January 30, 2024 • 28 mins
In this excellent episode, Nancy and Jose are joined by an extraordinary guest, Ruth J. Colvin, who at 107 years old is not only the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, but also a Presidential Medal of Freedom Honoree. Ruth tells the story of her amazing journey from Syracuse, New York, to becoming a worldwide literacy advocate.
As Ruth discusses her many years of expertise running literacy initiatives and her role as the organization's founder, listen in. Learn about her 62-country travels and her encounters with four US presidents, including Jimmy Carter, who bestowed upon her an honor. The topic of Ruth's shift from a family-oriented life to an academic one later in life—and her award-winning doctorate from Syracuse University—is discussed.
Ruth talks about her current endeavors, which include a book on world religions that compares and contrasts them, as a lifelong student. She talks about how she handles aging, keeping things in perspective, and offers guidance on perseverance, positivity, and never giving up. Ruth's constant commitment to embracing life and learning at any age is also covered in this episode.
An excellent episode on filling gaps in the community with Ruth J. Colvin. Here are some other takeaways from the interview:
Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show.
If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to podcast@uwsd.org. Thank you for listening.
To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.
As Ruth discusses her many years of expertise running literacy initiatives and her role as the organization's founder, listen in. Learn about her 62-country travels and her encounters with four US presidents, including Jimmy Carter, who bestowed upon her an honor. The topic of Ruth's shift from a family-oriented life to an academic one later in life—and her award-winning doctorate from Syracuse University—is discussed.
Ruth talks about her current endeavors, which include a book on world religions that compares and contrasts them, as a lifelong student. She talks about how she handles aging, keeping things in perspective, and offers guidance on perseverance, positivity, and never giving up. Ruth's constant commitment to embracing life and learning at any age is also covered in this episode.
An excellent episode on filling gaps in the community with Ruth J. Colvin. Here are some other takeaways from the interview:
- The amazing journey of Ruth J. Colvin in advocating for global literacy.
- Ruth recently published a booklet defending the value of cursive writing, discussing its fall in the United States and its effect on reading historical documents.
- Ruth talks about her experiences meeting four US presidents and being recognized for her global contributions to literacy.
- Ruth, who had previously lived a family-centered life, received an honorary degree from Syracuse University, highlighting the value of perseverance and continuing learning.
- Ruth talks about her book on women who play golf and her distinct, focused method of putting practice, and her love of the game.
Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show.
If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to podcast@uwsd.org. Thank you for listening.
To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.
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