Robert Shindler was looking for ways to help his son overcome a reading deficiency when he decided to volunteer with the Literacy Chicago organization.
Working with a diverse group of adult learners, Shindler received his own education about the realities of learning disabilities and adult illiteracy.
A Chicago-based attorney and author, Shindler recently partnered with the United Church of Christ for Reading Changes Lives, the UCC’s ongoing, churchwide initiative to raise awareness about the impact of illiteracy on a range of social justice issues.
Shindler will present Reading Changes Lives on March 8 at Elmhurst College.
Robert Shindler is the author of Hot Dogs & Hamburgers: Unlocking Life’s Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age, which chronicles his journey to help his son and his experiences at Literacy Chicago. Last fall, the UCC used Shindler’s book for their all-church “One Read” program, hoping the book would make people aware of the importance of closing the literacy gap and inspire them to get involved.
Shindler continues his work at Literacy Chicago, and also has begun tutoring inmates at the Cook County Jail. He is the founder of Abogados America, a small law firm in Chicago that specializes in representing the Hispanic community.
Reading Changes Lives will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, in the Founders Lounge of the Frick Center. Shindler will be available to sign books after the lecture, and his book, Hot Dogs & Hamburgers, will be available for purchase. Admission is $10 for the general public and free for Elmhurst College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Tickets are available online. For more information, call (630) 617-3390.
Shindler’s lecture is only one of the ways in which Elmhurst College, which is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, has been taking part in the Reading Changes Lives initiative and its goals. Another is the Elmhurst College Summer Literacy Program, which provides free reading tutoring to K-8 pupils in two predominantly Latino communities in the Chicago area. The program grew from an innovative partnership involving three UCC churches and Elmhurst College’s Department of Education, Service-Learning program and Niebuhr Center for Faith and Action.