Hudson County Community College to Host First-ever Literacy Forum Featuring Panel Discussions with Experts
November 13, 2024
November 13, 2024, Jersey City, NJ – Literacy is the cornerstone for lifelong learning and success, but New Jersey has fallen behind. Despite being fifth in the United States for adults who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, New Jersey has the fifth lowest literacy rate in the nation. According to World Population Review, 17% of Garden State adults lack basic prose literacy skills, and only 42% of third graders met or exceeded reading proficiency standards in 2023.
Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation to mandate literacy screenings in grades K-3
beginning next year. He established the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery
to provide online resources and free training that address post-pandemic literacy
issues that disproportionately affect multilingual learners, and Black, Latino and
disabled students.
Hudson County Community College students enjoy a sharing a book together in the College’s Culinary Arts Park on the Journal Square Campus.
To explore this crisis and determine solutions, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will hold a Literacy Forum on Thursday, November 14, 2024 beginning at 9 a.m. Panels of literacy experts and community leaders will discuss how to improve literacy for better outcomes in primary and secondary education as well as employment and other aspects of life. The event will be held at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP here. More information may be obtained by contacting Dolly Bacal at DBacalFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.
The panels are:
“Early Childhood Literacy” with Peggy Kaye, author and early childhood education teacher; Sharon Benjamin, HCCC Adjunct Professor, Speech, Composition and Reading; Dr. M. Jawaad Hussain, Reach Out and Read NJ Co-Medical Director; Mark Hill-Lloyd, Trinity Faith Church in Jersey City; Jackie Anderson, Early Literacy Program Manager, Jersey City Public Library Learning Center; Cherese T. Bracey, author and CEO of Reading Reaps Rewards Early Childhood Enrichment Program; and Amanda Jacobs, Director of Academic Planning and Solutions, Early Learning, Scholastic. The discussion will be moderated by James McGreevey, former New Jersey Governor and Executive Director and Chairman of New Jersey Reentry Corporation.
“Facilitating Language Literacy Success for All, an HCCC Student Panel” will be moderated by Dr. Angela Pack, HCCC Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education, and will include HCCC students Daniel Sherman, Diana Valdez, Vanessa Gil, Cristal Perez, John Acosta, and Marcelo Laboriel.
“Providing foundational reading skills prepares individuals for academic success, college readiness, and economic prosperity,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “We are excited to welcome our panelists and learn about opportunities that help instill reading habits and enable the people of our community to thrive in their academic endeavors and careers.”