heart you bring to your interactions with your paired learners. We are so appreciative of you.
. . . . . .

If you are interested in volunteering, visit our website to learn more!

09/18/2026

As National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week comes to an end, we want to take a moment to recognize the heart of the Literacy Center—our learners and tutors.

Last Sunday, we kicked off the week with a potluck and celebrate adult education and the retirements of Doris and Sr. Joanne. More than 60 tutors, learners, and family members joined us, making for a wonderful afternoon and a great reminder of the community that has been built at the Center.

While this week may be coming to an end, our celebration of adult literacy continues all year long. We are grateful every day for the people who make Adrian Rea Literacy Center such a welcoming and supportive place to learn, grow, and connect.

09/17/2026

Thank you to the Lenawee County Commissioners for helping us celebrate National Adult Literacy and Family Literacy week by honoring the work of the Adrian Rea Literacy Center.

Literacy impacts nearly every facet of an individual’s life- work, family, education, and the ability to participate fully in the community.

This year, we will serve over 80 adults through one-on-one tutoring, classes, and our new digital literacy program.

We are grateful for the recognition of the hard work of our adult learners, volunteer tutors, and staff.

WHEREAS, adult education provides adults with opportunities to improve their reading, writing, speaking, basic math, and workforce skills, creating pathways to better employment, further education, and improved quality of life; and

WHEREAS, the Adrian Rea Literacy Center (ARLC), established in 2008, provides free, one-to-one instruction from certified tutors to adults age 18 and older, helping learners achieve their individual educational, career, and personal goals; and

WHEREAS, through a safe and supportive learning environment, ARLC helps adults meet the challenges of everyday life through education, while strengthening families and the community; and

WHEREAS, the benefits of adult literacy extend beyond the individual, including better employment opportunities, improved health, and stronger educational outcomes for children, with more than 100 families each year benefiting from connections with tutors at the Adrian Rea Literacy Center; and

WHEREAS, adult learners, educators, and literacy programs make valuable contributions to the strength and success of Lenawee County;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim September 13-19, 2026, as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week in Lenawee County, Michigan, and encourage all citizens to recognize and support the importance of adult education and family literacy.

Passed by roll call vote of the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners at a regular meeting held Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in the Old County Courthouse, Adrian, Michigan.

09/16/2026

This week is National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week!

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing some facts about adult literacy and why it matters in our community.

One literacy level can change a life.

Moving from Literacy Level 1 to Level 2 may sound like a small step, but research shows it can make a significant difference. Adults who move up just one literacy level can cut their risk of living in poverty nearly in half.

That progress can mean being better able to:
• Understand information at work
• Complete forms and applications
• Read and understand important documents
• Help children with schoolwork
• Navigate everyday life with greater independence

At the Adrian Rea Literacy Center, we celebrate these steps. A learner moving from Level 1 to Level 2 isn't just earning a new number on an assessment—it can mean more choices, greater confidence, and new opportunities.

09/15/2026

A very big thank you to Catrina Ossman of Clever Ideas Marketing for restocking our coffee supplies! We were running low on coffee cups, creamer, and sweetener, and Catrina answered our call. ❤️

These supplies play an important role in our hospitality area, where learners and tutors gather to enjoy a cup of coffee, share conversation, and build relationships. It’s one of the many little things that helps create the strong sense of community we value so much at Adrian Rea Literacy Center.

Thank you, Catrina, for helping us create a welcoming space where learning, friendship, and community can grow!