November 7, 2024 • 30 mins
CEO Sam O'Bryant talks to Stormy about celebrating 50 years leading in literacy at Literacy Midsouth Memphis.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Pulse.
I am Stormy with you. Thank you for being here
with me this weekend. I have a very special guest
on the show, and we're talking about a very important
issue in our community, and I want you to join
in on the conversation. Go ahead and call your friends
and everybody and tell them to come around to the
(00:20):
radio or hit them up text message, all that good stuff. Okay,
So welcome in everyone, and welcome my guests today with
Literacy mid South. Tell us who you are and what
it is that you do.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Sure, and thank you for having me storm You're very welcome,
Thank you, very glad to be here. My name is
Sam O'Brien and I serve as the chief executive officer
of Literacy min South. Literacy min South, we call ourselves
a regional literacy intermediary and what that means is, in short,
we provide literacy resources to as many individuals as we
(00:56):
can throughout Memphis and Shelby County across the lifespan.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
That is our.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Earliest you know, potential readers who are children, and even
our more seasoned readers who are fall.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Into that adult category.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Okay, and so what we're doing here, just in general,
just kind of a quick overview of our programming. One
program that we're very proud of. We call it Tutor
nine o one. It is a partnership with Memphis Shelby
County Schools. We are in twenty six elementary schools providing
high dosage tutoring during the day. Okay, if you may
remember a few years back, following COVID, there was just
(01:33):
quite a bit of learning loss as a result of
children not being in school for that full year. The
way that we responded to it was the creation of
Tutor nine on one. You know, this is year three
that we've been doing it, and go ahead.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So you guys offer the volunteers, I guess in Memphis
the opportunity or people in Memphis the opportunity to come
volunteer with you guys.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
We pay them what yes, ma'am, We pay them.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And to tutor kids. Does it matter how old they are,
if they want to help.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Kids, it does not matter.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
You're kidding, man.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
We have college freshmen and sophomores that we pay as tutors.
We have retired teachers that have come back to the
classroom to be tutors. We have parents, they may work
a second or third shift job, and so since the
tutoring is during the day, this is one it's a
supplemental income opportunity, but it is also a chance for
their parents to be involved in the child's life, kind
(02:25):
of creating this parental involvement space while they're being paid
to do tutoring.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Wow. I do a little tutoring over at Dunbar, okay,
And it's rewarding work.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Okay, it really is.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
If you have time, we'd love for you to come
tutor a literacy missiles.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
You know, we have this have the celebrity space in
there as well.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
You know, Okay, well then I might need to come
over there and do that. It's rewarding, ladies and gentlemen.
For those of you that have never done it before,
and maybe you're thinking about doing it, it's very rewarding.
And I think a lot of people probably feel like, well,
well they feel intimidated because teaching someone else to read
or even to learn how to do certain things like
(03:06):
that maybe intimidating for people that have challenges themselves, but
generally it's pretty I guess fundamental. It's not anything that
rocket scientists do.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
No it's not.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And the other thing about it, we train all of
our tutors. So quite a few members of my staff
are former educators, so there used to being in the classroom,
so they know what a tutor needs to know before
they walk into a space to engage with the child.
So we train tutors based on standards from the Tennessee
Department of Education, based on standards from Memphis Shelby County Schools.
(03:44):
So the tutoring and the training they receive, in one word,
it is legit, so they can tutor. And then from
there we're able to see progress that students have made
throughout the school year. So yeah, something again, we're very
proud of it. In twenty six, elementary schools are being
close to four thousand students across the across the city.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, it's a lot of students, yes, ma'am, that's a
lot four thousand, so from kindergarten to so.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, So our tutoring takes place specifically in second and
third grade, and the reason why is because those grades
are targeted the right. Third grade, there's a there's a
retention law that's that's attached to being able to perform
at the end of the year test, but we're also
thinking that we can get them ready in second grade. Yeah,
maybe third grade won't be so hard, but if third
(04:32):
grade is a challenge, we are tutoring in this space
to make sure that when they do take that test
at the end of the year, they stand a better
chance of being promoted than being retained.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
How long have you guys been around?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Fifty years?
Speaker 1 (04:44):
That's a long time.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yes, it predates my time.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I was getting ready to say, you don't look fifty.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
No. I know the gray hair in my face may
may tell some people otherwise, but no, man, we've been around.
We've been doing this for fifty years. And when we
first started in nineteen seventy four, we were in adult
learning programs. Primarily, our programs focused on adults that had
learning challenges and wish to overcome those challenges. We still
(05:10):
do that program. It is considered the cornerstone of the
work that we do. But over the years, we've been
able to think about what does it mean to engage
the school district, What does it mean to engage partners
that do after school programs, What does it mean to
engage partners that do summer programming. So we have this
model where we consider is it is literacy across the lifespan,
because we understand that just as much as a child
(05:32):
may need assistance with reading, there may be an adult
in the home that may need assistance with reading as well.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, ladies and gentlemen, I'm storming. It is the pulse.
Thank you for joining us for the show today. Mister
Sam O'Brien is here with me today with the Literacy
mid Sound. Thank you again for being here. I think
that we've heard so much about kids and the pipeline
to prison and getting a child or teaching a child
(06:01):
who has challenges with reading in the second third grade,
because from what I've heard over the years, Uh, it
is illiteracy in children that builds prisons.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Okay, so I have to I have to push back
on that that has not been conclusively I would say
determined what we I don't know the history of the statement,
but since then it has been debunked. I'm glad you
told me that, Yeah, it's not a problem, and we
hear that a lot. Now I can say that when
(06:35):
we there are some correlations between those that may be
you know, justice involved and they're reading levels, but we
cannot conclusively say that is actually doing bad and third
grade they will be built a prison according to those
specific So that is not conclusive, right, But again understanding
(06:56):
that there are some individuals that are justice involved that
do have literacy challenges. But to that point, one thing,
one reason, going back to what we're saying, one reason
why third grade is so important is not just because
the retention law that is attached to it. It is
also a shift in the curriculum. Oftentimes we talk about
kindergarten through third grade. That's when a student is learning
(07:19):
to read. For fourth grade on you're reading to learn.
