Program

Our Legal Status

The Dominican Literacy Center is a non-profit organization and is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is funded by a number of organizations and foundations.

Donors may deduct contributions to the DLC as provided by section 170 of the Code. Items given to the Center of for the use of the program are deductible for federal estate and gift tax purposes under sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Code.

Our Partners

The Center collaborates with local organizations such as HUG (Hope, Unity, and Growth), Head Start, MCHS Infant Mortality Project, Focus:HOPE, Michigan Department of Corrections, Americorps, Leaps & Bounds, Heartline, Michigan Works, Youth Build, Positive Images, Detroit Central City, Siena Literacy Center, WINGS, and the City of Detroit.

Our Donors

The Dominican Literacy Center has flourished over the years because of the generosity of the community. The computer component at the Dominican Literacy Center was developed through corporate grants and contributions from private donors. Supporters include the City of Detroit, Comerica Bank, Diversified Computer Services, and Adrian Dominican Sisters.

The purpose of the DLC is to deliver quality individualized reading, writing, spelling, listening, and basic math to adults in the City of Detroit. To accomplish this goal, we plan to do the following:

- to recruit, assign, and retain students
- to recruit, train, and support volunteer tutors
- to deliver reading, writing, spelling, and math instruction
- to provide appropriate support to students
- to provide instructional materials to tutors and students
- to provide instructional support to tutors
- to provide basic computer literacy
- to document, evaluate, and supervise services provided

PROGRAM

Our Curriculum

The DLC provides a core curriculum of the Laubach Way to Reading, a well known method of teaching adults to read, write, and do basic math. We also use supplemental materials from additional current adult learning approaches through Contemporary, Steck-Vaughn, and Cambridge Publishers.

Our computer lab, developed over several years, offers a variety of educational software that reinforces skills introduced in the learners’ tutoring sessions. Topics include: reading, phonics, mathematics, grammar, spelling, and English for speakers of other languages.

Students and tutors may take advantage of lessons in keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheet and database. Those whose schedules do not allow for attendance in a computer class may develop computer skills through the Teknimedia PC series. Students and tutors have the opportunity to learn about the Internet and to make use of it for research and instruction.

On a regular basis, pointers-on in-service sessions are offered to tutors to introduce them to instructional programs available to them and their students. These sessions help tutors identify programs that address their student’s specific learning needs. Staff members are always available to assist in this selection.