THE LITERACY CENTER

The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (5/19/2011)

I’ve had lots of jobs in my life, a soldier, a counterspy, a ditch digger, a clergyman, an arts columnist, a university lecturer, a hypnoanalyst, a writer, and a civil rights agitator, but the best has been as a tutor at the Literacy Center. First, I don’t get paid which means that I don’t have to gripe about not getting paid enough. Secondly, and far more important, I’m helping people empower themselves because language is power. It’s a joy to see their delight when they gain the power to express themselves.

The Literacy Center is a joy itself. The staff is always glad to see me. They are a great bunch of people, articulate, thoughtful, outgoing, and generous. They believe in what they’re doing. My fellow volunteer tutors are a diverse, interesting, and happy crowd. We have great parties.

But the learners are the chief source of joy. They’re eager to learn and what a joy that is! They hug me when I come in to work with them. In addition to all of that, my knowledge of the world is expanding. Tam Ngyuen has re-introduced me to biology. I got a “D” in college. Chheten Tamang has taken me to Nepal, and Wen Tung has strung out the silken thread of Chinese culture.

If anyone’s an old geezer like me, this is a great way to brush up your résumé in preparation for the Last Roundup. If you don’t believe in divine judgment, it ain’t too smart to bet against it.