So again if a student yes, ma'am. So if a
student does not capture that, if it doesn't click, I
would say, yeah, third grade, that this is the shift
that we have to make. Then a student gets into
fourth grade and fifth grade and they may have challenges
comprehending the lesson that they have to take, and that
(07:41):
just you know, presents challenges going forward. So third grade
is just that pivotal time where there is a shift
in the curriculum where it goes from learning to read
to reading to learn.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Wow, I didn't know that, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
That is good to know.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I'm glad I could offer it.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, I'm glad you came. Thank you so much. It's
just really good information. Seriously, we don't have some sometimes
I feel like we don't have these conversations enough. Of course,
what I'm saying, and I think so many people because
we've heard about literal illiteracy in you know, in the
Mid South, yes, and that it is an issue not
just with children but with adults. And I can see
why you would start with adults, but I just feel
(08:21):
like it's so intimidating because there are people that I
know that don't read very well as adults and they
don't want to talk about it.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
And we've we've had that, you know, happen of course
over the years with our adult learning program. We would
say that the biggest challenge is again overcoming that that
lack of confidence. But when it does happen, when it
when that is overcome, it opens up a whole new world.
Because one thing we can all say that, you know,
(08:50):
having a certain literacy proficiency, it leads.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
To higher economic outcomes.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
It leads to higher or greater job opportunities, It leads
to just just having your world just opened up because
there's just greater understanding of everything around you. So once
we get over that initial fear of what somebody may think,
when somebody may what they may perceive of me, Once
we get over that, we can begin to open up
a whole new space for so many people.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
And that is for children and adults alike.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, because that I would say that that fear of
you know, being called out to retreat in public, that
happens in the third grade, It happens when some many
is thirty years old. But what we want to do
is make sure that we get the resources to each
of those persons so they can overcome that.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Yeah, that's awesome, ma'am. So you are doing things in
our community actually to I guess highlight some amazing people. Yes,
next weekend, next week is this thing that you're doing
something to help raise funds for literacy? Miself?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
We are, and I'm glad you asked that because we
are a fib see three tax exempt nonprofit organizations, So
if you donate to us, you can write it off
on your tax.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
And to your question, this what we're doing next weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It is a celebration and it is a space where
we're going to honor those that lead the space, that
lead us in literacy. Literacy miss out again coming up
on fifty years old next weekend, so think of it
as a birthday party where we're giving giving everybody their
shout out right, So what we're looking to do is
celebrate our fifty years, but again also honor those that
(10:33):
are in this space. So next weekend, next Friday at
the Hilton Memphis is a luncheon that we're calling our
Leading in Literacy Lunching. We have two honorees that we're recognizing,
but we're also going to have a discussion with some
highly esteemed people that do this work of communicating why
(10:53):
is important for literacy to appear in the way that
it is. So one, we're going to have a local
Leading in Literacy honorey. We are honoring Porter Leath primarily
through their Books from Birth program. Books from Birth is
the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Affiliate or Memphis and Shelby
(11:15):
County to bring that into the space. Dolly Pardon, of course,
from being famous from being Dolly Party, Dolly Parton has
captured a lot of attention for her idea call the
Imagination Library.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Simply put, when a.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Child is born, they can sign up for the Imagination
Library and they can receive one book a month until
they turn five, and this is completely free.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
I love that come on dollar.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Right, So when you think about that, a child when
they turn five, they can have sixty books of their
own in their own library because of the Dolly Parton
Imagination Library. Porter Leith manages that program for Memphis Shelby
County through Books from Birth. Last year alone, they distributed
(12:03):
more than four hundred and twenty five thousand books wow
for free through two families in Memphis and Shelby County.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Dollars A bad girls. Good. She's doing a lot of philanthropics, yeah,
work here and other places as.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Well, and so we want to recognize that, we want
to honor that now.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Literacy miss out.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
We do book distribution as well on free books, just
like they do. But you know, we don't come close
to four hundred thousand, like we're scratching it at like
one hundred and fifty thousand that we distributed. Still good,
come thank you so very much. And then our books
are free as well. But then when you look at
the work that the Books from Birth program is doing,
and they've been doing this, you know for years at
(12:47):
this point. So this is on average four hundred thousand
books that they're putting out every year, reaching again young
young children between the ages of zero and five.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
So I think that's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Yeah, and it is, it is, I want to say,
and I and we'll get all the correct language around
it as we get into the lunch. And I want
to say, they are the largest affiliate in the state
of Tennessee. I think that they're putting out more books,
you know, per population than other communities that are that
are in the state of Tennessee. Uh. And so again
(13:19):
we have to honor that a lot of people don't
know the number of books that they're putting out. And
you know, free books is a fantastic thing.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Changing lives because children can go not just children, but
anybody who reads it opens up your world. You can
go to Africa or Asia, just anywhere. You can go
anywhere in a book.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Yes, by reading a book right, it will take you
so many places. And the other thing in addition to
taking you place is there's research that comes from Scholastic.
You know, they do the Scholastic Book fairs throughout different
elementary schools. They say that just if a child has
twenty five books in their personal library, they're more likely
to graduate high school, you know, at a higher level,
(14:04):
they're more likely to enroll in college, more likely to
complete college. So again, when you think about by the
time you turn five, you have sixty books in your
personal library, Porter Leeds through Books from Birth, Through Books
from Birth is making an early investment in young children,
just impacting their trajectory going forward before they're even eighteen, seventeen,
(14:25):
eighteen years old. So this is one of those early
investments that a lot of times we don't capture it
like that, we may not know it like that, but
this is something that is vital.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
To just the future of Memphis and Shelby County.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
And again we want to honor that, and that's they're
one of the honorees that we're having there and our
leading in literacy, I would say global honoree is Nicole
Hannah Jones. She is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and
best selling author of the book The sixteen nineteen Project.
(14:56):
And to talk about that work, it started in the
New York Times and then it was published as his
own book, and it is quite frankly one.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Of the most pivotal books, I would.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Say, in American history. And this is where we kind
of get into some I would say, some touching spaces here.
