Numeracy Counts American adult education focuses on improving workplace literacy and numeracy. The federal Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL) administers adult education and literacy programs to help adults acquire the basic skills they need including reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving to be productive workers, family members, and citizens. The PIACC Survey of Adult Skills map shows that forty-five percent of Dallas County adults are at or below level one numeracy, far behind the state and country. Adults at this level may only be able to count, sort, and perform basic math operations with whole numbers. They struggle when calculating decimals, percentages, and fractions, and are unable to engage in complicated problem solving. At Aspire we have a longstanding focus on building numeracy skills at the lowest levels. Some of our students confess to being unable to count money, follow medical instructions, or balance their bank account. Our Foundations classes are designed to build math skills from recognizing patterns to understanding complex operations. Higher level High School Equivalency preparation curricula—in English and Spanish—focus on algebra, geometry, and solving linear equations. In a world where technological advances require adults to constantly improve their numeracy skills too many of our Dallas County neighbors are left even further behind. At Aspire we create the space and relationships to learn about our students, their challenges and strengths, so that we can meet them where they are on their individual journeys and support them as they take their next learning step. - Linda K. Johnson, Ph.D. Aspire President and CEO

2021 "Lead With Literacy!": Thank You Thank you all for taking part in the "Lead with Literacy!" fundraising event held on April 22 with Literacy Texas. The event was a special night that brought together 30 nonprofits from across the state of Texas and was a great evening of sharing our needs and story. The night included national radio co-hosts and language experts Martha Barnette & Grant Barrett of A Way with Words, Krys Boyd of KERA's call-in-radio program as guest host and special guest John Quiñones and Cynthia Izaguirre of ABC news. The events of the past year have created a greater need for the services Aspire offers to families in need. Our responsibility to build a strong financial foundation is now as important as ever. Trying times always affect at risk communities in ways that make recovery difficult. - Paul DiBiase Chief Development Officer Donate

Please click on the image above to watch a very special 'Thank You' video dedicated to our incredible volunteers. Thank You Volunteers We are so thankful for our volunteers' remarkable service during these difficult times. We are grateful for the time they spend preparing and facilitating classes, checking in on students, and the many other ways they support our mission. On behalf of the Aspire family, we want to say THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers.

Student Spotlight This month we shine the spotlight on a student who immigrated to the United States without knowing any English and is now one step away from obtaining High School Equivalency. Motivated by her sister, who graduated from the Aberg Center after passing the GED exams, Maria enrolled in Aspire's Family Literacy and GED preparation programs nearly three years ago. "I don't want to work in restaurants anymore. I wanted to try something different, and I know to do that you need to go to school. I know the first step is to take the GED and from there I can go to college," said Maria. Immigrants who have come to Dallas work hard to create better lives for themselves all while navigating a foreign and unfamiliar world. And what they want for their families is what any of us would want for ours. Despite the English language being one of her biggest challenges, Maria has passed three of the four parts of the GED exam while becoming more involved in her children's education. "My daughter just turned four...[She is in PreK at Aspire] and we do a lot of activities...My son didn't like to read. I started [reading with them when I joined the family literacy program] and now he loves books...I talk to them and tell them how important it is. Even if they are little, I still encourage them. I always want them to have something that they want to accomplish," said Maria. We are very proud of Maria's accomplishments and look forward to celebrating when she passes the final portion of the GED exam and becomes a high school graduate. Learn More

Volunteer Spotlight Both a dedicated volunteer and active member in her community, Bette Stanford has always been on a path that is echoed in Aspire's mission to develop confident, capable individuals who value learning programs—from early childhood to adults pursuing careers—as a gateway to a better life. Bette began tutoring one-on-one with the Aberg Center three years ago before teaching GED language arts. Since then, Bette has been creating the space and relationships to learn about each student, allowing her to meet every student where they are on their learning journey. "It's not just about teaching GED or ESL. It's about emotional support too. I've learned to try to get to know each student personally. What their interests are, their goals. I try to write down all the children's names and their ages—to know who they are," said Bette. She is also involved in her community in a variety of ways. "Bette participates actively with Diapers, Etc., as they provide diapers, feminine hygiene supplies, and food to the community once a month. She helps ensure that their clients know about Aspire's programs. Bette is dedicated to making sure that community members' needs are met and does so by both providing direct service—such as teaching and distributing food and supplies—and making connections among agencies," said Chief Program Officer, Shana Harrison. As with all of Aspire's volunteers, Bette loves helping people improve their life. She identifies with her students, saying "I had difficulty myself when I was in high school and college with writing." Understanding how challenging learning can be, our volunteers witness the dedication and persistency of our students. We applaud Bette's many contributions. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Aspire please contact Bob Kersey, Volunteer Director, at BobKersey@AspireToLearn.org. Learn More

Dr. Linda K. Johnson Aspire President and CEO “A lifetime of learning helps us give the best of ourselves to our communities.”

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