Imagine not being able to read, write, or do rudimentary mathematics beyond a third-grade education. This is the reality of over 30 million Americans.
“Since 1983, more than 10 million Americans reached the twelfth grade without having learned to read at a basic level,” says ProLiteracy reports. “That’s the total population of Louisiana and South Carolina combined.”

The Guilford County School District reports that more than 20,000 adults from the ages of 18-25 have less than a ninth-grade education, and “if students are not reading at grade level by the third grade, it becomes harder and harder to catch up.” The American Speech Language and Hearing Association also reports the negative long-term effects of poor literacy skills including, “75 percent of school dropouts report reading problems, and at least half of adolescents and young adults with criminal records have reading diffi- culties.” As of 2009, North Carolina saw a significant increase (11 percent) in the reading proficiency on the EOG’s. Though there has been an improvement, an insufficient gap still needs to be narrowed.

The city of High Point and generous citizens from our beloved community locked arms with High Point University in 2013 to combat illiteracy and help to close the gap, even if by a small margin.

Tucked away in the basement of Mount Zion Baptist Church is a fellowship hall full of growing hearts and minds. This is where the Community Writing Center breathes and lives. The Community Writing Center is an after-school program that strives to help local elementary and middle school students with building literacy skills. Its website emphasizes their mission to “help young students find the tools and support they need to flourish in an academic setting and develop a strong character.”

“The Center’s curriculum focuses on improving students’ fundamental reading and writing skills through creative writing instruction, interactive and one-on-one reading exercises, and homework assistance,” said Dr. Cara Kozma, co-director of the center, associate director of High Point University’s Service Learning Program and associate professor of english. “I wanted to find a way to bring all of the creative work happening in HPU’s English Department and Service Learning Program into the High Point com- munity. There is so much meaningful collaboration that can happen between students and community members.”

Through the program’s partnership with HPU’s Service Learning, Bonner Leader, and AmeriCorps VISTA programs, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Kirkman Park El- ementary School and Penn-Griffin Middle School, students from fourth grade to eighth grade are able to receive unique tutoring experiences to exercise reading, writing and even mathematical abilities.

“I enjoy promoting writing and reading; seeing creative work happen is magical every single time,” said Dr. Charmaine Cadeau co-director of the center and HPU’s associate professor of english.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with the HPU students,” said Ella Hamlin, retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force, deacon of Mount Zion Baptist Church and Community Writing Center program director. “Watching them working with the kids and handling the different personalities is a delight! The kids love them.”

Students attend the Community Writing Center twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. A typical day at the Community Writing Center for students means completion of homework first, reading time and/or a creative writing exercise, snacks, games, a movie or playground time. The Center celebrates holidays dur- ing the year with the students for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Periodically, the Center also brings students to HPU for campus tours.

The Community Writing Center has had great success, but more student volunteers from HPU are wanted. As of right now, students enrolled in English 1103 SL, English 2230 SL, and English 4140 SL are given the opportunity to become volunteer tutors for credit; however, the program hopes to have more students volunteer and tutors for the sake of wanting to be more involved in the community.

“We could use more, especially on Tuesdays,” said Hamlin when asked if there are currently enough volunteers to sustain the Program. “It would give more kids the op- portunity to have one-on-one experiences with the Service Learners and to get the extra help and tutoring they need on any homework they have: reading, writing, math, etc. It would mean they can bond and build close relationships.”

“Every time we go to campus, I enjoy watching the children explore,” said Doug McCollum, Community Writing Center Bonner Leader of two years. “Helping them to understand that something like that is possible for them is important for me…I’ve always said if I ever make it big and become rich and famous, that I would always come back because this is home, and my home needs to be taken care of.”

HPU tutors are more than just volunteers for the program; they serve as examples for young students, representing dreams, opportunity, possibility and the value of a college education.

“I think that these students are getting a more hands-on approach and are able to see the real-world application of the material that we are studying,” said Kozma. “This is showing them that writing really has a purpose in the community, and it can benefit the path that the children will be able to follow later on in life.”

The Community Writing Center is a place where HPU students come together with elementary and middle school students to build positive, influential relationships and promote children’s literacy. It is a place where university students can grow alongside children, also learning the power of community, compassion, education, influence and service. The Community Writing Center is more prominent than itself. It stands for a more significant cause that plagues our city, our state and our country. By helping to promote literacy and healthy relationships, the gap will hopefully continue to narrow.

Any students wanting to become a volunteer or Bonner Leader at the Community Writing Center are encouraged to visit its website at https://cwc-highpoint.squarespace. com or contact Kozma or Cadeau from HPU’s English Department.