You may remember twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, there were just
tons of book bands throughout the United States, so public
libraries were being told which books they could not carry.
School library were being told which books they could not carry.
(15:32):
Even now in this county, in Shelby County, there are
school districts that have active book bands. Not to mention again,
book bands that are just happened across the nation. A
lot of that was triggered, was pushed by the publishing
of sixteen nineteen.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
So what Nicolehannah does, Nicolehannah Jones. What she does she
tells the accurate, proper story of the first time that
enslaved Africans were brought to to the land that will
become America, and that happened in sixteen nineteen. They were
brought over here as indentured servants. And then how that
created what will become chattel slavery in the United States,
(16:12):
ultimately just kind of fueling the trans Atlantic slave trade,
and of course the history that we know how that
relates to the building of America. So she tells that
story from the beginning, and because it is that accurate
capturing of the story, you know, it's not something that
everyone is comfortable with and understand that, but not every
(16:34):
book is a book that people are comfortable with.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And you don't win Pulitzer Prizes by just putting out anything,
you know what I'm saying, or books that are what
is the word I'm looking for that tolerable books. Everybody
can say is that it doesn't push an issue, it
doesn't touch a button or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
It doesn't or it doesn't smart, sparking imagination, doesn't spark
a big idea. And one thing that again her book
has done, you know, it's not just that it sparks,
the book bands when it tells the story. It is
this accurate capturing of what it means to be black
in America, of what it really what it meant to
be black in America up until the present tense. So
(17:18):
we want to honor that. There's also research that talks
about when children and individuals see themselves captured in literature,
there's an interest in reading it, and when you have
that interest, you can begin to teach a child I
did a talk a couple of years back where I
showed this this demograph, this graphic excuse me, where it
(17:40):
showed that when we look at children's books that were
published in twenty eighteen, fifty percent of them featured a
white character as the main person, and it presented them
in this positive space. They were race car drivers, they
were firefighters, they were the hero, they were the main character.
And it talked about how when white children see that,
they are energize, they're engaged, they feel included, and it
(18:03):
also sparks this place of learning. But next right after that,
twenty seven percent of the books feature animals that are talking.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Right, So we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
A bear that may be standing on its hind legs,
having a full story, having this positive experience. That happens
twenty seven percent of the time where animals are the
main characters. But the remaining twenty three percent was a
combination of other ethnic groups that included black children, Latino children,
First Nation Indigenous peoples, an Asian and Pacific islander were
(18:38):
captured totally in twenty three percent.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
So people of color appear.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
In books less, meaning that there's less of a chance
for that sort of excited engagement and sparking to happen
with children of color.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And this was then or now it is still a current.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Practice in many cases. That was twenty eighteen. Hopefully some
improvement has been made. But again, this is I would
say the book publishing industry just as a as a sector.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
This is kind of how how work is done.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, and that's pretty big. Listen, I'm storming. It is
the pulse. Thank you for being here with us. I'm
talking to the CEO of Literacy Mid South, Sam Bryant.
Thank you, Obrian, excuse me, thank you for being here
with me today. So Friday is going to be amazing
and I don't want us to run out of time
before we can get the Saturday. Oh yes, and so
you got somebody else though you're honoring.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
So also we're bringing in doctor Goldie Muhammad and a
lot of things. I was just saying, how to bring
children into the classroom by using curriculum that features them. Yeah,
Golden Muhammad is an award winning author and doing that
as well.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Wow, So we're going to have these powerhouses. That's in
the space.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Getting to your point, you know, we talk about how
scores are not what we want them to be. These
two powerhouses can help us understand what literacy needs to
look like. Yeah, to pull out the best in the
students that we see good. But Saturday, super excited about Saturday.
Next Saturday, at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, we will have
(20:09):
none other than the original human beat box, the world's
greatest entertainer, mister Dougie Fresh is going to be in
the space helping us celebrate.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
And bring in our fiftith anniversary as well.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
So that's that's a celebration.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
That's a celebration.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Fifty years is a tremendous feet for a nonprofit, and
we want to make sure that we celebrate a cordon.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Yeah, Okay, that's gonna be nice. Yeah, And Douggie Fresh, yes,
doing his thing, doing his thing, and we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Do the Dougie I'm y'all might I mean, I'm I'm
I'm rhythmically challenged, so I don't know if I'll be
I don't know about that.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I don't know. I think I think any person has rhythm.
It may not be the rhythm that everybody else has,
but you got something, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
What I'm saying. There's one way to put it, Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
You got and be proud of it. You know what,
I really do think that this work is amazing and
I think that more people should should join in and
help you guys with you know, what you're doing in
our city and what you're trying to do. So if
people are listening and they want to become a mentor,
or they want to go and tutor children or help
(21:23):
you guys in whatever way, how can they do that.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah, our primary point of contact, that was our best
point of contact, is our website, and that is Literacymidsouth
dot org. You go to the website, there will be
options right there at the top of the page, options
about you know, being involved, options about volunteering, options about
you know, being hired as a tutor, including the option
to donate. Again, we are a tax exempt five one
(21:47):
C three non profit organization and all the work that
we do, you know, is funded by grants and individual donations.
So we know we definitely would appreciate if you would
have it on your heart to give, you know, we'd
like that.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
One thing.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I want to go back to a point of made earlier,
you know, again, the work that we do completely funded
by grants and donors. If I could give just a
couple of quick dollar amounts of what it takes to
manage the program. For the last three years we've been
doing this work within Memphis Shelby County schools of doing tutoring.
When we conclude this year, we will have spent not
(22:26):
almost nine point nine million dollars of our money, so
we've not received any money from the school district to
do this. So this is us being that accountability partner,
bring funding that we've received and putting it into the
school district too, to boaster this sort of tutoring effort.
