After three years living in the United States, MeenaBen Desai wanted independence more than anything. 

However, without knowing English, Desai relied heavily on her husband and kids to help her navigate the world around her, whether it was going to the grocery store or the doctor’s office. 

Desai and her family moved from Mumbai to Fort Bend County in 2001. Despite her children and husband picking up English at work and school, she had trouble learning the language. 

But there came a point when she was ready to have autonomy again. She was tired of sitting in rooms watching people around her have in-depth conversations in a language she didn’t understand. 

“I want to (be) independent and I want to understand the language so I can survive in this place and in this country,” she said.

While on a walk with a friend Desai had met from Mumbai, she heard about the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County and the English language courses it offered. From the moment she walked in for registration, Desai said she was matched with a tutor and leadership team that cheered her on and were genuinely committed to her success. 

For the last 18 years, Desai has come to the Literacy Council of Fort Bend to learn and improve her English as well as build skills to better understand the world around her. She is one of hundreds of students who come through the program to learn English and take U.S Citizenship courses and General Education Development (GED) courses every year. Leadership says the key to their success is providing a safe space for students to learn without shame or stigma.

More than 154,000 residents in Fort Bend County are considered to be at or below a Level 1 Literacy level — equivalent to literacy levels at age 5-7 — but this number is growing, said Dedre Smith, the organization’s executive director. The Council currently has five locations and partners with several corporate sponsors across the county to provide ESL courses on-site to their employees. 

If you grew up in the United States, literacy is something you can often take for granted, said Michelle Watts, the organization’s adult education programs director. 

“It’s life changing,” Watts said of the literacy programs. “What we try to do is be very intentional about being welcoming, and kind… because we know so many people are coming here, carrying the weight and the shame of not being able to read or not being able to speak English. So we want to definitely make them feel welcome, but also honor the gifts and the talents that they bring to us.” 

The organization relies on tutors to teach their classes each semester. Currently, the Literacy Council of Fort Bend has around 46 tutors and is actively looking for more to support classes across all their locations and partnerships. 

The opportunity to become a tutor this October was a full-circle moment for Sharon Bridges. She’s had multiple careers ranging from the oilfield industry, office environments and, most recently, retired as a kitchen designer. But in 2005, she had a brief stint in the Houston Independent School District as a teacher in the accelerated learning program. 

“I taught seventh-grade reading but just didn’t succeed at it for the long term,” Bridges said. “I just kept that dream alive until I retired.” 

Now as a tutor with the council, Bridges has the opportunity to work with three women teaching Level 3 Literacy. Cultivating a safe space for her class to learn was of the utmost importance when she took the role. 

“We are each other’s safe place to fail. This is where we’re learning. We’re going to go all out for it and help each other (because)  we’re on a team,” she said. 

Carol Ayres’ Level 5 Literacy class celebrated the last day of the semester with pastries, light drinks and fun conversations. 

“These people really want to be here,” said Ayres, who’s been a tutor at the council since 2014. “And they want to learn.” 

Ayres said her biggest accomplishment this semester was getting the class of seven to read books on their own and being able to discuss them in a classroom setting. Next semester, she’s excited to start reading the “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.” 

Nilfer Kizilaslan, one of Ayres’ students, came to the United States four years ago from Turkey. She heard about the Council from a close friend. 

“This program has all the features of (becoming) a universal person,” she said. “We’re learning a new language and (have) friends from different countries. 

Desai is currently studying hard to take her GED exam. After 18 years of taking courses at the council, she’s ready to take steps toward her next big journey: college. 

“I want to put my feet in college, because in this life, I didn’t have any experience about schools and college,” she said. “But now, in Sugar Land, I have colleges by my home. So that is my hope.” 

Briah Lumpkins is a suburban reporter for the Houston Landing covering Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston counties. If you have any story ideas or tips for Briah, feel free to send her an email at briah@houstonlanding.org.

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Literacy Council of Fort Bend County provides adults a space to learn without stigma or shame

