DePorres P.L.A.C.E.
(Personal Literacy and Continuing Education)
Adult Literacy Center
DePorres P.L.AC.E. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters whose mission for the center is to tutor adults in need of basic reading skills or spoken English language skills in a community that promotes learning and a spirit of family.
DePorres P.L.A.C.E. serves students over the age of 18 who want to improve their reading, writing and English-speaking abilities.
DePorres P.L.A.C.E. offers tutoring in basic adult literacy (reading and writing) and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
Students meet with tutors every week in either one-on-one or small group settings.
Visit us Monday through Thursday, 9:00AM-8:00PM.
ALL TUTORING AND MATERIALS ARE FREE.
“ONE IN SEVEN PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY CANNOT READ OR WRITE AT A THIRD-GRADE LEVEL…BUT THAT CAN BE CHANGED.” Â
—DePorres P.L.A.C.E.
 
VOLUNTEER
Volunteering provides us with a sense of purpose, chance to meet new friends and make a positive impact in our community!
Make good things happen now!
OUR PROGRAMS
We provide one-on-one tutoring and small group classes for adults who are learning to read, write and/or speak English.
Tutoring and books are free.
Register now!
SUPPORT SUCCESS: DONATIONS = LITERACY
For $65, a volunteer tutor and student will have the materials they need to begin the journey toward literacy.
DePorres P.L.AC.E. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dependent upon donations and grants awarded by patrons in support of our mission.
Your donation is tax deductible.
Our registration number is CH9088. A copy of our official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free [+1 (800) 435 7352] within the state of Florida. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State.
Renee Cadet studied English at DePorres P.L.A.C.E. for two years and then became one of our Next Step interns via a program funded by a grant from the Jewish Women’s Foundation.
Renee worked in our offices while developing her resume and Linked In account, learning to use MS Office programs and documenting her experience for use in her job search.
Renee also passed the entrance exam for college while interning and registered for her first class at Palm Beach State College.
Renee is the mother of two young sons and her bond with Sister Anne Monahan is a beautiful testament to the power of tutoring.
David Burney was born in West Palm Beach and raised by his grandparents whose attention was often focused on his sister who had a serious illness. He struggled in school and was never formally diagnosed with a learning disability or given any additional resources to learn to read.
He came to DePorres P.L.A.C.E. in 2018 after having made a career as a groundskeeper for the City. He and his wife purchased a home and raised two children, one of whom was leaving for his first semester of college in 2018. David said, "Now it's my turn. I want to learn to read better and get my GED."
He applied himself to his studies with great determination and made excellent progress. In 2020, David's tutor, Clare Wilson, shared a short essay he wrote entitled, "My Favorite Holiday," that demonstrates David's positive attitude and writing skills, and that would've been impossible to accomplish in 2018.
In 2023, the Florida Literacy Coalition was pleased to inform the Wilson/Burney team that David's acrostic poem "What Do You See?" was selected for inclusion in its 2023 adult learner essay book, It's Never Too Late; David was subsequently chosen to read his work at the 2023 Florida Literacy Conference held in Daytona Beach Shores.
We are very proud of David and look forward to his future accomplishments on his journey to obtaining his GED.
Luckner Rouzard left school as a very young boy in Haiti in order to work and help support his family. When his siblings became adults, he came to the U.S. and opened a small shop in the Northwood neighborhood of West Palm Beach despite the fact that he couldn't yet read and write.
He came to DePorres P.L.A.C.E. in 2015 and was matched with tutor, Philip Verruto, who is a retired corporate executive. They began working together and before long Luckner could write his name, read short passages and decipher new words.
In five years, Luckner uses a laptop computer regularly in his business and reads the news online regularly. The bond that has grown between Luckner and his tutor remains strong and Luckner became a citizen of the United States in 2020.
We are so proud of Luckner's accomplishments and so grateful to Philip for his devotion to helping Luckner meet his goals.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN MEETING NEW FRIENDS?
DOES ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO SUCCEED BRING YOU JOY?
DO YOU HAVE THE DETERMINATION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
DePorres P.L.A.C.E. volunteer tutors have been helping adults learn to read, write and speak English since 1997.
NO EDUCTATION DEGREE REQUIRED!
NO TEACHING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!
VOLUNTEERS MAKE THE TIME AND HAVE THE HEART!
Questions? Contact Us!