The books that we give away one hundred and sixty
(22:46):
five thousand books just last year, free, completely free that
we gave away. That's a retail value of almost two
point eight million dollars. So when we talk about we're
doing the work and that we're in the community and
we're helping children.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
We really mean that you put your money where your mouth.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yes we do.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, yes, And also it means that we're asking for
you know, anyone to donate contribute. So we did so
we so that we can continue doing this work the
way that we're doing it.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Yeah, and you need help with that. You need not
just funds. But you need uh people, you need people.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Yeah, and again we and.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
They just go to they just go to Little Receive
mid South dot org org. Okay, and they can sign
up there to either volunteer or.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Tutor or if they want to be a.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Buy tickets to and of.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Course yeah, if they want to be our paid tutor.
There's a tab up there. I think it says tutor
nine on one. It will take them through all the
steps they need to do that.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Okay, Yeah, that's awesome. The kids learned when we help them,
you know, and not just children, but adults that needed
as well. Since you guys have been an inception, how
many adults would you say that you guys have.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Served I can't give over over the fifty years, probably
a lot of people. It's a lot of people, I
would say, Like right now, we have about I'll say
one hundred and twenty adults that we're assisting right now.
There have been years where that number has exceeded three hundred,
so you know, those numbers kind of wax and wane
(24:16):
just given the time, you know, but that also means
there are and with our adult program, those are the
individuals that assist with that they're volunteers. So we typically
have like an equal number of volunteers that are connecting
with the adults that we serve in the program.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
And that's directly indirectly.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
I can't put a number on it, because we do
a lot of family engagement and family literacy work, so
while we're assisting children, you know, adults are also being
assisted there. So even that kind of explodes our number
a little bit because because you know, children are connected
to parents or caregivers or gardens. So when we think
(24:54):
about that four thousand children we serve in the school district,
there's no telling how many parents we're helping in directly
just by doing their work as well.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Wow, this is a big job.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Yes it is.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah, you got a big job. Yes we do, but
it's probably rewarding. Does make you feel good when you
hear an adult say, man, I can do.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
This, Yes we've There's so many stories. There was actually
one that was published by I want to say a
pro publica a couple of years back where there's an
adult that have been working with our program as a
as a learner for probably two years and they just
were able to tell the story about how they were
promoted on their job, they were able to move up
(25:38):
and and and just provide at a at a greater
level for their family. And again, it all begins with
getting overcoming that that initial fear what people may say,
and then stepping into the opportunity that learning more and
being able to read.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
At a higher level. What is what? What is created
from that?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Being courageous enough, because I think it is courageous for
somebody to say that they need help. Yes, And I
think a lot of people look at it as being
you know, somebody who's afraid, but I think as fear
or something like that. But I think it's courageous when
you ask for help.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
It is, it is, and that's that's where the help begins.
That's where the work begins.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Our work would be small if individuals didn't ask for help.
So our work is big only because we're able to
reach so many people.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Yeah, and it sounds amazing. Now, Okay, fifty years, fifty
whole years year and the big celebration kicks off what
day next week.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Kicks off November fifteenth with our luncheon at noon. Again,
that's at the Hilton Memphis if you want to buy ticket.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Years leading in Literacy fifty years leading in literacy, Yes, ma'am,
Literacy mid South. Okay, And if they want to buy tickets,
tell me that.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Yeah, if they want to buy tickets, you can go
to literacymissout dot org. If I think you would scroll down.
There's a there's a banner right there. It has Dougie
Fresh's picture on it.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
No, he's holding a.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Microphone with the shades, so you know, you click on
that and it'll let you go to either purchasing tickets
for the luncheon or purchasing tickets for the cocktail celebration
featuring Dougie Fresh.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Yeah, it's gonna be nice.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Or you can do you can do both. I mean
you don't. You don't have to pick, just do both.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Come to both to be a part of both, and
they're both going to be at the Hilton.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Dougie Fresh is gonna be at the Memphis Bottanna Garden
on the sixteenth. Nicole Hannah Jones and doctor Goldie Muhammet
will be at the Hilton Memphis on the fifteenth.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Okay, So you guys, you've got something to do, put
this on your calendar. Go ahead and get your coins together.
As Tabar Braxton will say and get them tickets Literacymidsouth
dot org and you'll see the banner on the website
and not only can you buy tickets to this big event,
but you can also support this amazing organization that you've
(27:58):
just heard is doing amazing work in our community, work
that is needed, that is necessary, and that is helping
probably thousands and thousands of people.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yes, we like to like to think so as well.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
Yeah, yeah, awesome, all right, fifty years they're celebrating and
they want you to come celebrate with them. Literacymidsouth dot org.
Their CEO Sam O'Brien on the show today, thank you,
thank you star for having come. Yeah, we gotta do
this again. Next time. You guys have something going on
that you want to share with the community, let me
know so we can tell everybody to you know, get together.
(28:36):
You won't help out you know whatever, or the services
that you need. That's what we're here for. Of course,
any parting words before we.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Go, Sometimes people ask how can I get books? Just
go to the website again and our I think our
physical address is on there as well, or you can
email us at info at Literacy Midsouth. So distributing more
than one hundred and fifty thousand book takes a lot
of time, yeah, you know, and it takes different opportunities
that you and even when I walked in here, I
(29:05):
handed you a bag.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Of books, right, a bag of books.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
So that's that's one of the things that we're proud
of when when we show up to different meeting spaces,
we bring.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Books, beautiful books. By the way, thank.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
You, thank you, thank you for allowing me to share,
but glad to do it.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
That's one of the things that we really pride ourselves
on getting books out to the community. We can tutor
all day long, and we do, but we want to
make sure that we send something home that reinforces what
was learned in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
I love that. Okay. So they can go to Literacy
Midsouth dot org or come to your physical address.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Yes we are. We are located.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
If you're familiar with Playhouse on the Square, We're on
the fourth floor Playhoufs on the Squares on the corner
of Union and Cooper.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Yeah, okay, and the email.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Info at Literacymissouth dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You got it, y'all got that.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
I n f O at Literacymissouth dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Okay, wonderful. Okay, well, I'm looking forward to seeing you
guys on Friday and next week, and thank you again
for coming by. I am Stormy. It is the pulse,
keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community. Talking
to Literacy Midsouth their CEO, Sam O'Brien, thank you again
and go check them out Literacymidsouth dot org. All right,
(30:16):
we'll see you next week, same time, same station. God
bless you have a great week.
