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Oakland Literacy Council

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Fundraiser Benefits Adult Literacy

What do fine wine, scrumptious meals, and literacy have in common? A lot, it turns out.

The Motor City Wine and Food Festival began in 2012 as a way to offer metro Detroit residents one-of-a-kind entertainment while raising money for literacy programs in the tri-county area, including the Oakland Literacy Council.

“Since becoming a part of the Oakland Literacy Council, I’ve seen the miracle of people coming to reading at an older age,” says Russell Moore, co-chair of the Motor City Wine and Food Festival.

“The concept is to have unique events in locations to which many people have not been drawn before,” explains Russell Moore, the festival’s co-chair.

The festival’s next event, scheduled for Sunday, May 19 at Valentine Distilling Company in Ferndale, will offer residents the flair of a British street fair, Moore said. In addition to cocktails created just for the event by the distillery, the “Lambeth Walk” event will feature a British menu, games, music, and a magician. The menu will reflect London’s cosmopolitan air, and the Ron English Quartet will perform jazz. One game will test participants’ knowledge of British-isms, while another will give them a chance to win an expensive bottle of wine. Ticket information can be found here.

A recent Motor City Food and Wine Festival event gave diners a three-course meal.

Venues for past events have included the Packard Proving Grounds, where guests dined amongst Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Fiat cars, as well as the historic Garden Theater in Detroit and the historic dairy Van Hoosen Farm in Rochester.

The festival is an independent, nonprofit organization created in 2012. Bob Gaylor, the founder of Oakland Literacy Council, envisioned the festival as a fundraiser that would attract broad community support for programs to fight adult illiteracy throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

The festival’s advisory board plans one to two events a year, Moore says. Several businesses are generous supporters, and all profits support literacy. Over the last six years, the festival has given away more than $55,000. Beneficiaries have included the Oakland Literacy Council, the Mercy Education Project, Sienna Literacy, and the former Macomb Literacy Council.

Moore became involved with the festival shortly after its launch, but he has been an advocate for literacy his entire adult life. “I was a child of parents who read,” he says. “I was surrounded by literacy.” He spent 35 years in education as an elementary school teacher and reading interventionist before retiring. He has shared his expertise with tutors for Oakland Literacy Council during past professional development seminars.

“As an elementary teacher, I saw young students blossoming into reading,” Moore says. “Since becoming a part of the Oakland Literacy Council, I’ve seen the miracle of people coming to reading at an older age. I see now that we have so many adults in need.”

Meet other 35 Faces of Literacy

Check out these articles about Oakland Literacy Council!

The Joy of Being a Literacy Tutor
Read between the ‘lions’
Give a little, give a lot
Seeking volunteer tutors

The Oakland Literacy Council is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity that relies on the financial support of individuals, businesses, community organizations, and foundations to fulfill its mission. Your tax-deductible financial gift can be made online, by mail or by Donor-Advised Fund. The Oakland Literacy Council also welcomes gifts of Stock and Legacy Gifts.

In celebration of Oakland Literacy Council’s 35th anniversary, we’ve invited students, former students, tutors, donors, and other advocates to share their stories. Read all of their stories here.

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Oakland Literacy Council
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Lesley TauroLesley Tauro
12:43 05 Sep 24
I love being a English Tutor with Oakland Literacy Council on a one-on-one basis as well as for a conversation group. Through OLC, I have had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people, many who have become friends.
Cynthia WersteinCynthia Werstein
23:48 04 Sep 24
I have enjoyed my ESL tutoring with Oakland Literacy Council. We received training to help us, help our students. I feel like I can reach out for additional help if needed. Not to forget, they offer outside activities, on occasion, so that the students and tutors can do some typical, but fun activities! OLC is a great organization to volunteer with.
Lisa BurnsLisa Burns
21:33 04 Sep 24
I've been volunteering with the OLC for about a year and a half, and it's been a great experience! I very much enjoy the tutoring sessions with the student whom they paired me with. She is a lovely person and I've learned a lot from her too. OLC makes tutoring easy for volunteers, with an easy-to-use curriculum, training, support, and social events. Highly recommend!
Qambar Ali SarwariQambar Ali Sarwari
19:50 04 Sep 24
Great team, motivational atmosphere, Thank you for your always support and help, especially the refresher training you provide to the tutors.Warm regards ,Ali
Brad RothBrad Roth
19:07 04 Sep 24
When I retired in 2020 (in the middle of the covid pandemic) I wanted to find ways to volunteer. As a former college professor, I am particularly concerned about education and literacy. Working with Oakland Literacy Council has been a wonderful experience for me. The staff at OLC (particularly Laurie Weeks) is so helpful and appreciative. I've gotten more hand-written thank you notes from Laurie in the last four years than from everyone else throughout the rest of my life combined. Volunteering for OLC lets me give back to society but enjoy retirement too. I highly recommend it.
Kelly TurnerKelly Turner
11:12 23 Aug 24
I would like to say How amazing Oakland literacy Council is I came in May To Continue my education and I thank god I found them they where at the bottom of the list when they should have been at the top of the list first off the staff is amazing they did everything by the book I did placement testing to figure out where to place me they took the time out to get the best tutors they also called and checked in on me and also motivated me to keep going and never give up they gave me the option to go online for tutoring or in person Stewart my tutor was amazing he took pride in educating me and never made me feel like I was bothering him patricia was amazing she stayed on me and stayed consistent they made me feel like familythe icing on the cake was how they acknowledged me on graduation day the whole team was there for me and my family and I was so happy and me and my kid's could feel the love it's nothing that I would not do for Oakland literacy I will be there spokesperson for life cause it's worth it and they have top notch tutors employees and the online tutor services is Phenomenal if you're seeking to continue your education look no more this is the place to go
Sanghee HanSanghee Han
11:59 22 Aug 24
I was so lucky to meet oakland literacy Council. Since OLC has been a great institute for me almost 2 years. And they helped my english improve and give me some good talking classes for learning new culture here as well. Now that I graduated from a reading program at OLC, I feel like I'm still with them. Really appreciate it.
BAIYANG LAIBAIYANG LAI
19:36 15 Aug 24
In the past three years I learned English with Oakland Literacy. I met quite a few tutors in one by one tutoring and some conversation groups. Those tutors were so incredible and awesome! They really really helped me a lot in my English. My gratitude to all of them is beyond words!
jung min sonjung min son
17:36 15 Aug 24
Thank you for having me with your excellent support.. I really enjoyed learning English and having conversation class with others. I made some good friends and I think Oakland Literacy Council is very good for people who need English support 👏 👍
Joseph Lee (Jo)Joseph Lee (Jo)
16:39 15 Aug 24
Oakland Literacy Council was a very good program for me as my second language. I evaluated my English ability through English listening and reading tests and matched my tutor accordingly. As a result, my English improved a lot. And most of all, it was free.
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OAKLAND LITERACY COUNCIL 51111 Woodward Ave., Suite 720, Pontiac, MI 48342

(248) 253-1617, info@oaklandliteracy.com

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