Success Stories

New Citizenship for Tuan

12/8/2021

We are excited to announce that Tuan Lam Cin has passed his naturalization test and is now a U.S. citizen. Tuan worked with his tutor Mary Hietpas to study civics, geography, and history to learn the 100 questions, as well as to read, write, and speak English to pass this exam. Congratulations

Noan

11/18/2021

Noan came to the United States in 2006. Although he came from Vietnam, he is not Vietnamese; instead, he belongs to a minority ethnic group known as the Montagnards. Because the Montagnards assisted the U.S. in the Vietnam war, they are subject to persecution and therefore have refugee status in the U.S.

In order to avoid arrest, Noan and his father lived in the jungle for two years, drinking sometimes contaminated water and eating mostly leaves, before finding their way to Cambodia and then to the U.S. Noan suffers from a hearing loss in both ears which traces back to lack of medical treatment during his childhood.

Immigrant Runs Own Business and Earns Citizenship

11/16/2021

When Gloria Aranda came to Craven Literacy Council in 2007 with a high school certificate from her native Colombia, her oral English abilities were sufficient only to satisfy basic survival needs and very routine social demands. She appealed to CLC for help communicating effectively so that she could be involved at her daughter’s school, participate in her church, find employment, and ultimately become a US citizen. Three years later Gloria’s oral skills had increased so much that she could function independently and competently in social and work situations. She is now actively involved with her daughter’s schooling and is comfortable interacting with her daughter’s counselor. Gloria understands the English sermons at her church and sings the hymns in English.

Celebrating Citizenship

11/16/2021

These are a few of the students who have studied at CLC and successfully passed the examination to become a U.S. citizen.

Way to go students!

Single Mom Improves Literacy for Better Job

6/1/2021

Being a young single mother brings significant challenges. Knowing that the best way to improve her family’s situation was to get a good paying job, Denise Ellis reached out to Craven Literacy Council for a tutor to help improve her reading and writing skills. In December, 2008, Denise met her tutor, Mary Helen Boone, and they have been working together ever since!

That commitment is an outstanding accomplishment; few tutor/student pairs invest that many years together. The result is a wonderful bond between these two women. Mary Helen has served as cheerleader, friend, inspiration, and shoulder-to-lean-on and she feels such pride to see the growth that Denise has made. Denise considers Mary Helen to be an important member of her “family” and is very appreciative of the encouragement and support that Mary Helen provided. They both consider themselves honored to share their story.

POEM BY FORMER STUDENT

1/1/2021

Twenty Six Letters
(A Poem by Earl Mills, a former CLC student)

Befuddled by the alphabet, fifty years old and can’t read yet.
Twenty –six letters have brought me such shame;
   someone asked me to spell my name.
Another bulletin at work today, who can I ask – what does it say?
Grandpa, will you read this book to me?
   I tell her the letters are too small to see.
I don’t have my glasses; I’m running late; I am victim to this lie I hate.
Cannot read – won’t tell a soul;
   secret of my youth- now I am old.
Letter after letter I can’t figure out; frustration inside, a silent shout.
Twenty-six letters can raise so much hell;
   their riddles to me they will not tell.
This secret stay locked within, but I will not let these letters win.