In February 2022, NowKalamazoo published an article called “Language barrier key to welcoming refugees,” featuring tutor & learner pair Carol Black and Esperance Mukeshayezu. In October 2025, they followed up with an updated profile of our ESL program at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
Join the KLC and WMU for an exciting day of connecting, learning, and sharing insights around best practices in adult education. Free to attend and lunch is provided.
The 14th Annual Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest happens Saturday, August 9, 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Radisson, at 100 W. Michigan Ave. This popular event is our largest fundraiser, and it brings together word enthusiasts of all skill levels for an afternoon of fun, friendly competition, and community spirit.
The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department (HCS), in partnership with the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, the Edison Resident Scholars, and Western Michigan University invites the community to commemorate the life and work of Albert J. White on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 4:30 p.m. at 311 E. Alcott St.
Join Western Michigan University and the Kalamazoo Literacy Council for an exciting day of learning and sharing tools and insights around adult literacy.
Read how Lawonda White used our services to strengthen her literacy skills and became an empowered advocate for herself and her son.
The KLC is the only agency exclusively dedicated to providing free, quality basic literacy services to adults in Kalamazoo County who struggle to read.
Sample a delicious Kalamazoo Skyline IPA and help support adult literacy in the community.
Join us for a very special Family Literacy Day at Wax Wings Brewing Co! Sunday, January 21, 3:00-5:00 p.m. at 3480 Gull Rd.
Over 35 Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan businesses are working with Western Michigan University to provide students with paid internships.
Dr. Deveta Gardner, Associate Dean, WMU’s Merze Tate College and KLC Executive Director Michael Evans. Dr. Gardner delivered welcome remarks at the 2022 Adult Literacy Research and Training Symposium.
“Empowered learners make better employees and build the best businesses,” Rose Fetzer, Adult Learning Services Navigator at KLC.
The purpose of this position is to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and provide academic support for English Language Learners. The position seeks to improve the ability of English Language Learners to communicate in English to meet their academic, professional, and personal goals.
We are honored to be among the outstanding organizations selected as grant recipients by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. These funds will allow us to continue the important work around our Edison Early Childhood Education Career Pathway, which serves to nurture the development of Early Learning Professionals and high quality childcare, right here in Kalamazoo County.
Sadia participated in the Edison Early Childhood Education Career Pathway, and is now working in her dream role, helping young children foster a love of learning.
Esperance Mukeshayezu and Carol Pratt meet three days a week for an hour and a half at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage. Mukeshayezu escaped genocide in Rwanda and Pratt, a volunteer tutor at the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, helps her improve her English skills.
The partnership has been moving to its next phases in December, including planning of a summit focusing on attaining input from local parents, and learning their priorities and concerns regarding early childhood education.
Dr. Edward Montgomery will formally announce the partnership during his welcome address at the 2021 Adult Literacy Research and Training Symposium from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, at the Fetzer Center and online. This free, annual symposium, “Fostering Leadership and Equity Through Adult Literacy,” facilitates cooperation between the academic research of best practices in adult literacy and community-based application of this knowledge.
The Edison Early Childhood Education Career Pathway has received a $300,000 Child Care Innovation Award from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC). The funds will be used to launch Phase 2 of the program and scale up efforts to develop a sustainable career path that addresses the growing need for qualified early learning professionals in the Edison community of Kalamazoo.
The Mard Little Award for Adult Learner Excellence is presented to KLC learners who have persevered through obstacles along their literacy journey to reach their academic and personal goals.
Rodney is a KLC learner who recently came back into service. Originally from St. Louis, he’s been in the Kalamazoo area for 20 years. Growing up in a family of 10, Rodney’s early path in life was rocky. He spent many years in the streets and ended up incarcerated. While there, he was able to reflect on himself and his choices. After several tragedies, including the loss of his mother and son, he vowed to do better and spend time with more positive people who could help him make better choices.
A partnership between the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, Southwest Michigan Child Care Resource and the YWCA will scale up a neighborhood-based career pathway that creates full-time child care jobs with competitive wages in a community with a child care shortage.
“All across the state, all across the country, we do find that there are adults who struggle to read and the term functional literacy really means reading at 0 to fourth grade level,” Michael Evans, the executive director of the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, said. “Most documents for adults struggling to read at that level, they may not be able to read it independently. So that might mean the mail you receive, the applications you need to fill out if you try to apply for a job — not being able to search those jobs and be able to see how you fit.”
Here in West Michigan, the Kalamazoo Literacy Council said 13% of adults in Kalamazoo County, or about 25,495, could not read, citing data from the National Institute for Literacy.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and a group of bipartisan lawmakers held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to unveil a package of bills aimed at increasing access to child care services, particularly for working families.
Idy Cheng is originally from Hong Kong, China, and moved to Kalamazoo from Pennsylvania, with her two children, over 10 years ago. She has studied with the KLC through our ESL of Southwest Michigan program since June of 2020.
Walking for 30 minutes a day or more on most days of the week is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health. If you can’t manage 30 minutes a day, remember that even a little is better than none so try to go for a shorter walk if you can.
Create a list of questions for your doctor before your next appointment so you can be better educated on your personal health.
Reduce the amount of sugary drinks you consume. Start by choosing drinks with few or no calories. Water is best. This will help to prevent heart disease.
Please read our updated statement on our Covid-19 safety protocols and procedures for adult learning at the KLC.
A love for family, a quest for a better life and a stroke of luck brought Elvis Vetene to West Michigan. Vetene won the visa lottery, also called the Diversity Visa Program. He left the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Kalamazoo to give his family a better life. Vetene spoke several African languages and French. But because of COVID-19 his English level was not improving.
Lawonda White first came to the Kalamazoo Literacy Council in October of 2014. She came with goals of post-secondary education, employment, and supporting her child’s education…
Naomi began attending in-person classes through our Community Literacy Center (CLC) at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and once the pandemic hit, she continued her studies through our Virtual Learning Center.
“I believe adult literacy is so important because it allows people to maximize their talents and their interests, and their ambitions.” – Jane Rooks Ross, Tutor
Read the latest KLC news! See highlights from the Summer ESL program, Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest, new class offerings, and more.
