Thanks to a generous planning grant from the Kislak Foundation through the Florida Literacy Coalition, Manatee Literacy has launched two family literacy classes.  The first program is in collaboration with another local non-profit, Parenting Matters.  Our Program Coordinator, Therese Prather, taught this class to local parents to help them be able to advocate for their families. At the end of the 12-week course, families were celebrated and given a certificate of completion.  They are all also welcome to continue learning through our other programs. We received some incredible feedback from some of our 13 participants:

1. The classes are fun and have helped me feel more confident when I speak.
2. Every night my wife and I practice before going to sleep.
3. I am happy because I have been in this country for less than 1 year and I did not know any English. I already know how to ask questions at my son’s school.
4. The classes have helped me sharpen my hearing and be more alert in the conversations that occur at work with people who speak English. I am surprised that I understand the conversations better.
5. I can now talk to my boss little by little and I’m not scared.
6. I can call the doctor and I don’t have to ask my children to translate for me. It is a blessing and an emotion that I cannot explain.
7. My children are proud of me.
8. Time of the classes goes fast learning. We all want to learn and respect each other.
9. We feel more secure as parents with the combination of parenting and English classes. It has helped us grow as parents and understand our children.
10. I don’t want conversational English classes to end because we feel in a safe, confident, fun environment to learn and Elizabeth and the teacher understand.