Community Corner

Literacy Volunteers, MLK Center Join Forces

The two nonprofits will work together to through a shared United Way grant.

Two local nonprofits, Literacy Volunteers of East Bay (LVEB) and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (MLKCC), United Way of Rhode Island 2011 Merger and Shared Services Fund Grant Recipients, are joining forces to broaden the range of social and educational services each organization provides to families in need. 

As of June 27, LVEB will be located in the MLKCC at 20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd. The move will allow community members to more easily access programs from both organizations whose missions overlap - MLKCC offers literacy and educational programs to children and teens, while LVEB provides one-to-one and small group tutoring to adults wishing to improve their basic literacy skills and conversational English.

This innovative partnership leverages community resources and non-profit dollars to increase effectiveness and quality of service, cost savings and sustainability. Benefits include a common vision and mission to promote literacy and economic development through education, shared community space, increased programming, and coordinated services.

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Marilyn Warren, Director of the MLKCC says, “This partnership creates more opportunities for success for our clients and their families. Through the various adult and family education programs offered by LVEB and MLKCC, parents will be better equipped to provide for their children and to help them reach their full educational potential.” 

“We are excited about what this means for our clients and their families—to have diverse, comprehensive educational programs and solid case management,” says LVEB Director Jolene Hamil-Cole.

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Literacy Volunteers of East Bay is a nonprofit, educational program dedicated to helping adults of all ages improve their lives and their communities by learning reading, writing, math and problem-solving skills. LVEB trained tutors work with students who seek basic reading and writing skills as well as those preparing for their GED exams. They also work with ELL (English Language Learner) students who want to learn to speak English, acquire survival skills, and prepare for their citizenship exam. More information on LVEB can be found here: www.lveastbay.org/

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center offers nutritional, cultural, educational and social services to people of all ages and cultures in Newport County. In addition to a food pantry and breakfast program, the Center runs the DHS-licensed Lighthouse Preschool early learning center, the Lighthouse Academy extended learning time program for grades K-6, a  Summer camp for grades pre-K-6, a Teen Center with academic and enrichment activities, and many community programs such as the year-long Strong Woman Series for working women. More information on MLKCC can be found here: www.mlkccenter.org/


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