ANGIER - Motheread, a grant-funded family literacy program, celebrated its fifth year of successful completion on June 6 at Angier Baptist Church in Angier.

The Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) College and Career Readiness (CCR) program in Harnett County, in partnership with the Harnett County Partnership for Children, has had the Motheread program for five consecutive years with the goal for adults and children to learn and understand the power of literacy to empower their own lives as well as their families and communities. This year, 35 adults and 55 children were served in the program. Since its inception, more than 300 students have been served.

Dr. Nutan Varma, CCCC College and Career Readiness Coordinator in Harnett County, gave the welcome at the end-of-year celebration.

Melody McGee, Director of the Coats Senior Center, provided a Memory Lane to Motheread. "Literary education, this is what it's all about," she said. "We're providing good quality first years so that these children get off to a good start."

Tara Fish, Harnett County Partnership for Children Executive Director was guest speaker. "This program is about finding what we can do to help parents become more successful with their children," she said. "Literacy is a journey. As parents, you've taken the first steps on the road to reading."

Denise Penny, Hand-in-Hand Coordinator, introduced the Motheread staff. "This program is a blessing to the community, mothers, and children. It changes lives," she said.

The Motheread students' presentation (acting out the book, A Chair for my Mother) was led by Judith Westbrook, Motheread instructor. The pre-school children's presentation (singing Itsy Bitsy Spider and Wheels on the Bus) was led by childcare teachers Gail Thomas and Juana M. Salas. The infants and toddlers' presentation (introduction of each child, who presented a gift to the mothers) was led by childcare teachers Doly Morgan, Anne Marsh, and Koralis Vallejo.

Koralis Vallejo introduced students. Dr. Brian S. Merritt, CCCC Vice President of Learning & Workforce Development, and by Dr. Jon Matthews, CCCC Harnett Provost, presented certificates.

The Motheread program uses curriculum from Motheread, Inc, a nationally acclaimed, private, non-profit organization, that includes children's books and a variety of other educational resources to improve the literacy as well as all four language skills (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) of parents and caregivers of infants, toddlers, and pre-school age children. It also provides young children (0-5 years) with a structured environment for learning reading, critical thinking, and other age-appropriate motor and cognitive development skills.

It is hoped that the program will start its sixth year in the second week of September 2019. The class meets at Angier Baptist Church, which provides space for the program.

For more information on the Motheread program, please contact Dr. Nutan Varma, CCCC College and Career Readiness Coordinator- Harnett, at 910-814-8975 or email at nvarma@cccc.edu.