Well, hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Pulse.
I am Stormy with you. Thank you for being here
with me this weekend. I have a very special guest
on the show, and we're talking about a very important
issue in our community, and I want you to join
in on the conversation. Go ahead and call your friends
and everybody and tell them to come around to the
(00:20):
radio or hit them up text message, all that good stuff. Okay,
So welcome in everyone, and welcome my guests today with
Literacy mid South. Tell us who you are and what
it is that you do.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Sure, and thank you for having me storm You're very welcome,
Thank you, very glad to be here. My name is
Sam O'Brien and I serve as the chief executive officer
of Literacy min South. Literacy min South, we call ourselves
a regional literacy intermediary and what that means is, in short,
we provide literacy resources to as many individuals as we
(00:56):
can throughout Memphis and Shelby County across the lifespan.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
That is our.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Earliest you know, potential readers who are children, and even
our more seasoned readers who are fall.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Into that adult category.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Okay, and so what we're doing here, just in general,
just kind of a quick overview of our programming. One
program that we're very proud of. We call it Tutor
nine o one. It is a partnership with Memphis Shelby
County Schools. We are in twenty six elementary schools providing
high dosage tutoring during the day. Okay, if you may
remember a few years back, following COVID, there was just
(01:33):
quite a bit of learning loss as a result of
children not being in school for that full year. The
way that we responded to it was the creation of
Tutor nine on one. You know, this is year three
that we've been doing it, and go ahead.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So you guys offer the volunteers, I guess in Memphis
the opportunity or people in Memphis the opportunity to come
volunteer with you guys.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
We pay them what yes, ma'am, We pay them.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And to tutor kids. Does it matter how old they are,
if they want to help.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Kids, it does not matter.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
You're kidding, man.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
We have college freshmen and sophomores that we pay as tutors.
We have retired teachers that have come back to the
classroom to be tutors. We have parents, they may work
a second or third shift job, and so since the
tutoring is during the day, this is one it's a
supplemental income opportunity, but it is also a chance for
their parents to be involved in the child's life, kind
(02:25):
of creating this parental involvement space while they're being paid
to do tutoring.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Wow. I do a little tutoring over at Dunbar, okay,
And it's rewarding work.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Okay, it really is.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
If you have time, we'd love for you to come
tutor a literacy missiles.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
You know, we have this have the celebrity space in
there as well.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
You know, Okay, well then I might need to come
over there and do that. It's rewarding, ladies and gentlemen.
For those of you that have never done it before,
and maybe you're thinking about doing it, it's very rewarding.
And I think a lot of people probably feel like, well,
well they feel intimidated because teaching someone else to read
or even to learn how to do certain things like
(03:06):
that maybe intimidating for people that have challenges themselves, but
generally it's pretty I guess fundamental. It's not anything that
rocket scientists do.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
No it's not.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And the other thing about it, we train all of
our tutors. So quite a few members of my staff
are former educators, so there used to being in the classroom,
so they know what a tutor needs to know before
they walk into a space to engage with the child.
So we train tutors based on standards from the Tennessee
Department of Education, based on standards from Memphis Shelby County Schools.
(03:44):
So the tutoring and the training they receive, in one word,
it is legit, so they can tutor. And then from
there we're able to see progress that students have made
throughout the school year. So yeah, something again, we're very
proud of it. In twenty six, elementary schools are being
close to four thousand students across the across the city.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, it's a lot of students, yes, ma'am, that's a
lot four thousand, so from kindergarten to so.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, So our tutoring takes place specifically in second and
third grade, and the reason why is because those grades
are targeted the right. Third grade, there's a there's a
retention law that's that's attached to being able to perform
at the end of the year test, but we're also
thinking that we can get them ready in second grade. Yeah,
maybe third grade won't be so hard, but if third
(04:32):
grade is a challenge, we are tutoring in this space
to make sure that when they do take that test
at the end of the year, they stand a better
chance of being promoted than being retained.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
How long have you guys been around?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Fifty years?
Speaker 1 (04:44):
That's a long time.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yes, it predates my time.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I was getting ready to say, you don't look fifty.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
No. I know the gray hair in my face may
may tell some people otherwise, but no, man, we've been around.
We've been doing this for fifty years. And when we
first started in nineteen seventy four, we were in adult
learning programs. Primarily, our programs focused on adults that had
learning challenges and wish to overcome those challenges. We still
(05:10):
do that program. It is considered the cornerstone of the
work that we do. But over the years, we've been
able to think about what does it mean to engage
the school district, What does it mean to engage partners
that do after school programs, What does it mean to
engage partners that do summer programming. So we have this
model where we consider is it is literacy across the lifespan,
because we understand that just as much as a child
(05:32):
may need assistance with reading, there may be an adult
in the home that may need assistance with reading as well.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, ladies and gentlemen, I'm storming. It is the pulse.
Thank you for joining us for the show today. Mister
Sam O'Brien is here with me today with the Literacy
mid Sound. Thank you again for being here. I think
that we've heard so much about kids and the pipeline
to prison and getting a child or teaching a child
(06:01):
who has challenges with reading in the second third grade,
because from what I've heard over the years, Uh, it
is illiteracy in children that builds prisons.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Okay, so I have to I have to push back
on that that has not been conclusively I would say
determined what we I don't know the history of the statement,
but since then it has been debunked. I'm glad you
told me that, Yeah, it's not a problem, and we
hear that a lot. Now I can say that when
(06:35):
we there are some correlations between those that may be
you know, justice involved and they're reading levels, but we
cannot conclusively say that is actually doing bad and third
grade they will be built a prison according to those
specific So that is not conclusive, right, But again understanding
(06:56):
that there are some individuals that are justice involved that
do have literacy challenges. But to that point, one thing,
one reason, going back to what we're saying, one reason
why third grade is so important is not just because
the retention law that is attached to it. It is
also a shift in the curriculum. Oftentimes we talk about
kindergarten through third grade. That's when a student is learning
(07:19):
to read. For fourth grade on you're reading to learn.
