Leading the Way to Literacy: ChamberlainD’Amanda Lends Support to Help St. Joseph's Villa Kids Become Life-long Readers

OCTOBER 8, 2008—The law firm of ChamberlainD’Amanda will take an active role in promoting literacy in the Rochester community by participating in a Literature Circle with students of the St. Joseph’s Villa Campus School in Greece on the morning of October 15th, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The law firm is also making a $1,500 contribution toward the development of a long-term reading incentive program to help Villa teens develop a passion for reading.

The literature circle event coincides with National Teen Read Week October 12-18.

The teenage students of St. Joseph’s Villa are among the most vulnerable in the Rochester community. In addition to emotional and behavioral health issues, most of the boys and girls also struggle with learning disabilities or delays, all of which are related to past trauma or difficult circumstances in their lives, including poverty, violence, loss and abuse. Some students are behind as much as three grades.

“Reading has never been easy for most of the Villa students and it has definitely never been seen as something fun,” says Kathleen Leahy, Director of Education at the Villa. “Sadly, it’s just never been a priority in their lives. However we all know reading is one of the most important tools they’re going to need for future employment and success after they leave here. So we put a lot of energy toward this goal and are very grateful to have ChamberlainD’Amanda support this effort.”

Many schools across the country use Literature Circles as an effective way to engage students in reading and help them find enjoyment in books. Over the past few years, the Villa has found the Circles particularly useful in helping special education students develop stronger reading abilities and become life-long readers. However, this will mark the first time that a group of adults has participated in a Literature Circle with Villa students.

How will the Literature Circle work?

The students and the attorneys have each been asked to read a portion of the novel, “Sunrise Over Fallujah” by Walter Dean Myers. Each group participant (between 6 and 8 participants total) is assigned a role (Discussion Director, Illustrator, Summarizer, Word Wizard, etc.) and will complete a role sheet in response to the literary passage they have read. The role sheets will then be used to guide the book discussion on October 15.

ChamberlainD’Amanda Managing Partner Edward Radin says his firm is excited about the chance to take part in the Literature Circle with Villa students, as it provides a hands-on way for the firm to demonstrate its commitment to promoting literacy, especially among young people. In addition to participation in the Literature Circle on October 15, the firm is donating $1,500 to the Villa to fund the purchase of other contemporary-themed books to create a reading incentive program, which enables students to “earn” books of their own to keep, based on their reading progress.

“We are proud to champion the importance of literacy in our community and are very happy to be involved in a positive effort to support and encourage Villa students, who may not have had the same advantages as other children,” says Radin. “We really enjoy interacting with the students and hope that our involvement shows them that the community supports and encourages them to keep growing toward their full potential.”

Villa English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum Specialist Cherie Gerych says having the attorneys participate with the students is beneficial in many ways.

“It really livens the discussion to have different perspectives and experiences in the Circle,” says Gerych. “The kids are very much looking forward to talking about this book with the attorneys and it will help them build confidence in their interpersonal abilities. Also, these are adults who can be role models to them and speak to the importance of reading, which is so important for the students to hear.” 

St. Joseph’s Villa cares for kids in crisis. The private, nonprofit agency works with more than 2,000 kids a year through a network of community programs tailored to the needs of children and families. The Villa helps boys and girls, most between the ages of 10 and 17, overcome emotional and behavioral health challenges related to abuse and neglect, poverty, loss, violence, mental heath issues, substance abuse and other factors. A strength-based, family-centered approach is used to help kids overcome challenges, return successfully to their families and schools and build positive lives in the community. Villa programs include residential, community based and chemical dependency services.

St. Joseph’s Villa
3300 Dewey Avenue
Rochester, NY 14616
585.865.1550
www.stjosephsvilla.org

ChamberlainD’Amanda: ChamberlainD’Amanda is a full-service law firm with offices in Rochester and Penn Yan, New York. For more than 125 years, ChamberlainD’Amanda has represented a wide variety of businesses, individuals and labor groups throughout the region and nationally. A strong commitment to community involvement has always been an important part of the ChamberlainD’Amanda culture.

ChamberlainD’Amanda
1600 Crossroads Building, Two State Street
Rochester, New York 14614
585.232.3730
www.CDlawyers.com