Community group is serving the adults and children pursuing English

Lucky Shoals Community Association Inc. is using the Parent Village model to help members of their community learn English as their second language. 

The Norcross, Georgia community group teaches English literacy classes for adults. They’ve recently expanded their efforts to include early English literacy for children using the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy Community Coalition Grant. 

“Our nonprofit serves a teeming, multilingual community and they expressed a need for more resources for acquiring early literacy—often in situations where the whole family is learning,” said association CEO and Founder Marvin Lim.  

The model they use, called Parent Village, creates an environment that encourages parents to participate in a community immersed in early literacy.

English language and early literacy classes and lessons are often taught in Parent Centers, where learners are empowered to identify their needs and plan for addressing them with help from the community association. 

“The program has felt so empowering,” Lim said. “It’s certainly not the end, but we’ve come a long way.” 

The Parent Village model supplies a wealth of resources for families to share, giving families a place to share tips, offer support for childcare during classes, and create a place for comradery and understanding. 

To support their work, the Deal Center awarded the Lucky Shoals Community Association’s Parent Village program a $10,000 grant in May 2024. This April marks the end of the grant period, and later this year the association will report their progress. 

“Reading isn’t intuitive, and learning to read can be difficult even if you’re learning your native language,” said executive Director of the Deal Center Dr. Lindee Morgan. “We’re happy to support parents and their children on the path to literacy in any language.”