Called to Curiosity: Vincent’s Reading Journey
“Reading books helps me understand the world.” – Vincent, CFLC Student
Since they started their journey together in 2017, Anne and Vincent have been a dynamic duo. Anne, a previous board member and longtime volunteer, is a quietly persistent, dedicated woman who is always ready to lend a hand. Vincent is an active participant in Readers’ Theater, and a learner who has been eager to take advantage of all CFLC has to offer. As well as improving his reading comprehension by 7 grade levels, he has worked on financial literacy, computer skills, history and current events.
As part of their journey, Anne and Vincent practice reading books together with a focus on fiction written by black authors with black characters. They started this in 2022 with Jason Mott’s, Hell of a Book. Recently, Anne and Vincent celebrated a new milestone by completing the Pulitzer Prize winning book, James. James was a new, national prize-winning book based on Huckleberry Finn but written from the slave Jim’s point of view. Years ago, the pair had also read an abridged version of Huckleberry Finn. This book offered a new perspective.
For Vincent, learning more about the life of an educated slave made this one of the most exciting books he and Anne have read together. The writing was also more complex, making this an opportunity for Vincent to see new words for the first time and expand his vocabulary. When asked about a moment that stood out in the story, Vincent said, “There was a scene where Jim was at the bottom of a saw pit, doing a job with another slave and not being able to do it well. He was severely beaten and escaped to the river with another black friend who passed as white. The author made us feel part of the horrible scene, feeling every lash.”
Being able to connect and engage with stories is a part of why people love reading. Through his time at CFLC, Vincent has been able to do that with Anne’s guidance. For Vincent, CFLC holds a special place in his heart:
“CFLC is like a family or a home away from home for me. Coming to learn with my tutor helps me understand new things about people and the world, through the books we’ve read. In Lightbulb Learners’ Class we all work together when we have problems reading, and being in the Readers’ Theater group has made me much more confident with my reading to a big audience.”
Personalized education looks different for every student. Vincent’s number one goal has been to improve his reading skills, and he certainly has. We are proud of every student and thankful for every tutor.
Sustainability is often thought of in environmental terms, but at its heart it is about building systems that endure. At CFLC, sustainability means investing in relationships that grow stronger year after year. It means creating learning experiences that don’t just improve reading scores, but build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking that last a lifetime.
Anne and Vincent’s relationship is a powerful example of sustainability in action. Their years together represent trust, steady growth, and the belief that literacy can open doors for everyone.
Curious to know what else Vincent is reading? In addition to works like James and Hell of a Book, Vincent recommends Symphony of Secrets by Brandon Slocum.