At the Arkansas Association of Continuing Adult Education (AACAE) conference September 2010, the READ Program received Arkansas Literacy Councils, Inc.'s "Innovative Project of the Year 2010" award. 

READ received the award because, as Jane stated in the nomination, "READ is made up of a group of people who pull together to share every joy and face any adversity as a team."

Our program was started in 1989.  It was incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)3 in 1992.  We have seen loss because of fire and three break-ins at two different READ locations.  We have built haunted houses, done multiple other fundraisers, set up booths and done presentations for civic groups.  We've walked in parades.  There were new computers to buy to replace the stolen ones.  We've worked with many other agencies to epitomize how we can serve our students in the best ways.  There have been work parties (we call them parties to make the concept of "work" sound better). We've held tie-dye parties to "fancify" discarded blankets and sheets donated by National Park Medical Center.  We've had many paper mache parties to create haunted house props instead of buying expensive ones.  (They may be messy but they sure are fun.)   

We've trained hundreds of tutors over the years.  The best part of that is matching the tutor and student.  The best part of the match is watching the student and tutor both grow and change as they forge a learning relationship.  We've written and copied little books for instructional use.  We've created basic literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL) and children's handbooks to help learners understand how our program works.  We've written plays to encourage ESL learners to do more speaking in English.  Reading a character role makes that more fun!

This is the fifth year of our program at Ouachita River Correctional Unit in Malvern.  We trained another group of inmate tutors in March 2011.  Those inmates tutor inmates who need help with educational skills in reading and math. 

We collaborate with DOCC to get community service workers.  The CSWs work hourly paying off fines.  They may perform janitorial tasks, light clerical duties or help at fundraisers.  DOCC clients are also referred as students. 

One of our most interesting partners is the Drug Court.  DC clients/students are referred to work with tutors achieving their goal of moving on to adult education, then working toward their GEDs.  We have seen many successful stories that come from the self-esteem these clients gain as their lives change.

Yup, innovative is probably a good description about the people of the READ Program.