929 S. Farragut Street Philadelphia, PA 19143 215-382-0292 ihmliteracywest@gmail.com
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IHM CENTER for LITERACY in WEST PHILADELPHIA?
Kindly click on the link below to see a PowerPoint that was presented to the IHM Sisters at a Meeting this past March. You will learn a great deal about the work that has been accomplished at this site for more than 25 years! A great deal of researched information is included about the students attending classes at the Center. Our thanks to Sister Mary Dooley for putting together this presentation!
Our Volunteer Staff for 2019-2021
Gratitude to our full and part-time volunteers reaching out to our 132 students in 18 class sessions! Site Coordinator: Sister Kathryn A. Benham, IHM Administrative Assistant: Sister Mariann Guiniven, IHM Receptionist: Sister Mariann Guiniven Instructors: Sister Kathryn Benham, Sister Mary T. Doolley, Emily Bange, Kia Bickel, Mariesa Capelli, Brittanie Covata, Sister Jean Annette Eno, Kathy Fagan, Sister Linda Filipponi, Tom Hope, Peggy Kovich, Trinh Ma, Sister Renee Murphy, Sister Rita Murphy, James Moran, Stephen Paesani, Ann Perepezko, Al Rensbarger, Anurag Sagar, Natalie Schell-Bufui, Ernestine (Ernie) Steiner, Julio Ugarte, and Phyllis Vernia, Deanna and Luisa Winterling.
Computer Teachers: Roy Griem Classroom Aides: Patricia Parker and Natalie Summers Substitutes: Mary Brewster and Zoray Spielvogel University of the Sciences: Ruth Abraham, Mohamed Elhakeem, Sarah Herter, Kendra Krebs and Lily Pengfei.
Website Manager: Sister Ana Iris, IHM
We are so very grateful to our volunteers for their generosity of time and talent!
Some Statistics about Our Students since 2018: We presently serve 132 adults enrolled from 23 Countries. The majority of our students come from both the Eastern and Western countries of Africa and many speak French. The majority of students are women and these students range in age from 22 to 67 years of age. Since June of 2018, seven more students have become Citizens of the United States, bringing our total to 43 citizens! 76% of our students are employed; 57% in full time employment and 18% are part-time and one is self-employed.
Over the past school year, the following goals have been accomplished by some of our students: - 10 have gotten a Library Card and 18 visited the library - 13 have gotten a pay raise - 13 are studying to become US Citizens - 4 voted for the first time; two other new citizens will be eligible to vote in the next election - 3 received their Green Cards - 11 have gotten a driver's license and 2 have driving permits - 1 began a Pre-GED program - 3 acquired better housing - 18 were able to fill out a form with no help Some of our students achieved some unusual accomplishments: - 1 started a company with a friend making Empanadas! - 1 became a Notary after taking and passing a class in English! - 1 answered a subpoena and testified as a witness to a robbery - Several attended a Job Fair, filling out forms and getting hired "on the spot" - 1 received approval for a work permit - 1 began training to be a Nurse - 1 studied and got his Pilot's license; he is now studying to become a Commercial Pilot! We encourage our students to make small, attainable goals each month and applaud them when these are reached!