Ruth Johnson Colvin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Colvin in 2006 | |
| Born | Ruth Johnson (1916-12-16)December 16, 1916 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 2024(2024-08-18) (aged 107) Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Known for | Founding ofLiteracy Volunteers of America |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Ruth Johnson Colvin (December 16, 1916 – August 18, 2024) was an American philanthropist who was the founder of the non-profit organization Literacy Volunteers of America, now calledProLiteracy Worldwide inSyracuse, New York, in 1962.[1] She was awarded thePresidential Medal of Freedom by PresidentGeorge W. Bush in December 2006.[1]
Ruth Johnson was born in Chicago on December 16, 1916. She was the daughter of Lillian Johnson and Harry Johnson (1891–1929), a Swedish-American, and owner of a construction conglomerate in Chicago. She was eldest of five children.[2]
She attendedThornton Junior College inHarvey, Illinois, where she received a two-year degree. She also attended Moser Business College in Chicago[3] andNorthwestern University inEvanston, Illinois, where she met her future husband, Robert Colvin, who was majoring in business administration at Northwestern. She also became a member of the Kappa Delta chapter. They married in 1940, moved toSeattle, Washington, thenSyracuse, New York, where he built a "lucrative sales and consulting career" around industrial chemicals. Together, the couple had two children.[2]
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree fromSyracuse University in 1959.[4]
Colvin became aware of the problem ofilliteracy in her hometown ofSyracuse when the 1960 census reports were released and in 1962 she learned that the city had over 11,000 people functioning at the lowest level of literacy.[3] Always an avid reader herself, she worked with reading specialists atSyracuse University and developed materials to train volunteer tutors various motivation and instruction techniques. She developed two tutor training manuals;Tutor andI Speak English which are considered to be authoritative sources for training volunteer tutors to teach adults basic literacy or English as a second language.[5] The first tutors who completed the program were from Colvin's church women's group.[1]
In 1962, Literacy Volunteers, Inc. was founded inSyracuse. The organization was chartered inNew York State in 1967 as a tax-exempt, non-profit and the name was changed to Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (LVA).[3] It is a national, educational, non-profit organization with staff at the local, state and national levels and a volunteer board of directors. Colvin was the first president of the organization and a lifetime member of the board of directors.[1]
In 1974, she created theEnglish as a Second Language training program as well as a new reading series for learners. During the next few years she helped foundThe National Coalition for Literacy to increase public awareness of illiteracy. Colvin also publishedStudent Involvement Guidelines to encourage student involvement in all aspects of literacy programs.[3]
The organization currently[when?] has 330 programs in 42 states with over 100,000 volunteers and students. The non-profit works in conjunction with correctional facilities, adult educational programs, libraries, universities, community service programs and industry.[1]
The non-profit looks for effective ways to teach basic literacy and English as a second language which stresses the importance of educationally sound "learner-centered" training of tutors and "ongoing support system."[3]
From 1991 to 2001, Colvin helped with administration, training and fund development inSwaziland, in the development of the country's only literacy program. She also assessed the needs and gave initial training for the Rotary Clubs ofZambia, to set upReaders are Leaders in Zambia fund.[3]
ProLiteracy Worldwide was formed when Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. merged in 2002.
Laubach Literacy International's history begins in 1930, whenDr. Frank C. Laubach was amissionary among theMaranao people of thePhilippines. His concern about their poor living conditions led him to conclude that the ability to read and write was essential for them to begin to solve their problems. As the Maranaos learned to read, they would, in turn, teach other adults on a one-to-one basis that became known as "Each One Teach One." From 1935 to 1967, Dr. Laubach visited 105 countries answering calls for literacy help and created reading lessons in 315 languages. He founded Laubach Literacy International in Syracuse in 1955.
By 1977, Colvin was on the board of directors of the Syracuse Boy's Club and Consolidated Industries. She was also active in Volunteers of Greater Syracuse.[6]
She was presented with thePresidential Medal of Freedom by PresidentGeorge W. Bush on December 15, 2006, in the East Room of theWhite House. The President noted that "Ruth Colvin is a person of intelligence and vision and heart. And she has earned the gratitude of many, and the admiration of us all."[7]
Colvin remained active inProLiteracy Worldwide as a volunteer tutor in the United States and abroad. She started another literacy program inMadagascar andPapua, New Guinea and has initiated another inTok Pisin. She also taught in developing countries such asMadagascar,Papua, New Guinea,Zambia,Guatemala,Pakistan,Somalia and China.[1]
In China, Colvin trained teachers to incorporate conversational English in their classes. InPapua, New Guinea, she initiated a literacy program and trained teachers and wrote literacy training books inTok Pisin. She taught ten Cambodian women to teach another 103 village women who had no formal schooling. She also trained teachers inMadagascar to teach locals English and was invited to return to the area to start a literacy program inMalagasy.[3]
She was a life member of ProLiteracy's board of directors.[5]
In 2018, she was chosen as commencement speaker atLe Moyne College.[9]
Colvin lived in Syracuse, New York.[10] Her husband, Robert, died in 2014.[10]
Colvinturned 100 in December 2016,[11] and died at her home on August 18, 2024, at the age of 107.[10]
Ruth Johnson Colvin had over 40 years of literacy experience and published nine books. She received 29 awards and honors for her efforts as well as "hundreds of people stories" from the 60 countries she either worked in or visited.[3] She received nine honorary doctorates of humane letter degrees[5] including one in May 1983, from her alma mater,Syracuse University.[12]
In 1987, she received the President's Volunteer Action Award from PresidentRonald Reagan, the highest award given to a volunteer.[5]
She was the recipient of numerous awards in addition to thePresidential Medal of Freedom in 2006 including the Women's Day National Award, the International Center Goodwill Ambassador Award, the Rotarian International Harris Fellow, the NE Synod Presbyterian Ecumenical Award, the President's Volunteers Action Award, and the LVA President's Special Service Award. In 1993, she was inducted into theNational Women's Hall of Fame.[1]
Colvin was inducted into sororityKappa Delta'sHall of Honor, the highest honor the society bestows on its members.[1]
On May 20, 2018, Colvin gave the Commencement Address atLe Moyne College inSyracuse, New York, and was awarded an honorary doctorate. She may be the oldest individual ever to have addressed a graduation ceremony in the United States.[13]
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