By Diane Shimota | Contributing Columnist
Celebrated chef and cookbook author Curtis Aikens, who’s a star on Food Network, will speak at 6 p.m. April 17 at the Contemporary Club about his courageous journey learning to read at age 26 and using these new skills to become a culinary icon and author.
The free event is sponsored by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.
Aikens is a passionate supporter of adult learners. He recently joined a Redlands Adult Literacy Program writing workshop over Zoom and shared his personal story about how literacy changed his life. Aikens described how he did not learn to read until he was 26. He said his parents didn’t know about his struggle. Growing up in rural Georgia, Aikens faked his way through school and was even accepted into college on a football scholarship.
Echoing the comments that we hear from many adult learners, Aikens said, “I felt too embarrassed to ask for help, too ashamed to admit I couldn’t understand anything on the page.”
Still burdened by his secret, at age 26, Aikens saw an ad on TV that gave him hope. A literacy organization said he could get help learning to read and write. Aikens reached out and began working with two volunteer tutors.
Over time, they helped him unlock the world of books and the written word. His life was transformed. He eventually earned his master’s degree in education and became an avid advocate for literacy. He encouraged the attendees at the writing workshop to “Feel strong enough to reach out — tell your story to your community.”
A storyteller at heart, Aikens’ enthusiasm is contagious.
“The biggest challenge is to ask for help,” he told the people in attendance at the writing workshop.
“It’s okay to be vulnerable,” he said. He also told them the key to his success was sticking to his goals. He encouraged them to commit to their learning even when it is tough.
“I made sure I went to [my literacy] class every Thursday night,” he said. “You can do it, too!”
Hearing from Aikens was emotional for many in attendance.
“For me, it was a lot of emotion to hear him talk about how he grows vegetables and how his mama taught him how to cook,” said writing workshop attendee Rosalia Bautista said. “He gave me a lot of motivation to keep going with my teacher to learn to read and write in English. He makes it easy to learn.”
Bautista said she really happy to be participating in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.
“Everyone has patience and passion for the community here to do their work,” she said.
“The first time I saw the library, I thought, it reminds me of the buildings — the mission churches — in my town where I come from in Oaxaca (Mexico).”
Bautista she got very excited to come inside the library and to see the books available there.
“I see all the displays and the tables with information about the literacy program and I thought: This is my time to learn,” she said.
Aikens is passionate about adult literacy.
“I tell folks, ‘If you can read, you can succeed’,” he told those at the workshop. Aikens’ story truly represents how literacy changes lives.
Aikens will speak about the “power of literacy” at 6 p.m. April 17, at the Contemporary Club, 173 S Eureka St., in Redlands. He will share his personal story about his literacy and culinary journeys.
In gratitude, adult learners and tutors are writing their own stories about the importance of food and cooking as a community gift to Aikens. You are invited to participate, by writing your own story about food.
If you choose to send in a story, please limit it to 500 words and include your name. Compositions should be sent to literacy@akspl.org by March 20.
We expect the April 17 presentation will be a very popular event, so doors will open at the Contemporary Club at 5:30 p.m. This free literacy event, is sponsored by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, and made possible through contributions from adult literacy donors, the Friends of A. K. Smiley Public Library, and the A.K. Smiley Public Library Endowment fund.
Consider the impact of the volunteers in Aikens’ journey to literacy. You can change your life or the lives of others in our community.
The Redlands Adult Literacy Program provides free tutoring help for adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills. If you know someone who would benefit, or if you would like to volunteer, please visit A. K. Smiley Public Library and ask for the Adult Literacy Coordinator. All information is treated confidentially. The next Tutor Orientation Class is on April 21.
For more information or to save your space, contact the program at 909-307-7377 or email: literacy@akspl.org. To learn more, visit www.akspl.org.
Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator at A.K. Smiley Public Library, 125 W. Vine St., Redlands.
