Giving the gift of literacy

An estimated 23,000 people in the Newport-Mesa area cannot read this article.

Yet many in the community will seek help learning to read through the Newport Beach Public Library’s literacy services.

In an effort to raise awareness of illiteracy locally and nationwide, authors Sonia Nazario and María Amparo Escandón will speak at the Newport Beach Library Foundation’s third annual Gift of Literacy luncheon today.

The event aims to increase the visibility of the literacy program to future participants and supporters. About 100 guests are expected to attend.

Ticket proceeds will go toward supporting the scholarship-based program.

“It’s kind of a hidden problem, people don’t just step up to the plate and say I’m illiterate,” coordinator Cherall Weiss said. “It’s not like being blind or missing a limb — it’s not something you can see. People figure out how to deal with it or just hide it completely and they don’t get the help they need.”

For almost 25 years, the program has matched learners with tutors.

While many of the program’s participants are immigrants, a substantial portion is native-born Americans that have slipped through the cracks of the educational system, said Weiss, who has been involved with the program for six years.

For others, the need to find work and take care of a family takes precedence over literacy classes, said Nazario, a former Los Angeles Times reporter, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of “Enrique’s Journey.”

“Many immigrants are doing very labor intensive, very strenuous physical work during the day, and if you’re doing that for 10 or 12 hours a day, it’s very hard to have the energy at night to go to an English class,” Nazario said.

Newport Beach program learners can choose between flexible one-on-one sessions with a tutor and group classes at the main city library.

While there are no fees, participants are required to give a one-year commitment, Weiss said.

Most participants stay in the program longer as they continue to climb upward in the community — earning diplomas, work promotions and becoming politically active, Weiss said.

“A byproduct of illiteracy is that you become an outsider,” tutor and Costa Mesa resident Joe Brown said. “Having the ability to read at only a very low level causes a person to go into a shell.”

Most people do not realize the simple joy found in daily activities such as the ability to hold a conversation with someone by name by reading their name badge, said Brown, who has been a tutor for nearly three years.

“Most of us don’t think twice about [literacy] and it’s such a gift,” Escandón said, author of “Esperanza’s Box of Saints.” “Every language you have fluency in opens doors for you.

“The ability to read a book in its native language and speak to people in their native language should be experienced by everyone.”

In addition to reading and writing courses, the program offers classes in computer technology and job seeking techniques, Weiss said.

“The definition of literacy has changed a lot over the years. Everyone is speaking this language of e-mails and searching on the Internet and if you have no clue then you’re really missing out on a lot,” Weiss said.

Today’s event will also hold a silent auction and raffle to benefit the program. For more information about the program or buy tickets for the luncheon, call (949) 717-3875.

“Our mission is so that every adult will be successful in their community, in their homes and at work,” Weiss said.