Lewis & Clark Literacy Council

School dedicated to increasing the functional literacy of adults with basic literacy needs, as well as those whose primary language is not English
Our office is located downtown
815 Front St.

According to the US Department of Education Statistics: 7% of adults in Lewis & Clark County lack basic literacy skills.
The effects of low literacy cost the U.S. $225 billion or more each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.

What We Do

We provide trained tutor/mentors who work with Adults and young Adults who want to improve their basic reading, writing, spelling and math skills. We help them prepare for the HiSet, improve their employability skills, obtain their driver's license and much more, give them activities to imprimer les tables de multiplication en PDF . Many of our tutors have educator licenses and/or a TESOL degree.
We also help Adults and their families originally from other countries who want to improve their English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and more easily integrate into American society. We have successfully prepared our students to pass the US Citizenship exam and adjust to living in America since 1988.

PLEASE DONATE

With your support we can continue to help the 7% of adults in Lewis & Clark County with low literacy skills. Working with new community members from other countries is our specialty.

LEWIS & CLARK LITERACY COUNCIL
P.O. BOX 67 HELENA, MT. 59624

We strive to have our clients become better parents, better workers and better citizens.

About Us

We provide Free direct instruction and materials to adult learners.

Our Mission:

The Lewis & Clark Literacy Council (L&CLC;) helps adults and their families acquire the reading, writing, English language, workforce and life skills so that they may have an improved quality of life.

Our Vision:

The future vision of the Lewis & Clark Literacy Council would be to have the population of Helena and the surrounding area be fully literate in their everyday lives; thereby increasing participation within their families, their work and our community.

We provide free direct instruction and materials to adult learners.

The Lewis & Clark Literacy Council also trains volunteer tutors who work one-to-one with their students. Promoting public awareness and support of adult and family literacy issues is also our goal.

Our History:

The Lewis & Clark Literacy Council began in 1988 and has served hundreds of Helena area adults since its inception. The L&CLC; is an affiliate member of ProLiteracy, the Montana Nonprofit Association and United Way.

Our Services:

Learn to read, write and speak English
Citizenship Preparation
Adult Basic Education
Driver's License Prep
American Acculturation
Workforce Literacy
Workforce Math
We promote Family Literacy

Board of Directors:

Chair:
Susan Nimick

Treasurer:

  1. Scott Shein

Secretary:
Julie Robbins

Members:
Ian Marquand
Beth Steele
Matt Beckstrom
Jorge Quintana ex-officio

Our Staff:

Executive Director
Peggy O. Benkelman

Our Trained
Volunteer Tutors

Services for Students

English grammar is enhanced through word and sentence building skills.

One - to - One Tutoring


Tutoring is free of charge.

Each student is matched with an adult tutor trained and certified by both the Lewis & Clark Literacy Council and ProLiteracy America. Each tutor creates lesson plans based on the student's needs.

We provide individualized help to reach life goals. Such as:

Women's ELL (English Language Learner) & American Acculturation Class

Low stress interactive class where women from other countries support each other in their goal of learning English and American Culture. Life skills are improved through this conversational English class. English grammar is enhanced through word and sentence building skills. Class increases student's reading fluency, writing improves and vocabulary grows.

Our Mini Classes embrace the "learn by doing" concept. Upcoming classes will be listed on our

Events Page

Examples: Cooking From Around the World, A Home Garden, Get to Know Helena,Sewing, Crocheting & Knitting, Discover the Mountains, Let's Swim, Books Families can Read Together, Build a Birdhouse, Car-Talk, Know Your Child's School…

Tutors / Volunteers

According to the US Census 2000, in Lewis & Clark County there are over 4000 persons over the age of 18 without a High School Diploma or GED.

Tutor Training Sessions

A tutor must attend all sessions to become certified. Materials and training are provided free of charge. Please call the office to inquire about upcoming trainings or see our events page.
TUTOR JOB DESCRIPTION in PDF format
TUTOR APPLICATION in PDF format
Volunteer TUTOR FAQs

TUTOR TIME SHEET
TUTOR/LEARNER AGREEMENT in PDF format

In Service Sessions for already Trained Tutors See our Events Page
Tutor of the Year (TOY) Banquet See our Events Page
Need Extra Resources? See our Resources Page

Events at the Lewis & Clark Literacy Council

" Helping Adults and Their Families Improve Their Lives through Literacy, Life Skills & Culture"

Donate Today

The Lewis & Clark Literacy Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN#81-0469892

Your donation is tax deductible according to IRS regulation We take great care in spending your donation wisely.
Please make checks payable to:
Lewis & Clark Literacy Council (L&CLC;)
PO Box 67
Helena, MT 59624
What will your donation purchase?
Program Support - for our Students and their Tutors
$1.00 per week ($52 per year) provides two books for one student/tutor match
$5.00 per week ($260 per year) provides books for our Tutor Training: Tutor & I Speak English
$10.00 per week ($520 per year) provides: Updated series of books - Laubach Way to Reading Levels 1 thru 4
$15.00 ($500 per year) will help us purchase 2 tests per year for each student. To be able to test all of our students, it costs our program over $500 per year. We utilize these testing materials so our students can witness their progress in a formal way.
Additional comments: The L&CLC; is always in need of quality adult themed books. Our director can show you some samples and you can pick the series you prefer.

Wish List:

iPads, Tablets
Books
Office Supplies
Various Software Programs

DONORS

Individuals

Marilyn Carlyn
Bender Family
Candy Brown Memorial
Marca Gibson
Bob Clark
Daniel Fiehrer, DDS
Christian & Lacy Claeys DDS
Bliss Travel Agency
Anonymous
Peggy & Barney Benkelman
Susan Cravens
Thomas Fox
Susan Epstein MD
Daphne Digrindakis
Wm. Harper MD
Libby Goldes
Paul Edwards
Denis Burke
Eric & Ellen Feaver
Chang Guo You
Michele Herrington
Chuck Hunter
Cordell Johnson
Anna Jones
Kelly Kessler
Micky Kibbe
Carolyn & Tom Laceky
Laurie Lamson
Wm & Nancy MacBride
Anne MacIntyre
Marcie MacLean
Kate McDonnell
Terry Morris
Frances Muldowney
Dianne Myers
Lyle & Pat Myers
Nancy Nicholson
Jim Opitz
George Pendergast
Andrew Pida
Jeanne Powell
JoAnne Rapley
Melanie Rasor
Jim Reynolds
Julie Robbins
Donna Schiller
Laura Schroeder
Thea Seese

  1. Scott Shein
Maria Gutierrez Sing
David M. Smith
Sally Speer
Alicia Stickney
Rodger Stone
LS Vellanki MD
Nancy Wells
Nicki Whearty
Gregg & Wendy Wheeler
Willie Williams
Janet Wright

Businesses

Hastings
Costco
Futura Lane
Grandstreet Theatre
www.creativeMT.biz
Helena Community Credit Union
Action Print
Big Sky Unitarian Church
Birds & Beasleys
The Bear's Den
Helena SD#1
Independent Record
Jade Garden
Mountain West Bank
MT Book & Toy Company
Mts & Plains Booksellers Assoc.
Queen City Ballet
Staples
Taco Del Sol
Valley Bank
Walmart

Grants

United Way
ProLiteracy
Town Pump
BKBH Law Firm
Exchange Club
General Mills
Treacy Foundation
Mountain West Bank
L&C; Community Foundation
Zonta Club