The Springfield area has recently gained a proactive, talented and dedicated worker to head up a new women’s halfway facility. This 57 year old worker is an adult literacy student who attributes a significant part of her success to her improved reading skills. She dropped out of high school during the tenth grade.

Two years ago she relocated from Chicago to Springfield and enrolled in Lawrence’s adult literacy program, also expressing a deep desire to overcome a history of drug addiction and alcoholism. She believed that being able to read and understand written materials would help her succeed.

A volunteer tutor focused hard on helping this student raise her self-esteem and improve her basic reading skills. As her reading improved, her self-confidence soared. She began mentoring family literacy students, speaking at workshops, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and special church events. She will be a great asset in her new position.