So again if a student yes, ma'am. So if a
student does not capture that, if it doesn't click, I
would say, yeah, third grade, that this is the shift
that we have to make. Then a student gets into
fourth grade and fifth grade and they may have challenges
comprehending the lesson that they have to take, and that
(07:41):
just you know, presents challenges going forward. So third grade
is just that pivotal time where there is a shift
in the curriculum where it goes from learning to read
to reading to learn.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Wow, I didn't know that, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
That is good to know.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I'm glad I could offer it.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, I'm glad you came. Thank you so much. It's
just really good information. Seriously, we don't have some sometimes
I feel like we don't have these conversations enough. Of course,
what I'm saying, and I think so many people because
we've heard about literal illiteracy in you know, in the
Mid South, yes, and that it is an issue not
just with children but with adults. And I can see
why you would start with adults, but I just feel
(08:21):
like it's so intimidating because there are people that I
know that don't read very well as adults and they
don't want to talk about it.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
And we've we've had that, you know, happen of course
over the years with our adult learning program. We would
say that the biggest challenge is again overcoming that that
lack of confidence. But when it does happen, when it
when that is overcome, it opens up a whole new world.
Because one thing we can all say that, you know,
(08:50):
having a certain literacy proficiency, it leads.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
To higher economic outcomes.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
It leads to higher or greater job opportunities, It leads
to just just having your world just opened up because
there's just greater understanding of everything around you. So once
we get over that initial fear of what somebody may think,
when somebody may what they may perceive of me, Once
we get over that, we can begin to open up
a whole new space for so many people.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
And that is for children and adults alike.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, because that I would say that that fear of
you know, being called out to retreat in public, that
happens in the third grade, It happens when some many
is thirty years old. But what we want to do
is make sure that we get the resources to each
of those persons so they can overcome that.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Yeah, that's awesome, ma'am. So you are doing things in
our community actually to I guess highlight some amazing people. Yes,
next weekend, next week is this thing that you're doing
something to help raise funds for literacy? Miself?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
We are, and I'm glad you asked that because we
are a fib see three tax exempt nonprofit organizations, So
if you donate to us, you can write it off
on your tax.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
And to your question, this what we're doing next weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It is a celebration and it is a space where
we're going to honor those that lead the space, that
lead us in literacy. Literacy miss out again coming up
on fifty years old next weekend, so think of it
as a birthday party where we're giving giving everybody their
shout out right, So what we're looking to do is
celebrate our fifty years, but again also honor those that
(10:33):
are in this space. So next weekend, next Friday at
the Hilton Memphis is a luncheon that we're calling our
Leading in Literacy Lunching. We have two honorees that we're recognizing,
but we're also going to have a discussion with some
highly esteemed people that do this work of communicating why
(10:53):
is important for literacy to appear in the way that
it is. So one, we're going to have a local
Leading in Literacy honorey. We are honoring Porter Leath primarily
through their Books from Birth program. Books from Birth is
the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Affiliate or Memphis and Shelby
(11:15):
County to bring that into the space. Dolly Pardon, of course,
from being famous from being Dolly Party, Dolly Parton has
captured a lot of attention for her idea call the
Imagination Library.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Simply put, when a.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Child is born, they can sign up for the Imagination
Library and they can receive one book a month until
they turn five, and this is completely free.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
I love that come on dollar.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Right, So when you think about that, a child when
they turn five, they can have sixty books of their
own in their own library because of the Dolly Parton
Imagination Library. Porter Leith manages that program for Memphis Shelby
County through Books from Birth. Last year alone, they distributed
(12:03):
more than four hundred and twenty five thousand books wow
for free through two families in Memphis and Shelby County.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Dollars A bad girls. Good. She's doing a lot of philanthropics, yeah,
work here and other places as.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Well, and so we want to recognize that, we want
to honor that now.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Literacy miss out.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
We do book distribution as well on free books, just
like they do. But you know, we don't come close
to four hundred thousand, like we're scratching it at like
one hundred and fifty thousand that we distributed. Still good,
come thank you so very much. And then our books
are free as well. But then when you look at
the work that the Books from Birth program is doing,
and they've been doing this, you know for years at
(12:47):
this point. So this is on average four hundred thousand
books that they're putting out every year, reaching again young
young children between the ages of zero and five.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
So I think that's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Yeah, and it is, it is, I want to say,
and I and we'll get all the correct language around
it as we get into the lunch. And I want
to say, they are the largest affiliate in the state
of Tennessee. I think that they're putting out more books,
you know, per population than other communities that are that
are in the state of Tennessee. Uh. And so again
(13:19):
we have to honor that a lot of people don't
know the number of books that they're putting out. And
you know, free books is a fantastic thing.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Changing lives because children can go not just children, but
anybody who reads it opens up your world. You can
go to Africa or Asia, just anywhere. You can go
anywhere in a book.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Yes, by reading a book right, it will take you
so many places. And the other thing in addition to
taking you place is there's research that comes from Scholastic.
You know, they do the Scholastic Book fairs throughout different
elementary schools. They say that just if a child has
twenty five books in their personal library, they're more likely
to graduate high school, you know, at a higher level,
(14:04):
they're more likely to enroll in college, more likely to
complete college. So again, when you think about by the
time you turn five, you have sixty books in your
personal library, Porter Leeds through Books from Birth, Through Books
from Birth is making an early investment in young children,
just impacting their trajectory going forward before they're even eighteen, seventeen,
(14:25):
eighteen years old. So this is one of those early
investments that a lot of times we don't capture it
like that, we may not know it like that, but
this is something that is vital.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
To just the future of Memphis and Shelby County.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
And again we want to honor that, and that's they're
one of the honorees that we're having there and our
leading in literacy, I would say global honoree is Nicole
Hannah Jones. She is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and
best selling author of the book The sixteen nineteen Project.
(14:56):
And to talk about that work, it started in the
New York Times and then it was published as his
own book, and it is quite frankly one.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Of the most pivotal books, I would.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Say, in American history. And this is where we kind
of get into some I would say, some touching spaces here.
You may remember twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, there were just
tons of book bands throughout the United States, so public
libraries were being told which books they could not carry.
