Reading for Adults Literacy Center to celebrate new U.S. citizens

ROCKWALL, TX (June 2, 2022) – The Reading for Adults Literacy Center, a part of the Rockwall County Library, will celebrate 23 years of the RFA program and honor 28 adults who have recently passed their exam to become a United States Citizen. The reception will be Saturday, June 11th, 2022 at 10:30 a.m., in the Community Room of the Rockwall County Library, 1215 E. Yellowjacket Lane, Rockwall.

Each new citizen will be recognized and awarded a certificate and US flag. The Rockwall Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution will present patriotic gift bags to each new citizen.

The reception is open to the general public. Special guests will include the new citizens and their families, local Boy Scouts Troop 83, civic and business leaders, volunteer tutors, and Friends of the Library members. Refreshments will be served following the program.

“We are changing the world, one word at a time. Initiatives that change people’s lives and a community for the better begin with a great idea. It succeeds by people working together in response to the need. That has certainly been the case of the Reading For Adults literacy program,” according to Carol Cease, the RFA Program Director.

To date, 128 adults have become citizens with the RFA’s Citizenship classes. The RFA Literacy Program began in late 1999, to fulfill the need for English as a Second Language (ESL) adult classes in the community. GED classes were added that helped adults obtain a high school equivalency degree. A third program of Citizenship Education evolved to assist students prepare for their written and oral citizenship exams. Adult Literacy was added as a fourth part of the program. The classes, led by community volunteers, are free to attend with a nominal fee for books.

More than 60 tutors have been trained and contributed thousands of volunteer hours to assist the ESL, GED and Citizenship students annually. The average enrollment for all classes is 250 adult students according to Carol Cease, Director of the RFA program. Classes are held at the Rockwall County Library and in classroom space donated by the adjacent First United Methodist Church Rockwall.

Funds for RFA Literacy Program include gifts from the Friends of the Rockwall Library, foundation grants and scholarship money, private donors and fundraiser events. For more information, please call (972) 204-7705.

Submitted press release by RFA.