A new initiative is changing lives one word at a time. In March of 2024, the Literacy Council of Reading Berks launched its Overcoming Barriers Project. The goal of this project is to provide resources such as bus passes to enable female program participants the opportunity to participate in Literacy Council classes. Students will learn to read and write proficiently, become productive citizens, prepare for work, and achieve success at their jobs.
The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks is dedicated to eradicating illiteracy by teaching students to develop job skills, become a better parent, and to give back to the community. Their mission is to help adults better communicate, collaborate, and contribute to their families, workplaces, and communities.
The Overcoming Barriers Project addresses a critical need in our community. The classes go beyond reading and writing; they’re stepping stones to helping these females break barriers that are preventing them from being successful. The program provides a monthly BARTA bus pass for English as a Second Language (ESL) students, high school equivalency certification classes, GED preparation materials and exam fees, and a gateway to citizenship program. “The answer to being productive in life, work, and the community is the ability to communicate, collaborate with, and contribute to others’, explains Beverly Hirneisen of the Literacy Council. “Those who are illiterate find that impossible to do.”
The Power of the Purse (POP) Fund of Berks County Community Foundation provided support for the Overcoming Barriers Project. “The Power of the Purse Fund’s support is invaluable,’ says Beverly Hirneisen. “It allows us to focus on what we do best -teaching literacy skills – while ensuring our female students have the means to attend classes regularly.”
As women improve their literacy skills, they become more effective advocates for themselves and for children in schools and other public institutions. The program also serves as a gateway to higher education and increased community involvement.
“Women benefit in earnings from increased literacy skills,” Hirneisen notes. “Participation in literacy programs leads to a significant increase in participation in other community organizations.” The Literacy Council’s efforts are already bearing fruit. Students are progressing through ESL class levels, passing GED exams, and even gaining U.S. citizenship. These achievements are measured through post-testing results, exam passing rates, and tracking students’ progression through various educational levels.
One of the partners of the Literacy Council is Reading Area Community College (RACC). The partnership with a community college is crucial. Literacy Council helps RACC with professional development, student transfers, the Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) program, and admission assistance.
The Council also provides ESL and high school equivalency classes through Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation, and Connections Work. The Overcoming Barriers Project is more than just a literacy program; it’s a program that provides hope. The impact of this program is immense. For each woman who learns to read, write, and communicate effectively, the program is not just changing one life-it is transforming families and strengthening our entire community.
The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, through its Overcoming Barriers Project, is writing a new chapter in the story of Berks County. It’s a tale of empowerment, resilience, and the power of lifelong learning.
POP is a women’s giving circle with a focus on providing grants to programs that break the cycle of poverty by eliminating or addressing barriers for Berks County girls and women who want to enter or re-enter the workforce or seek the education they need to do so.
In 2024, POP awarded a total of $75,000 to the following organizations:
- $10,000 to Connections Work for a program to provide transportation, ID’s, and work-related clothing to remove any barriers to employment for individuals with justice involvement.
- $8,500 to Hannah’s Hope for staff training in Trauma Informed Care.
- $3,000 to John Paul II Center for Special Learning for their Girl Talk 101 program that creates a safe space for female students ages 10-45 with any disability to talk about their bodies, rights, safety, and self-advocacy with staff and community experts.
- $5,000 to Literacy Council of Reading to supply resources such as bus passes to enable female participants the opportunity to participate in Literacy Council classes.
- $3,750 to Mary’s Shelter to provide housing and supportive services to homeless unaccompanied youth.
- $15,000 to Opportunity House to offer financial assistance to empower women and ensure entry into permanent housing.
- $10,000 to Reading Science Center to provide STEM opportunities through hands-on programming for girls in Berks County.
- $15,000 to Safe Berks to help eliminate barriers that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault face in obtaining and/or maintaining employment by providing direct support and financial assistance for education and employment needs.
