PINEVILLE — Bell County’s Council on Literacy (BCCL) will celebrate its 20th anniversary and a new partnership with Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the BCCL Pineville site at 129 Pine St., inside the Bell-Whitley building.
A light continental breakfast will be served at the event.
The council on literacy and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College have partnered with Bell-Whitley and will provide adult education services to Bell-Whitley through Molly Jones who is an adult education specialist.
BCCL was established and incorporated in 1987. The Pineville site, the former Sister Marjorie Learning Center, which had served adult learners since 1992, was closed last May, and the Pineville site was relocated to the Bell Whitley. The Middlesboro Site is located in the Salvation Army building.
The council on literacy’s goal is to improve the quality of life for all Bell County residents. Through ongoing educational programs, The council on literacy provides opportunities for people to achieve their fullest potential.
For many BCCL clients, the first step is “learning to read” with all of the inherent benefits.
The council on literacy partnered with Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) to offer Literacy/Adult Basic Education/GED services beginning in 1999. In 2000, KCTCS became the fiscal agent for BCCL. The council on literacy also provides training for all volunteer tutors. BCCL is only one of a few community-based adult education centers in the state that has a national adult education accreditation with ProLiteracy America.
Other Programs of Interest include the Children’s Book Project, established in 1994, which is an outreach program for inmates and their families. Inmates are provided a children’s book, a blank cassette, and recorder. The inmate then records the book for his or her child. The child then receives a new copy of the book and the cassette recording of his/her parent reading the book.
The Little B.I.R.D. (Babies/Infants Reading Development) Project, established in 1997 provides new parents leaving area hospitals with a new children’s book and information about the importance of reading to their children
The Interactive Family Education Program (IFEP) began in 2002 involving families learning together. A computer-lending program with Internet access was provided to the families in their homes.
Project L.I.F.E. (Learning Independence from Employment) began in 1999 and continued until 2004, based at Sister Marjorie Learning Center. The goal for participants completing the workshop is a job interview and hopefully a permanent job.
Computer Lending Program provides computer and limited Internet to households so students can use PLATO, and provides instruction for on-line, self-led basic skills tutorial software. This program was funded through a Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant. The program ended in Fall 07 because the grant renewal was
rejected.
BCCL staff and volunteers are located at the Southeast campus, the BCCL Middlesboro Site, the BCCL Pineville Site, the Bell County Detention Center, Bell County Forestry Camp, and JobSight.
The council on literacy’s annual fundraisers include a Scrabble Tournament, held each spring and two book fairs (fall and spring).
All money from the fundraisers goes to pay for General Equivalency Degrees. Currently, the exam costs $40 or $10 per section. Many students in Bell County can not afford the cost, so BCCL will step in and pay the fee for any adult learner who needs aid.
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