LEAP Richmond

The Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) is gearing up for the surge in COVID-19 cases and we are working hard to make our services available to the community. We are not sure how long we will be closed to the public, but we are working with students to make sure they have the necessary resources for success. LEAP has rolled out a Chromebook lending program. Students are eligible to checkout a laptop after completing the required minimum study hours either via Zoom or by p...hone with their program instructor. Additionally, LEAP has continued its partnership with Fresh Approach, the Mobile Farmers’ Market, and we are continuing to supply students with Leap Bucks that they can cash in for fresh vegetables and fruit from Local California Farms. Students are given Leap Bucks based on their classroom and homework participation. If you, or anyone you know is interested in enrolling in our virtual program and reaping from the LEAP benefits please give us a call at 510-307-8084 to set up an appointment, or visit our website at https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/788/Literacy-Program-LEAP. Also, please checkout LEAP’s revamped Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LEAPRICHMONDCA.

The Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) Recognizes Veterans The Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) gives a special thank you to our very own veteran, Nolan L. Robinson. Mr. Robinson joined LEAP in October 2009 and is the Math teacher for our adult learners pursuing the GED. Mr. Robinson served in the United States Army, A.S.A. - an affiliate of N.S.A - from 1965-1969. After basic training at Fort Ord, Monterrey, CA and studying Russian at the Defense Language Institu...te, Nolan was assigned to Berlin, Germany during the Los Angeles riots and the Vietnam conflict. Mr. Nolan’s service duty included working in voices intercept operation, data collection, and data analysis. Military service helped Nolan become a responsible and contributing citizen to society and his community which he still serves today. The dedication our veterans have shown through their service sets an example for all of us. Thank you to Mr. Nolan and all the veterans for your service and commitment. If you are interested in taking math courses with Mr. Nolan or pursuing other subject areas for the GED, please contact the LEAP office at 510-307-8084 to schedule an appointment or visit our website at https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/788/Literacy-Program-LEAP to learn more about program. Also, please check LEAP’s revamped Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LEAPRICHMONDCA/.

Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP): Homage to a LEAP Student The Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) is an outreach extension of the city of Richmond’s Library and Community Services Department. LEAP has provided services to thousands of Richmond citizens during its history. Many of these citizens have reinvested their acquired skills, developed at LEAP, into jobs and services that support the city of Richmond. Tamisha Walker Torres is one of those citizens. Ms. T...orres is the Executive Director of Safe Return Project located in Richmond. Ms. Torres came to LEAP after being incarcerated as a result of her personal experience with trauma and poverty growing up in Richmond. After acquiring her GED at LEAP, Ms. Torres continued her education which includes professional training in research and advocacy, violence prevention, and conflict mediation. As a founding member of Safe Return Project, Ms. Torres has been instrumental in the passage of CA Prop 47, AB 109, and AB 218. The staff and supporters of LEAP are grateful for the opportunity of assisting in the growth and development of a resident of the City of Richmond who is giving back to her city.

LEAP’s Family for Literacy Program (FFL) One of the priority focus areas that have strengthened the library’s community services is delivering family literacy support. The Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) trains and supports adult learners to achieve their individual goals, but the program is also for adult learners who have children or grandchildren from birth through school age.... LEAP has a Family for Literacy Program (FFL) designed to help adults develop the skills and confidence to be involved in children’s literacy development. Some of the program goals are to introduce families to the joy and value of reading, establish home libraries with our book giveaways, equip parents with the skills to prepare their children for reading, and most importantly build self-esteem. This month LEAP has provided parents with fun ways to engage with their children during Halloween with at home activities and games. We were sure to include literacy-supporting concepts, such as play, numeracy, memory, and visual spatial awareness. LEAP will continue to create more opportunities for families to develop a culture of positive learning experiences together with their children and continue to make an inter-generational change in our community. If you are a parent or interested in volunteering for our Family for Literacy Program please feel free to contact LEAP at (510) 307-8009 or visiting our office by appointment. Learn more about LEAP and getting involved by visiting our website at https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/788/Literacy-Program-LEAP or check out LEAP’s revamped Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/LEAPRICHMONDCA/.

Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) Partnerships As you well know, LEAP is among the community services offered in the Library and Community Services Department. We are uniquely able to form partnerships which allow us to work closely within our department to offer a wider range of services to the community and also allow our program to extend our reach into different sectors it hasn’t reached before. Historically, LEAP has worked closely with many organizations including... SparkPoint, an institution that has helped Richmond residents overcome financial challenges, Richmond Rescue Mission, Office of Neighborhood Safety, Richmond Adult School, and Richmond Promise, just to name a few. LEAP believes these partnerships and collaborations will continue to solidify the foundation of our program and grant an opportunity to extend ourselves to the best of our abilities in helping our Richmond residents. Most recently LEAP has joined the Economic Justice Action Team (EJAT) with the goal to create an employment and business environment in Richmond that brings growth and economic vitality to the region, while residents build their capacity and financial stability and take advantage of employment and other economic opportunities. LEAP is also looking forward to working with Richmond PAL and the Richmond Main Street Initiative to provide resources and help promote for their meal-giveaways to the community. If you are interested in partnering with LEAP please don’t hesitate to reach out! Learn more about volunteering with us and getting involved in community services by contacting us at (510) 307-8084 or by visiting our website at https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/788/Literacy-Program-LEAP. Also check out LEAP’s revamped Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LEAPRICHMONDCA/.

