TD Bank awards book grants for low-literacy adults

    Officials with the Maine Humanities Council have announced that TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, has awarded a grant of $2,500 to New Books, New Readers, a humanities-based book discussion initiative for adults who are working to improve their reading.
    This grant will support a New Books, New Readers program sponsored by Houlton/Hodgdon Adult Education, serving low-literacy adults, including immigrant English language learners. New Books, New Readers employs books and discussion to promote the exchange of ideas and in-depth conversations that help adult learners feel invested in the power of reading and inspired to continue reading once the program ends.
    The program uses high-quality children’s books tied to adult themes (courage, home and justice, for example) with simple language expressing complicated ideas and illustrations that help students connect with the text and with each other. By using a facilitator who is trained to prompt thoughtful discussion in an atmosphere of respect and equality, New Books, New Readers aims to help participants value their thoughts and the process of learning.
    “We so appreciate TD Bank’s commitment to New Books, New Readers, and are delighted to offer the program to residents of the Houlton area,” said Erik Jorgensen, executive director of the Maine Humanities Council.