by Briah Lumpkins, Houston Landing
January 3, 2024

<h1>Literacy Council of Fort Bend County provides adults a space to learn without stigma or shame</h1> <p class="byline">by Briah Lumpkins, Houston Landing <br />January 3, 2024</p> <p>After three years living in the United States, MeenaBen Desai wanted independence more than anything.&nbsp;</p> <p>However, without knowing English, Desai relied heavily on her husband and kids to help her navigate the world around her, whether it was going to the grocery store or the doctor's office.&nbsp;</p> <p>Desai and her family moved from Mumbai to Fort Bend County in 2001. Despite her children and husband picking up English at work and school, she had trouble learning the language.&nbsp;</p> <p>But there came a point when she was ready to have autonomy again. She was tired of sitting in rooms watching people around her have in-depth conversations in a language she didn’t understand.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I want to (be) independent and I want to understand the language so I can survive in this place and in this country,” she said.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_06.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21354" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From the left, Melin Shih, Nilufer Kizilasan, Maribel Mejorado, Stephanie Saldana, and Enayat Alzayat (students at the Literacy Council of Fort Bend) share stories of their life and family during their Christmas celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <p>While on a walk with a friend Desai had met from Mumbai, she heard about the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County and the English language courses it offered. From the moment she walked in for registration, Desai said she was matched with a tutor and leadership team that cheered her on and were genuinely committed to her success.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the last 18 years, Desai has come to the Literacy Council of Fort Bend to learn and improve her English as well as build skills to better understand the world around her. She is one of hundreds of students who come through the program to learn English and take U.S Citizenship courses and General Education Development (GED) courses every year. Leadership says the key to their success is providing a safe space for students to learn without shame or stigma.</p> <p>More than 154,000 residents in Fort Bend County are considered to be at or below a Level 1 Literacy level — equivalent to literacy levels at age 5-7 — but this number is growing, said Dedre Smith, the organization's executive director. The Council currently has five locations and partners with several corporate sponsors across the county to provide ESL courses on-site to their employees.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you grew up in the United States, literacy is something you can often take for granted, said Michelle Watts, the organization’s adult education programs director.&nbsp;</p> <p>“It's life changing,” Watts said of the literacy programs. “What we try to do is be very intentional about being welcoming, and kind… because we know so many people are coming here, carrying the weight and the shame of not being able to read or not being able to speak English. So we want to definitely make them feel welcome, but also honor the gifts and the talents that they bring to us.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The organization relies on tutors to teach their classes each semester. Currently, the Literacy Council of Fort Bend has around 46 tutors and is actively looking for more to support classes across all their locations and partnerships.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_28.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21376" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_32.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21380" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_10.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21358" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">(Left photo) Notebook of Stephanie Saldana, a student at the Literacy Council of Fort Bend, as she reads her homework assignment about how her family celebrates the holidays on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Right photo) On the left, Lucia Camacho and Frank Tran, students of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend, makes jokes as they listen to each other’s stories on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Bottom photo) In the center, Romeria Mackay applies lipstick on Melin Shih, as Nilufer Kizilasan holds up a mirror during their Christmas celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <p>The opportunity to become a tutor this October was a full-circle moment for Sharon Bridges. She’s had multiple careers ranging from the oilfield industry, office environments and, most recently, retired as a kitchen designer. But in 2005, she had a brief stint in the Houston Independent School District as a teacher in the accelerated learning program.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I taught seventh-grade reading but just didn't succeed at it for the long term,” Bridges said. “I just kept that dream alive until I retired.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Now as a tutor with the council, Bridges has the opportunity to work with three women teaching Level 3 Literacy. Cultivating a safe space for her class to learn was of the utmost importance when she took the role.&nbsp;</p> <p>“We are each other's safe place to fail. This is where we're learning. We're going to go all out for it and help each other (because)&nbsp; we're on a team,” she said.&nbsp;</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21363" data-id="21363" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_15.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">From the left, Enayat Alzayat, Carol Ayres, Romeria Mackay, Nilufer Kizilasan, Maribel Mejorado, Melin Shih, and Stephanie Saldana, pose for a class portrait during their Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21361" data-id="21361" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_13.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Carol Ayres, a tutor with Literacy Council of Fort Bend since 2014, stands outside the classroom on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21351" data-id="21351" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_03.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">The mission of Literacy Council of Fort Bend is written in Michelle Watts’ office and aims to improve community, family, and professional lives through adult literacy on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21373" data-id="21373" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_25.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">On the right, Yiming Ruxian, a student at the Literacy Council of Fort Bend, reads her homework assignment about her mother to the class on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21350" data-id="21350" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_02.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Michelle Watts, program director of Literacy Council of Fort Bend works to provide literacy, GED and Citizenship courses to adults on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21364" data-id="21364" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_16.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Nilufer Kizilasan, a student who moved to the U.S from Turkey four years ago, stands outside the classroom on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21387" data-id="21387" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_39.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Literacy Council of Fort Bend on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21379" data-id="21379" src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231220_LITERACY-COUNCIL_JB_31.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Priya Rebba, a tutor at the Literacy Council of Fort Bend, corrects her student’s grammar on the whiteboard on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Sugarland. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>Carol Ayres’ Level 5 Literacy class celebrated the last day of the semester with pastries, light drinks and fun conversations.&nbsp;</p> <p>“These people really want to be here,” said Ayres, who's been a tutor at the council since 2014. “And they want to learn.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Ayres said her biggest accomplishment this semester was getting the class of seven to read books on their own and being able to discuss them in a classroom setting. Next semester, she’s excited to start reading the “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Nilfer Kizilaslan, one of Ayres' students, came to the United States four years ago from Turkey. She heard about the Council from a close friend.&nbsp;</p> <p>“This program has all the features of (becoming) a universal person,” she said. “We’re learning a new language and (have) friends from different countries.&nbsp;</p> <p>Desai is currently studying hard to take her GED exam. After 18 years of taking courses at the council, she’s ready to take steps toward her next big journey: college.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I want to put my feet in college, because in this life, I didn't have any experience about schools and college,” she said. “But now, in Sugar Land, I have colleges by my home. So that is my hope.”&nbsp;</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <p><em>Briah Lumpkins is a suburban reporter for the Houston Landing covering Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston counties. If you have any story ideas or tips for Briah, feel free to send her an email at briah@houstonlanding.org.</em></p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://houstonlanding.org/literacy-council-of-fort-bend-county-provides-adults-a-space-to-learn-without-stigma-or-shame/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://houstonlanding.org">Houston Landing</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-Frame-5-2.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://houstonlanding.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=20960&amp;ga4=G-4E41V78RX3" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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