Leaving the House of Tears
Award winning Memoir!
Leaving the House of Tears was published and released on November 14, 2006. What makes this book so special is the fact that the writer, Marten Griego was functionally illiterate when he found a literacy tutor in 1998. Within eight years he had not only written a book but had established his own publishing company, Future Destinations Publishing. Currently the book is in its second printing.
Marten Griego is the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Student Excellence
2007 ProLiteracy Worldwide Award
2007 New Mexico Book Awards Finalist — Biography
2007 Literacy Advocate of the Year — ReadWest Inc
2007 recipient of the prestigious Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Student Excellence in Achievement — ProLiteracy Worldwide
2007 New Mexico Book Awards Finalist — Biography
2007, 2008 Literacy Advocate of the Year — ReadWest Inc
2008 Honored in the House of Senate Santa Fe, New Mexico
2008: Honored in the New Mexico House of Senate
2008 Honored at Scorpions Hockey Game Rio Rancho, New Mexico
2009: Nuestros Valores Charter School began using Leaving the House of Tears as part of their curriculum.
2010: La Academia de Esperanza Charter School began using Leaving the House of Tears as part of their curriculum.
2010: Receives Verizon Grant — Spokesperson to promote the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy’s
"Outreach and support Literacy Tour".
2010: Receives “Advocate of the Year Award” from the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy
ProLiteracy Worldwide Awards National Adult Literacy Honors
Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Student Excellence November 2007
Eight years ago, Marten Griego was functionally illiterate. At eleven years old, he was an alcoholic filled with anger and self-pity granting him little chance of reaching his full potential. Marten came to ReadWest in 1998. It was there that he made the shameful admission that he was a fifty-year old man who needed help. Today, Marten is an award winning published author, an entrepreneur, a literacy advocate, a public speaker, and a volunteer for the local program, ReadWest, Inc. In November, 2006, Marten realized his biggest achievement to date when he published his memoir, "Leaving the House of Tears", his amazing life story.
Marten is a student first, therefore he understands the challenges a student must face and overcome throughout their journey to success. Marten created a plan to help contact students who drop out of the local program. He contacts the students by phone and shares with them his experience. He gives them advice and encourages them to keep trying to realize their dreams.
Using his previous knowledge and experience, and the lessons his late tutor, Gordon Suits, taught him throughout the years, Marten gained the ability to develop workshops for students that encourage and motivate. He submitted this workshop to the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy and they invited him to present it at their annual meeting. In his workshop he states "Words are a powerful motivator. Anger becomes a great motivator to act; to listen, to ask questions, and to desire to know. Teach them the power of words and show them how to turn negative thoughts into motivational ideas." He will also give this workshop to the students at the local program and throughout the state.
Marten appreciates both sides of the literacy field, those who learn and those who teach. Marten became a Basic Literacy Volunteer Tutor in March 2007, another goal attained that Marten set for himself years ago! He also developed a tutor workshop that shares many of the techniques his late tutor used to effectively teach him. "Learning Marten's techniques were a good addition to my bag of teaching tools and hearing his perspective was very insightful. I will use these ideas with my student and have no doubt they will be helpful for her" said Rowena Nichols, a volunteer tutor participant at his tutor workshop.
A most recent goal of Marten's has been realized, to become a spokesperson for adult literacy. Marten's experience has given him the ability to speak publicly in an effort to increase awareness of adult illiteracy. He speaks to local businesses, organizations, and volunteer groups to educate them about the challenges students who are illiterate face and to encourage them to get involved. Marten's speeches are impassioned, professional, and extremely motivating. He makes you want to sit down and read a book! He reminds you of the joy that reading brings and makes you want to share that joy with someone else.
Marten has made a significant impact on the local agency. In addition to being a student advocate and providing training to its tutors, he actively serves on the board of directors. He made close to 30 presentations to corporations and organizations during the year. He increased community donations 200%! Marten contributes money and donates proceeds from his book sales. He recently designed a new marketing plan to raise additional funds for ReadWest from his book sales. He credits ReadWest for his success at every opportunity and he gives out fliers to solicit volunteers at each presentation and book-signing event. He gives back to ReadWest in every way possible.
Marten contributes to the state organization, the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy (NMCL) and state libraries. In addition to providing the student workshop as explained above, he was invited to be the featured luncheon speaker at the NMCL. He received a standing ovation and moved many to laughter and tears. His motivational speeches are quickly becoming well known. He has received invitations to speak at other agencies throughout the state to help them increase awareness of adult illiteracy and motivate volunteers to act. He will be on a radio show promoting adult literacy in New Mexico in the Fall.
Marten's dream of becoming a national spokesperson for adult literacy is also being realized with an invitation to speak in Alabama at the Alabama's Court Referral Officer and Community Corrections' literacy program. His most exciting invitation came from ProLiteracy Worldwide to become a Featured Session at the ProLiteracy Worldwide Annual Conference in Virginia. Marten will present the session, "Motivation for Students". Marten may even have an opportunity to go to the White House!
Marten is deserving of this award because he has shown in his life how learning to read elicits many positive changes. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Learning to read has opened his eyes to see his biggest dreams realized. He achieves more than most people ever even imagine. He sets goals for himself and strives until they're met, and then he sets more! He loves and believes in all people, which is evident when he speaks with someone one-on-one, or in a group.
He is making a huge difference in the field of adult literacy. The way he shares his passion for literacy, so unselfishly and uninhibited, it changes people's minds about what adult literacy is all about. I, along with my peers, have the utmost respect and admiration for all that he is and look forward to sharing more successes with him in the future. He is a shining example of excellence in individual achievement.
Thank you for considering Marten Griego for the Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Excellence in Individual Achievement.
Submitted by: Susan Markin-Ryerson
Executive Director of ReadWest
Needless to say, I nominated Marten for the Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Student Excellence.
And ...
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...
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HE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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