- $4,750 to VOiCEup Berks to send Berks County youth to a national youth leadership conference to foster leadership skills.
Reading, PA (May 9, 2024) – The Power of the Purse in Berks County Fund of Berks County Community Foundation recently awarded $75,000 in grants to nine organizations. The Power of the Purse Fund supports organizations and projects that focus on women’s education, economic empowerment, safety, rights, and health.
The following grants were awarded:
- $10,000 to Connections Work for a program to provide transportation, ID’s, and work-related clothing to remove any barriers to employment for individuals with justice involvement.
- $8,500 to Hannah’s Hope for staff training in Trauma Informed Care.
- $3,000 to John Paul II Center for Special Learning for their Girl Talk 101 program that creates a safe space for female students ages 10-45 with any disability to talk about their bodies, rights, safety, and self-advocacy with staff and community experts.
- $5,000 to Literacy Council of Reading to supply resources such as bus passes to enable female participants the opportunity to participate in Literacy Council classes.
- $3,750 to Mary’s Shelter to provide housing and supportive services to homeless unaccompanied youth.
- $15,000 to Opportunity House to offer financial assistance to empower women and ensure entry into permanent housing.
- $10,000 to Reading Science Center to provide STEM opportunities through hands-on programming for girls in Berks County.
- $15,000 to Safe Berks to help eliminate barriers that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault face in obtaining and/or maintaining employment by providing direct support and financial assistance for education and employment needs.
- $4,750 to VOiCEup Berks to send Berks County youth to a national youth leadership conference to foster leadership skills.
“From an outsider’s perspective, you think that there are these big mountains that you have to go over, but sometimes it’s a small amount of money or just a small gesture that can make the difference for someone being successful and getting out of poverty or getting a job,” said Chiara Renninger, founder of Power of the Purse. “I learned that just small things can really make a huge difference to people.”
“Being able to enhance the spirit of the Power of the Purse (POP) initiative is really empowering for the women in our community,” said Cindy Miliam, health and human services program officer. “POP funding for these organizations supports the belief that woman play a pivotal role in driving change and shaping the future of Berks County.”
Power of the Purse Fund was created in 2012 as a women’s giving circle. For more information, click here.
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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, PA. More information is available at www.bccf.org.
The Power of the Purse in Berks County (POP) in Berks County held its 2022-2023 kickoff meeting at Berks County Community Foundation. POP is a women’s giving circle where donations are pooled to create an impact in the Berks County community. In the meeting, there was a discussion on how to improve the lives of women and girls that included explaining The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy’s XX Factor Framework. Based on this framework, there are five dimensions that women look to thrive in their community: health, education, economic empowerment, personal safety, and legal rights.
- Health: Women are free from disease and pain and able to live full, flourishing lives.
- Education: Women have access to knowledge and education opportunities to cultivate learning and expand their possibilities in life.
- Economic Empowerment: Women are enabled to achieve economic success and have agency over financial decision-making.
- Personal Safety: Women are free from violence and other harmful practices that undermine bodily autonomy and well-being.
- Legal Rights: Women have rights under the law that enable them to thrive (including in the other four dimensions).
“Collectively, if there is not an impact on all five, women cannot thrive. Progress in one will create a domino effect with the other dimensions,” explains Katherina M. Rosqueta, Founding Executive Director for the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania.
The Power of the Purse in Berks County Fund of Berks County Community Foundation awards grants to programs that break the cycle of poverty by eliminating or addressing barriers for Berks County girls and/or women who want to enter or re-enter the workforce or seek education they need to do so.
The deadline to apply is January 24, 2023.
This funding is made possible by the generous women who are members of the Power of the Purse in Berks County, which was started in 2012 to improve the lives of local women and children.
You can learn more about POP, how to apply for a grant, how to donate to the group, and what grants have been previously awarded at https://bccf.org/pop/.
Apply for a grant directly at http://bccf.link/grants. The deadline to apply for funding is January 24, 2023.
