Dominican Literacy Center Nuns Encourage Growth
Reported by Erik Smith
Web produced by Kelly Reynolds

Retired Catholic nuns opened the Dominican Literacy Center in 1989 Video

In Detroit the numbers say 47 percent of us need help, and across the nation, one in every five Americans cannot read. Those numbers are at the heart of everything at the Dominican Literacy Center.

"We looked at a lot of literacy programs that were existing and created what we felt would be a quality experience for adults who, perhaps, have never learned how to read and write. They have spoken this language all their lives but they were not able to look at that printed word and recognize the language that they were speaking," said Marie Schoenlein, Executive Director of the Center.

The center was born back in 1989 with the help of some dedicated and highly motivated Catholic nuns who had reached retirement age.

According to statistics, 47 percent of Detroiters can't read and write

Some were teachers. All possessed valuable skills and certainly the will to share their talents while carrying on the tradition of their Dominican heritage.

"The educational experience has been so limited in the learners' pasts that it needed to be a quality program and we felt that that would be one of the critical elements that we wanted them to have success, which they haven't experienced previously," Schoenlein said.

The Center bridged the digital divide thanks to donated computer hardware and Internet access

The advent of the tech age has brought even greater challenges to their door steps, but with the help of donated computer hardware and Internet access, the Dominican Literacy Center is now bridging the digital divide as well as the literacy gap.

Schoenlein stressed the importance of computer literacy: "If they were to accomplish reading and writing and basic math to be employed, computer skills are essential for them."

Thanks to the sisters and their many volunteer tutors and helpers there are now hundreds and hundreds of new readers, new writers, new productive citizens in our town.

The nuns are dedicated to a quality program that nurtures the success of their learners

From a little acorn of an idea, a tall oak tree has grown in our community. And with our help, its roots will continue to spread.

Schoenlein added, "They will say, previously I have felt this bond within me of something that keeps me less than being free. And once they make that break through they say, I feel I'm free now."

For more, you can call 313-882-4853.

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