GOOD CAUSE -- Phil Dunn

Story by Christine Carrillo, photo by [tk]

After a two-year search for volunteer work that would make use of his

talents, longtime Costa Mesa resident Phil Dunn finally found his niche.

With a master’s degree in journalism from USC and an undergraduate

degree from UC Berkeley, Dunn clearly understands the importance of

reading and writing.

But it wasn’t until the 34-year-old technical marketing writer shifted

from the academic milieu and began to focus on more everday tasks that he

finally started to understand the difficulties associated with

illiteracy.

“My livelihood is reading and writing,” he said. “ It’s so important

to me and what I do. It’s such a basic skill.”

As a volunteer tutor for READ Orange County, Dunn tutors individuals

who want to learn the basics of the English language by focusing on

reading and writing.

“A lot of people come in for the little things,” Dunn said. “They want

to read their mail. I know of one woman that was able to vote for the

first time this month.”

The program provides individualized, confidential and goal-oriented

lessons, allowing tutors and learners to structure sessions around each

person’s goals and needs. By helping to develop their basic reading and

writing skills, Dunn believes the program will also enhance their

confidence.

“Some people that come in kind of know how to read and write already,

they just need a little help in certain areas,” he said.

Realizing how often people take reading and writing for granted, Dunn

has searched for ways to put himself in the shoes of the individuals he

helps.

“It’s like when you go to Mexico and you don’t know the language, it’s

very difficult to get by,” he said.

Having only worked as a volunteer tutor for six months, the feeling of

helping someone learn to read and write has given him the drive to

continue his service in the program. While he now meets with two literacy

students once a week at the Costa Mesa Library, Dunn looks forward to

expanding the number of individuals he can help through the program.

“I wanted to teach reading to people,” Dunn said. “It really is such

an important skill.”