Springs Learning Center

Mission

The Springs Learning Center, a program established and supported by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, seeks to provide a holistic literacy program, with special emphasis on English as a second language, for under-served adult learners in New Haven, Connecticut.

Program Goal

The Springs Learning Center attempts to challenge the cycle of poverty, improve the quality of life, and empower the individual adult learner. The overall goal of the Center is to serve the marginalized by providing individual tutoring in basic literacy skills, job readiness, and development of self-esteem for adult students through talents and resources of the Dominican Sisters and others in the local community.

History

The Dominican Sisters have provided educational and pastoral services in New Haven, Connecticut, since 1901, in elementary, secondary and college programs, as well as in parishes and health care institutions. Responding to the demonstrated needs of the local community, they have chosen this educational ministry to utilize the talents and energies of the Sisters and local volunteers in order to address the needs of adult literacy in the neighborhood of Fair Haven.

The Leadership of the Congregation of St. Mary of the Springs has accepted a congregational directive to serve the poor. Accordingly, they agreed to provide start-up funding and the administrative services of Sr. Maryann Lawlor, OP, to inaugurate an adult literacy ministry. Sr. Maryann and her administrative team of Sr. Mary Ellen Boyle, OP and Sr. Barbara DeCrosta, OP, were designated to secure a facility at a site in a low income neighborhood; to equip the facility with educational materials and equipment; to recruit and train a volunteer staff in various methods of instruction including the respected Laubach approach (now known as Pro Literacy America), and to design an instructional program.

They have devised a volunteer-based program which offers one-to-one instruction in a caring and peaceful environment, modeled after their successful program in Columbus, Ohio. There, at the DOMINICAN LEARNING CENTER, established in 1994, the Sisters currently have more than 300 students, about 100 tutors and a waiting list of dozens of adult learners.

The Springs Learning Center is funded by a combination of donated services, corporate and civic donations, individual gifts, and grants from Foundations and organizations. The center celebrated its one year anniversary in March 2003.

Advisory Council

Members of the Springs Learning Center Advisory Council are:
Heather Calabrese (United Way)
Kate Cosgrove (Volunteers of Greater New Haven)
Tim Hickey (Editor, Knights of Columbus Columban magazine)
Deacon Julius Marcarelli (Deacon, St. Rose of Lima)
Amy Parker (Development Director, St. Mary of the Springs)
Sr. Helena Sause, OP (Dominican Sisters, Leadership Team)
Mary Jo Walsh (Former Principal, St. Rose School)

Affiliations

The Springs Learning Center is affiliated with The National Initiative for Literacy (NIFL), Pro Literacy America, Greater New Haven Literacy Coalition, the Dominican Learning Center of Columbus and Dominican Link.