School library were being told which books they could not carry.
(15:32):
Even now in this county, in Shelby County, there are
school districts that have active book bands. Not to mention again,
book bands that are just happened across the nation. A
lot of that was triggered, was pushed by the publishing
of sixteen nineteen.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
So what Nicolehannah does, Nicolehannah Jones. What she does she
tells the accurate, proper story of the first time that
enslaved Africans were brought to to the land that will
become America, and that happened in sixteen nineteen. They were
brought over here as indentured servants. And then how that
created what will become chattel slavery in the United States,
(16:12):
ultimately just kind of fueling the trans Atlantic slave trade,
and of course the history that we know how that
relates to the building of America. So she tells that
story from the beginning, and because it is that accurate
capturing of the story, you know, it's not something that
everyone is comfortable with and understand that, but not every
(16:34):
book is a book that people are comfortable with.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And you don't win Pulitzer Prizes by just putting out anything,
you know what I'm saying, or books that are what
is the word I'm looking for that tolerable books. Everybody
can say is that it doesn't push an issue, it
doesn't touch a button or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
It doesn't or it doesn't smart, sparking imagination, doesn't spark
a big idea. And one thing that again her book
has done, you know, it's not just that it sparks,
the book bands when it tells the story. It is
this accurate capturing of what it means to be black
in America, of what it really what it meant to
be black in America up until the present tense. So
(17:18):
we want to honor that. There's also research that talks
about when children and individuals see themselves captured in literature,
there's an interest in reading it, and when you have
that interest, you can begin to teach a child I
did a talk a couple of years back where I
showed this this demograph, this graphic excuse me, where it
(17:40):
showed that when we look at children's books that were
published in twenty eighteen, fifty percent of them featured a
white character as the main person, and it presented them
in this positive space. They were race car drivers, they
were firefighters, they were the hero, they were the main character.
And it talked about how when white children see that,
they are energize, they're engaged, they feel included, and it
(18:03):
also sparks this place of learning. But next right after that,
twenty seven percent of the books feature animals that are talking.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Right, So we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
A bear that may be standing on its hind legs,
having a full story, having this positive experience. That happens
twenty seven percent of the time where animals are the
main characters. But the remaining twenty three percent was a
combination of other ethnic groups that included black children, Latino children,
First Nation Indigenous peoples, an Asian and Pacific islander were
(18:38):
captured totally in twenty three percent.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
So people of color appear.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
In books less, meaning that there's less of a chance
for that sort of excited engagement and sparking to happen
with children of color.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And this was then or now it is still a current.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Practice in many cases. That was twenty eighteen. Hopefully some
improvement has been made. But again, this is I would
say the book publishing industry just as a as a sector.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
This is kind of how how work is done.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, and that's pretty big. Listen, I'm storming. It is
the pulse. Thank you for being here with us. I'm
talking to the CEO of Literacy Mid South, Sam Bryant.
Thank you, Obrian, excuse me, thank you for being here
with me today. So Friday is going to be amazing
and I don't want us to run out of time
before we can get the Saturday. Oh yes, and so
you got somebody else though you're honoring.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
So also we're bringing in doctor Goldie Muhammad and a
lot of things. I was just saying, how to bring
children into the classroom by using curriculum that features them. Yeah,
Golden Muhammad is an award winning author and doing that
as well.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Wow, So we're going to have these powerhouses. That's in
the space.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Getting to your point, you know, we talk about how
scores are not what we want them to be. These
two powerhouses can help us understand what literacy needs to
look like. Yeah, to pull out the best in the
students that we see good. But Saturday, super excited about Saturday.
Next Saturday, at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, we will have
(20:09):
none other than the original human beat box, the world's
greatest entertainer, mister Dougie Fresh is going to be in
the space helping us celebrate.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
And bring in our fiftith anniversary as well.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
So that's that's a celebration.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
That's a celebration.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Fifty years is a tremendous feet for a nonprofit, and
we want to make sure that we celebrate a cordon.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Yeah, Okay, that's gonna be nice. Yeah, And Douggie Fresh, yes,
doing his thing, doing his thing, and we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Do the Dougie I'm y'all might I mean, I'm I'm
I'm rhythmically challenged, so I don't know if I'll be
I don't know about that.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I don't know. I think I think any person has rhythm.
It may not be the rhythm that everybody else has,
but you got something, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
What I'm saying. There's one way to put it, Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
You got and be proud of it. You know what,
I really do think that this work is amazing and
I think that more people should should join in and
help you guys with you know, what you're doing in
our city and what you're trying to do. So if
people are listening and they want to become a mentor,
or they want to go and tutor children or help
(21:23):
you guys in whatever way, how can they do that.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Yeah, our primary point of contact, that was our best
point of contact, is our website, and that is Literacymidsouth
dot org. You go to the website, there will be
options right there at the top of the page, options
about you know, being involved, options about volunteering, options about
you know, being hired as a tutor, including the option
to donate. Again, we are a tax exempt five one
(21:47):
C three non profit organization and all the work that
we do, you know, is funded by grants and individual donations.
So we know we definitely would appreciate if you would
have it on your heart to give, you know, we'd
like that.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
One thing.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I want to go back to a point of made earlier,
you know, again, the work that we do completely funded
by grants and donors. If I could give just a
couple of quick dollar amounts of what it takes to
manage the program. For the last three years we've been
doing this work within Memphis Shelby County schools of doing tutoring.
When we conclude this year, we will have spent not
(22:26):
almost nine point nine million dollars of our money, so
we've not received any money from the school district to
do this. So this is us being that accountability partner,
bring funding that we've received and putting it into the
school district too, to boaster this sort of tutoring effort.
The books that we give away one hundred and sixty
(22:46):
five thousand books just last year, free, completely free that
we gave away. That's a retail value of almost two
point eight million dollars. So when we talk about we're
doing the work and that we're in the community and
we're helping children.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
We really mean that you put your money where your mouth.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yes we do.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, yes, And also it means that we're asking for
you know, anyone to donate contribute. So we did so
we so that we can continue doing this work the
way that we're doing it.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Yeah, and you need help with that. You need not
just funds. But you need uh people, you need people.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Yeah, and again we and.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
They just go to they just go to Little Receive
mid South dot org org. Okay, and they can sign
up there to either volunteer or.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Tutor or if they want to be a.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Buy tickets to and of.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Course yeah, if they want to be our paid tutor.
