Literacy Volunteers Names New Executive Director

DANBURY — Literacy Volunteers of America-Danbury announced the appointment of Thomas Pinkham to the position of executive director. Mr Pinkham will be guiding the Danbury office, an affiliate of Literacy Volunteers of America, serving the towns of Bethel, Brookfield, Bridgewater, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, and Brewster, N.Y.

Since 1978, Literacy Volunteers of America-Danbury has been dedicated to training volunteers to tutor adults 16 years or older in reading and writing, and in speaking English. The programs help immigrants from dozens of foreign countries in the use of the English language, explains customs and helps them become productive citizens. Other programs include a service to the elderly, English for mothers of head-start children, and work-place tutor registration. Trained tutors are matched with students on a one-to-one basis, or, on occasion with a small group of three to four students. Serving hundreds of students each year, Literacy Volunteers of America-Danbury is one of Connecticut’s largest affiliates. Students, tutors, and volunteers come from the 14 towns in the greater Danbury area.

Tom Pinkham brings to this job an extensive background in volunteer services, having served as a VISTA volunteer in the South Bronx after receiving his bachelor’s degree in anthropology at Western Connecticut State University. After many years in the private sector, he has returned to his first calling, that of helping people. His vision includes partnerships with businesses, churches, fraternal and civic groups, and other agencies. His strengths, he feels, lie in “team building and in placing people in situations that will make them feel wanted and fulfilled.” He speaks Spanish and lives with his wife, Lynn, in Bethel.

Literacy Volunteers will hold an open house to meet the new executive director and other members of the organization at the headquarters at 5 Library Place in Danbury on Wednesday, May 17, from 4 to 8 pm. This will give working as well as retired people an opportunity to stop in and learn more about the organization. New tutors are desperately needed to the 100 or more students waiting to be matched with a tutor.

Any person wishing to become a Literacy Volunteer needs to take the 18-hour Core Workshop before being matched with a student. Training workshops will be held at the offices of Literacy Volunteers at 5 library Place in Danbury and are scheduled for the following dates:

A Saturday workshop will be held on May 20, May 27, and June 3, from 9 am to 3 pm with a break for lunch.

Another daytime workshop will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, June 19, 21, and 23, from 9 am to 3 pm with a break for lunch.

An evening workshop will be given on Mondays and Thursdays from 7 to 9:30 pm beginning June 12 and continuing June 15, 19, 22, 26, 29.

Anyone wishing to sign up for a workshop is asked to contact Literacy Volunteers of America-Danbury by telephone at 203/792-8260, or by e-mail to: LVA-D@snet.net. An informational package will be sent before the training starts.