We’re excited to share news about The Literacy Review, an annual journal that showcases powerful writing from adult literacy programs throughout New York City.
Each year, The Literacy Review brings together diverse voices and perspectives, providing a platform for writers from ESOL and ABE (Adult Basic Education) programs – including several students from our own program here at University Settlement.
The newest edition, Volume 23 (LR23),was recently released, and there was even a celebration for its launch at NYU.
April is known for many things: the start of spring, Arbor Day, as well as Easter & Passover. But did you know it’s also known as National BLT Sandwich Month and International Guitar Month 🤟🎸?
A B.L.T Sandwich ( Bacon, lettuce & tomato )Kirk Hammett – guitarist for Metallica
Here are a few more lesser known holidays to celebrate in the month of April…
The first Saturday of April is International Pillow Fight Day. “What is International Pillow Fight Day?” you ask. Read all about it here.
Sometimes getting dressed in the morning can be a challenge – no worries! On April 6th come to work/school in your pajamas for National Pajama Day.
No Housework Day on April 7th says it all. Take the day off from your household chores and rest; maybe watch a movie or drink some wine- do the dishes tomorrow, they can wait!
April 7th is also National Coffee Cake Day, so why not grab a cup of coffee to pair with this sweet treat. Not sure what coffee cake is? Check out this YouTube video and learn all about this deliciously mis-understood “breakfast” food.
Hug Your Dog Day is on April 10th – Show your dog some love with a big hug. Don’t have a dog, maybe consider adopting one!
National Siblings Day is on April 10th. If you have a brother or sister, reach out to them to send your love. If you don’t have a sibling, maybe consider volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters – “a mentoring organization that pairs adult volunteers with children to help them develop positive relationships and reach their full potential”.
National Pet Day 🐶🐱 is April 11th. Do you have a pet? Maybe you want another pet? Check out the ASPCA and adopt a new cat or dog today.
If you love bread and cheese, Grilled Cheese Day on April 12th is perfect for you. Check out this video on how to make the world’s greatest sandwich:
And finally, if you’re tired of all the music streaming services, maybe head to your local record store on April 20th for National Record Store Day. Check out this list of the top ten record stores in New York City.
New York City, as everyone knows, is a famous tourist destination. Some of its most well-known landmarks include the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park.
This weekend, Lynne’s W1 class did an amazing job introducing the W2 and W3 classes to some other great, lesser-known places to visit in New York, including the Irish Hunger Memorial, the Noguchi Museum, Historic Richmond Town, the African Burial Ground, Federal Hall, Fraunces Tavern, Roosevelt Island, Green-Wood Cemetery, Dykeman House, the Eldridge Street Synagogue Museum, Gracie Mansion, the Merchant’s House Museum, and Castle Clinton.
Civil rights movement: n., actions between 1954 and 1968 taken to change laws of racial discrimination
Protests: n., a gathering of people who believe the same thing and want others to learn about it.
Abolish: v., to eliminate or stop something completely
Segregation: n., when all of one kind of people have to be together; for example, racial segregation.
Boycott: n., to stop buying or using something as a protest
Unconstitutional: adj., an act or belief that is not part of the ruling document of a country
Orator: n., someone who speaks powerfully and well
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an important leader in the civil rights movement in America in the ‘50s and ‘60s. He used peaceful protests to secure basic rights for people of color, including the right to vote. It was by nonviolent methods that he helped abolish the racial discrimination and segregation laws that were in place at the time. These laws ruled where people of color could sit or walk or even go to school.
His first efforts in the civil rights movement were inspired by the Montgomery Bus boycott. This began in 1955, when an African American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white man, as the driver had told her to. Parks was arrested and fined. Subsequently, people of color refused to ride the buses at all, and this boycott continued for over a year. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that these laws were unconstitutional.
King went on to work hard helping people of color, changing many laws and attitudes in America. He became known as a great orator, and his speech “I Have a Dream” is one of the most famous in this country’s history. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated when he was 39 years old, while still trying to improve the lives of others. We mark his birthday nation-wide as a federal holiday and try to increase our awareness of the racial problems that still exist in America.
Sign From Segregated Nashville Bus Number 351
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., where he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963, as part of the March on Washington.
The speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century in a 1999 poll of scholars. The speech has also been described as having “a strong claim to be the greatest in the English language of all time.”
There was plenty of good cheer, food, and fun at the University Settlement’s Holiday Parties this year. The Daytime and the Evening classes contributed dazzling dishes from their home countries. The music, the festive decorations, and the games added to the fun. Both teachers and students celebrated the winter holiday season and had an excellent time together!
Setting up for our Daytime students was as much fun…
…as the party!
We played games to see who would eat first:
and then we ate!
Waiting to eat.
Abby and her students:
What’s a party without presents and reindeer?
And Joe and Christine celebrated with their students!
You may feel that you do not have much money or power, but in the voting booth, your choice is equal to everyone else’s. As an American citizen, you are able to make your voice heard about what really matters to you.
Reasons to Vote:
■ You care about clean air and clean water. The government makes laws that can protect or hurt the environment.
■ You have family members in another country who want to move to the U.S. The government makes rules about who can move here and how easy it is.
■ You are in school or have children in school. You want the school to provide a good education. The government makes rules about teacher training, programs, and testing. It decides what kinds of programs receive funding.
■ You are looking for a job that offers a good wage and job security. The government guides the economy. That affects how easy it is to find a job, how much companies can pay workers, and what benefits companies must provide.
Where?
On Election Day, people vote in different sorts of places. Your voting site might be a school, a church, a community center, a fire station, or another neighborhood building. You must go to the correct polling place. The place you go to vote will depend on where you live.
After you register to vote, you will receive a card confirming your registration and indicating your polling place.
How?
Firstly, inform yourself. Watch television, read newspapers, and explore the internet to learn how the candidates stand on issues that are important to you.
Here are some useful links:
■ Rock the Votewww.rockthevote.org Targeted towards younger voters, this site seeks to inspire and inform on building political power in young people.
■ Vote 411 www.vote411.org Countrywide, personalized information on candidates and where they stand on what you’re voting for.
■ Project Vote Smart www.votesmart.org Free, factual information on candidates in simplified, straightforward language.
Watch debates, watch television, read newspapers, and consult with trusted experts.
For fascinating fun and a bit of history, this site has information, explanations, and ads going back to the beginning of televised election commercials.
From actors like Rami Malek and Tony Shalhoub, musicians such as French Montana and Shakira, to politicians such as George Kaseem and James Abourezk, Arabic Americans have contributed to the fabric (1) of American history and culture.
Arab America and the Arab America Foundation launched the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative in 2017, with just a handful (2) of states participating.
In 2022, Congress, the U.S. Department of State, and 45 state governors issued proclamations commemorating the initiative.
Check out the video below to learn more about Arab American Heritage Month, why it’s so important, and how we can all be better Americans by learning about each other’s heritage!
Phrases:
1. The fabric of (something) – the basic structure of (something)