There's a tab up there. I think it says tutor
nine on one. It will take them through all the
steps they need to do that.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Okay, Yeah, that's awesome. The kids learned when we help them,
you know, and not just children, but adults that needed
as well. Since you guys have been an inception, how
many adults would you say that you guys have.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Served I can't give over over the fifty years, probably
a lot of people. It's a lot of people, I
would say, Like right now, we have about I'll say
one hundred and twenty adults that we're assisting right now.
There have been years where that number has exceeded three hundred,
so you know, those numbers kind of wax and wane
(24:16):
just given the time, you know, but that also means
there are and with our adult program, those are the
individuals that assist with that they're volunteers. So we typically
have like an equal number of volunteers that are connecting
with the adults that we serve in the program.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
And that's directly indirectly.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
I can't put a number on it, because we do
a lot of family engagement and family literacy work, so
while we're assisting children, you know, adults are also being
assisted there. So even that kind of explodes our number
a little bit because because you know, children are connected
to parents or caregivers or gardens. So when we think
(24:54):
about that four thousand children we serve in the school district,
there's no telling how many parents we're helping in directly
just by doing their work as well.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Wow, this is a big job.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Yes it is.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah, you got a big job. Yes we do, but
it's probably rewarding. Does make you feel good when you
hear an adult say, man, I can do.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
This, Yes we've There's so many stories. There was actually
one that was published by I want to say a
pro publica a couple of years back where there's an
adult that have been working with our program as a
as a learner for probably two years and they just
were able to tell the story about how they were
promoted on their job, they were able to move up
(25:38):
and and and just provide at a at a greater
level for their family. And again, it all begins with
getting overcoming that that initial fear what people may say,
and then stepping into the opportunity that learning more and
being able to read.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
At a higher level. What is what? What is created
from that?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Being courageous enough, because I think it is courageous for
somebody to say that they need help. Yes, And I
think a lot of people look at it as being
you know, somebody who's afraid, but I think as fear
or something like that. But I think it's courageous when
you ask for help.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
It is, it is, and that's that's where the help begins.
That's where the work begins.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Our work would be small if individuals didn't ask for help.
So our work is big only because we're able to
reach so many people.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Yeah, and it sounds amazing. Now, Okay, fifty years, fifty
whole years year and the big celebration kicks off what
day next week.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Kicks off November fifteenth with our luncheon at noon. Again,
that's at the Hilton Memphis if you want to buy ticket.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Years leading in Literacy fifty years leading in literacy, Yes, ma'am,
Literacy mid South. Okay, And if they want to buy tickets,
tell me that.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Yeah, if they want to buy tickets, you can go
to literacymissout dot org. If I think you would scroll down.
There's a there's a banner right there. It has Dougie
Fresh's picture on it.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
No, he's holding a.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Microphone with the shades, so you know, you click on
that and it'll let you go to either purchasing tickets
for the luncheon or purchasing tickets for the cocktail celebration
featuring Dougie Fresh.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Yeah, it's gonna be nice.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Or you can do you can do both. I mean
you don't. You don't have to pick, just do both.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Come to both to be a part of both, and
they're both going to be at the Hilton.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Dougie Fresh is gonna be at the Memphis Bottanna Garden
on the sixteenth. Nicole Hannah Jones and doctor Goldie Muhammet
will be at the Hilton Memphis on the fifteenth.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Okay, So you guys, you've got something to do, put
this on your calendar. Go ahead and get your coins together.
As Tabar Braxton will say and get them tickets Literacymidsouth
dot org and you'll see the banner on the website
and not only can you buy tickets to this big event,
but you can also support this amazing organization that you've
(27:58):
just heard is doing amazing work in our community, work
that is needed, that is necessary, and that is helping
probably thousands and thousands of people.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Yes, we like to like to think so as well.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
Yeah, yeah, awesome, all right, fifty years they're celebrating and
they want you to come celebrate with them. Literacymidsouth dot org.
Their CEO Sam O'Brien on the show today, thank you,
thank you star for having come. Yeah, we gotta do
this again. Next time. You guys have something going on
that you want to share with the community, let me
know so we can tell everybody to you know, get together.
(28:36):
You won't help out you know whatever, or the services
that you need. That's what we're here for. Of course,
any parting words before we.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Go, Sometimes people ask how can I get books? Just
go to the website again and our I think our
physical address is on there as well, or you can
email us at info at Literacy Midsouth. So distributing more
than one hundred and fifty thousand book takes a lot
of time, yeah, you know, and it takes different opportunities
that you and even when I walked in here, I
(29:05):
handed you a bag.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Of books, right, a bag of books.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
So that's that's one of the things that we're proud
of when when we show up to different meeting spaces,
we bring.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Books, beautiful books. By the way, thank.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
You, thank you, thank you for allowing me to share,
but glad to do it.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
That's one of the things that we really pride ourselves
on getting books out to the community. We can tutor
all day long, and we do, but we want to
make sure that we send something home that reinforces what
was learned in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
I love that. Okay. So they can go to Literacy
Midsouth dot org or come to your physical address.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Yes we are. We are located.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
If you're familiar with Playhouse on the Square, We're on
the fourth floor Playhoufs on the Squares on the corner
of Union and Cooper.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Yeah, okay, and the email.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
Info at Literacymissouth dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
You got it, y'all got that.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
I n f O at Literacymissouth dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Okay, wonderful. Okay, well, I'm looking forward to seeing you
guys on Friday and next week, and thank you again
for coming by. I am Stormy. It is the pulse,
keeping our fingertips on the pulse of our community. Talking
to Literacy Midsouth their CEO, Sam O'Brien, thank you again
and go check them out Literacymidsouth dot org. All right,
(30:16):
we'll see you next week, same time, same station. God
bless you have a great week.
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