Despite the unforeseen circumstances created by COVID-19, Katie Jiminez accomplished her educational goal of completing the GED. When Katie first applied to the Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) she had already completed her education as a Phlebotomist. Even though she was trained, Katie’s lack of a high school diploma created a barrier to receiving her license and gaining employment. Motivated to receive her license and start a career, Katie worked closely with LEAP in...structors to navigate the process, study hard, and pass the tests. When asked about earning the GED, Katie said that it was very important to her and that it empowered her to be able to get the job she had been trained for, but she also found another benefit. Katie said, Earning my GED has given me the confidence to know that I can help my daughter with her homework as she moves her way through school. Katie’s story highlights both the importance of an education and, especially, the need to break down barriers and create benefits that impact generations. As COVID-19 catalyzes inequity, LEAP continues to offer services that break down barriers and empower Richmond residents. If you would like to find out more about our recent graduates or how to support LEAP please visit our LEAP Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LEAPRICHMONDCA/. If you are interested in enrolling in our program, getting involved in volunteer opportunities or learning about our new class schedule please contact us at (510) 307-8084 or visit our website at https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/788/Literacy-Program-LEAP to schedule an appointment. See more

When asked why volunteer at LEAP, long-time volunteer Margaret Browne responded I want to teach adults, lend my skills from my time as an educator, and give back to my Richmond community. Just like Margaret described, volunteering comes with many rewards like being part of a community, learning about yourself as you work with others, bringing social change, seeing results and overcoming challenges. At the Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP), volunteers make a huge and n...eeded difference as their skills and commitment are essential for the program to operate effectively. Most volunteers at LEAP are matched with a student or a class. Volunteers are trained to become tutors and meet with their students usually about 2 hours, twice a week. Our Volunteer Tutor/Learner Coordinator will always be available for volunteers to help them along the way and is always flexible and understanding of them and their student’s needs. If you are interested in learning more about the rewards of volunteerism and how to sign up with LEAP, feel free to contact Jessica Barragan at 510-307-8009 for an appointment or email at [email protected]. See more

The Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) is now open to hosting in-person GED testing! Despite the added barriers our students continue to overcome due to COVID-19, remote learning has provided flexibility and opportunity for LEAP students seeking to obtain the GED. Prior to the pandemic, all students were required to take GED tests at assigned testing centers but now, the GED test is remote and can be taken anywhere, including at the LEAP office. GED testing was almost im...possible in the summer because most testing centers were closed. Since July 1st, LEAP has adapted to the technological needs of the test and has hosted 16 subject tests with 13 tests successfully passed. Remote learning now provides students with schedule flexibility and a comfortable place to take the test. If you would like to be part of the remote learning experience, learn more about LEAP’s online classes on Zoom, GED Academy, and now the GED test please contact us at (510) 307-8084 or visit our website at https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/788/Literacy-Program-LEAP to schedule an appointment. See more

LEAP’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Program The Literacy for Every Adult Program highlights the great work of our ESL students including Wei Li, Yunqy Wang, Carlos Ponce, Adriana Diosdado, and Safira Guzman just to name a few. These students all started the program at the beginner’s level and have accomplished so many merits from learning how to read, improving pronunciation and grammar rules to graduating to an ESL intermediate or advanced level. Some students like Car...los Ponce, completed his GED, graduated, and even found employment through a local bakery program! The students couldn’t have done it without the help of their ESL instructor Hilaria Wright. Hilaria has been with LEAP for over 20 years and enjoys nothing more than giving back to her community. We are proud of all our ESL students and their personal accomplishments and will continue to advocate serving their needs. An estimated 35,000 residents of Richmond are from another country and do not speak English as their first language. English classes are clearly important for adults who want to gain citizenship, improve their work opportunities or provide greater guidance and support for their children’s academic success. The LEAP English as a Second Language program provides residents with the opportunity to improve their listening, reading, speaking and writing skills at the most basic level. The LEAP ESL program combines direct instruction and technology to assist beginning learners with the basics for speaking, reading, writing and listening in English. Using everyday situations and vocabulary, LEAP offers students opportunities to practice English conversations necessary for daily life. If you are interested in enrolling in our ESL program, getting involved in volunteer opportunities or learning about our new class schedule please contact us at (510) 307-8084 or visit our website at https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/788/Literacy-Program-LEAP to schedule an appointment. Please be mindful that although we are unable to accommodate walk-ins at this time, we do offer many virtual services that will allow you to enjoy the LEAP experience. See more

Despite the pandemic, regardless of classroom closure, Amaya perserved, finished her final GED test and graduated August 3rd, 2020. We are very proud of her success. It has shown LEAP that together, what we are doing is working.

Thank you to all our fabulous students who participated. It was a total success. See all of you in your Zoom classrooms.

Yay! The Richmond Library is starting front door service. Books! DVDs! EBooks and audiobooks! Monday through Friday 10:00 am- 4:00 pm!

If you are an adult undocumented immigrant impacted by COVID-19 and are still needing some disaster relief assistance, call 1(415) 324-1011.