The Learning Place was founded in 1990 by Phyllis M. Newland under the sponsorship of Laubach Literacy (now ProLiteracy) as a neighborhood center to provide free literacy instruction to adults who were reading below a 4th grade level and living on the city's near southside.
The most significant difference between The Learning Place and other programs is the belief that learners must be true partners in their learning experience. Through this partnership students are encouraged to participate in all center operations.
Students at The Learning Place can choose one-on-one or small group instruction, or independent learning at the computer labs in the center.
A variety of mini-courses on topics that address other needs and interests are also available. Examples include financial, parenting, employment skills, voting, drugs and violence, art history, bread baking and first aid.
In 1995 volunteers from The Learning Place raised money to purchase and renovate a second center on Syracuse's east side.
For more than a decade since its founding, The Learning Place centers have served more than 1000 adults with more than 70,000 plus hours of instruction by more than 200 dedicated volunteer tutors. The Learning Place has, on occasion, been able to send students to regional and national literacy conferences for further training and learning with other students from across the country. This additional experience, training and support helps enable students to assume leadership roles.
In 2003, The Learning Place was chartered in New York State as a non-profit corporation and is managed by a board of directors, consisting of volunteer members.
On May 1, 2004 The Learning Place officially established itself as an independent organization, affiliated with but no longer under the direct auspices of ProLiteracy.
In the summer of 2004, The Learning Place moved from its original southside location at 250 Lincoln Ave. to The Greater Love in Christ Church at 2026 South Midland Ave. On January 1, 2006 the southside center was closed as the result of declining enrollments and financial constraints.
The Learning Place is supported by donor funds, grants and by a volunteer office staff and tutors.
We welcome inquiries. Please feel free to contact us anytime Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.
Linda Green, executive director of the Learning Place, was appointed to her position on May 1, 2004, succeeding the late Phyllis Newland, founder.
Linda has been a staff member of The Learning Place since May 1999. Her responsibilities have included maintaining daily TLP operations, conducting volunteer orientations, supervising 90 volunteers, providing student assessments, scheduling programs for more than 200 TLP enrolled students each year and promoting community participation and relations.
In addition to developing community relationships with
18 area agencies, Linda has coordinated community projects in financial literacy, children’s reading programs, computer literacy and cultural awareness.
She is a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda of Columbia College in Syracuse and was a board member of the Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union from 2003 to 2004.
Linda received the CBS 5 "Women in Leadership" award
in 2006.
