Fall Reception

Each year we look forward to celebrating our amazing volunteer tutors, instructors, and adult learners at the Fall Reception. This event gives us an opportunity to spotlight individuals who have gone above and beyond in service, and honor learners who have demonstrated excellence in their literacy journey.

This year’s event was even more of a celebration as we also honored our 50th anniversary and introduced the Community Service Award. See below for the award recipients and photos, courtesy of Jeri Love.

Volunteer service award

Jamie McAllister

Nominated by Abbey Weathers
Jamie McAllister has been volunteering with the Kalamazoo Literacy Council for two years now. Her passion for the work and excitement to serve the community has had a huge impact. She brings with her prior experience working with English language learners.

Jamie’s roles have included one-on-one tutoring with ESL and native English speakers, teaching an ESL digital literacy class, GED tutoring, leading tutor training with partner practice, and assessments. Her favorites of these roles so far have been one-on-one tutoring and becoming an assessor. She is also on the Adult Tutoring Program team of volunteer leaders and participates in monthly Workforce Literacy Forums.

Jamie finds the work to be rewarding for not just the community aspect, but for herself as well. She has really clicked with the staff, enjoys spending time with fellow volunteers, and of course loves getting to know the learners and their stories. She specifically appreciates getting to see how everyone has their differences that help to make up the vibrant community of Kalamazoo. She’s thankful for the opportunity to meet many new people through the KLC that she otherwise would not have had a chance to interact with. The tutor training, assessments, and Symposium have all added to her personal and professional development in many ways. Jamie looks forward to continuing her involvement with the KLC, and we certainly look forward to having her!

Nora Evers

Nominated by Abbey Weathers
Nora Evers has been involved with the Kalamazoo Literacy Council for two years now. She is a one-on-one tutor, a tutor trainer, has helped with partner practice, joined the mural painting crew, and is excited to get started with assessing. Nora brings to the KLC a vast experience in the education field. She was a professor at Kalamazoo College, a superintendent in Germany, a principal, and so much more. Nora came to the states from the Netherlands in an exchange program, she has firsthand experience with learning a new language and obtaining citizenship. She also currently volunteers at 12 Baskets and the homeless shelter at River Church.

Nora says she loves getting to know the KLC programs and the variety of opportunities we provide. From GED, to ESL and Citizenship – and everything in between! She has also really enjoyed getting to know different learners and their stories and cultures. She’s excited to get more involved in tutor training and help to train confident, capable tutors. Her philosophy with the KLC is: “I’m here to open doors for people and build self confidence. It wasn’t always easy for me either, and if I can do it, so can you.”

We are so grateful for Nora’s dedication to empowering learners and equipping volunteers!

Community Service award

Robin Simpson

Nominated by Michael Evans
Robin Simpson is the inaugural recipient of the Western Michigan University/Kalamazoo Literacy Council Resident Fellowship, where she collaborates with university and community experts to enhance resident engagement and promote leadership development and multi-generational learning. Within this role, she has shown unwavering commitment to completing the Literacy Lane Mural Project, participated in Photovoice, and served on the committee that is working with the Kalamazoo County Health Department to commemorate Albert White at that historic building.

Robin is a proud Edison resident who’s known for her multimedia talents and community leadership. With a personal mission to “put UNITY back in CommUNITY,” she focuses on history, education, the arts, and youth workforce development in audio-visual production. As the founder of Motherland Productions, she has empowered numerous young adults with multimedia skills, resulting in award-winning programs that address crucial community issues.

Her contributions have earned her numerous awards from organizations like the Kalamazoo Animation Festival and the Black Arts and Cultural Center. She holds an associate degree in graphic design from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and began her community service at Fort Bliss, TX, where she served as Vice Mayor of the Van Horne Housing Community.

mard little award for adult learner excellence recipient

Daniel Juarez

Nominated by Lupita Flores
Daniel has been a dedicated KLC learner for nearly two years, recently graduating from ESL Level 3 to Level 4. Highly motivated, he actively pursues English fluency, driven largely by his desire to support his two young children’s education and navigate the healthcare system effectively. Daniel understands that strong literacy skills are crucial for achieving his personal goals, especially when it comes to his family’s health. He believes in setting a good example for his kids, in terms of having a love of learning and being a good community member.

His instructors, Daniel Smith and Jan Anderson, praise him as a hardworking and engaged student who brings humor and encouragement to the classroom. He consistently seeks supplemental materials to enhance his understanding and participates actively in group activities, often taking on a leadership role. They wholeheartedly support Daniel as the 2024 recipient of the Mard Little Award for Adult Learner Excellence.

Nominees

Yun Shin Huang

Nominated by Kamaria Snell & Kito Jumanne-Marshall

Shin joined the ESL of SWMI program in 2023 and has demonstrated perseverance and dedication in her pursuit of English fluency. Fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese, and learning Japanese and Spanish, she has committed to a regular study schedule and has shown remarkable progress, advancing from basic reading skills to engaging in complex discussions. Shin actively participates in class and supports fellow learners, inspiring her peers and instructors alike.

Beyond her literacy achievements, she has engaged with the community – participating in a video project about KLC programs, competing at Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest, volunteering to paint a mural, successfully passing her driving test, and enrolling at KVCC. Shin’s journey highlights the transformative power of literacy, making her a role model and advocate for education. Her warm, friendly, yet driven nature showcases what can be accomplished with hard work, determination, and a charismatic personality.

Yaovi Katchan

Nominated by Vicki Konzen
I am nominating Yaovi Katchan for the Mard Little Award due to his quiet kindness, helpfulness, dedication to learning English, and humble nature. Despite working night shifts at JBS in Plainwell, Yaovi consistently attends morning class and diligently completes his homework, pays attention in class, and actively participates in discussions, showing significant improvement in his listening and reading tests in just a few months.

Originally from Togo, Yaovi holds a master’s degree in History of International Relations and aspires to be either a university professor or an international diplomat. He is also a devoted family man with a positive spirit. With his diligence and resilience, I am confident he will continue to improve his English and achieve his goals in the U.S. I am grateful to have met Yaovi in my Level 2 ESL class and celebrate his advancement to Level 3.

Jiajiun “Cathy” Jou

Nominated by Nancy Calme
I have had the privilege of tutoring Cathy Jou since 2015, and she is a highly motivated and committed learner who balances her own self-improvement with managing a busy household. After moving from Taiwan and feeling uncertain about her English, Cathy enrolled in ESL classes while volunteering at her children’s schools and participating in extracurricular activities.

Cathy and I have worked through the Challenger 6, 7, and 8 adult reading series, engaging in insightful discussions about English grammar and vocabulary. She diligently takes notes on flashcards to review new information, demonstrating her drive to improve.

Over our nine years together, Cathy has significantly enhanced her English skills, transitioning from a classroom volunteer to a paid playground supervisor and being recruited as an EL paraprofessional by the Portage school system. While she prioritizes her children and plans to wait until they graduate high school before pursuing a full-time job, her determination and skills make her well-suited for professional opportunities.

who is mard little?

Mard Little was a KLC learner who overcame incredible obstacles in her literacy journey. She came to us at age 67 with a third grade education. Through her dedication and working with her tutor, Judy Kepler, Mard excelled. She advanced six reading levels and gained the confidence to complete her life’s goal of writing her memoir. Read her full biography here.

This award recognizes a learner who has persisted through adverse circumstances in their literacy journey. Their educational and personal gains demonstrate strength and motivation, and inspire others to keep striving for their goals.