Detroit literacy centers begun by Catholic religious sisters continue making impact

Literacy centers, volunteer tutors help adults and children further their education and discover their 'God-given potential'

DETROIT — Roslyn Taylor could talk for hours about the Epiphany Education Center. As the director of the center, she is proud of the work they do, the results they’ve seen, and the lives changed.

The center primarily serves elementary and middle school students, most of whom are at-risk learners who are far below grade level in reading and math. 

“We believe education is the great equalizer,” Taylor said. “That’s why we are dedicated to raising literacy in Detroit, and why all of our services are free.” 

The Epiphany Education Center is housed in the Samaritan Center on Detroit's east side, providing convenient access for families served by the center to other resources such as health care, social services and job training for adults.

Epiphany is one of four literacy centers in Detroit that share a common bond: all were all established by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. The congregation of vowed women religious and associates serves in the United States, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and Norway. Founded in the tradition of St. Dominic, their ministries focus on several areas of need, including education.

Based in Monroe, the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Sisters co-founded the Epiphany Education Center with the Adrian Dominicans in 2005. Like the Adrian Dominicans, their outreach includes education, with a presence in the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

The four Detroit literacy centers — All Saints Literacy Center, Dominican Literacy Center, Epiphany Education Center and Siena Literacy Center — have now operated as independent 501(c)(3) nonprofits since 2025, yet their Catholic roots remain at the heart of their missions.

Grace Irwin stepped into the role of executive director of All Saints Literacy Center earlier this year. Located in southwest Detroit, tutors work one-on-one with Spanish-speaking adults to teach English as a second language. 

“We’re not just teaching literacy. We’re helping adults build better futures for themselves and gain confidence in their everyday lives,” Irwin said. “We’re helping them realize their God-given potential.”

Taylor has been at the Epiphany Education Center for 11 years. In that time, she worked closely with Sr. Marie Cyril Delisi, IHM, who came to the center almost daily until last year and also served on the board of directors. Sr. Delisi died in February at the age of 98.

“She was my mentor and my guide at the center,” Taylor said. “In every aspect, she was such a wonderful person. She was invested in the heart of Epiphany, and her values, principles and core vision still exist here today.”

The Siena Literacy Center began in 1995 when Sr. Mary Hemmen, OP, began the program at Bishop Borgess High School. Today, the center operates out of a former convent in northwest Detroit, on the campus of Christ the King Catholic Church. 

The center’s website honors Sr. Hemmen by noting her passing in 2018, saying, “…her ministry and service continue to be remembered and valued, and Siena Literacy Center continues to change people’s lives in the richest and most rewarding ways.”

Both the Siena and Dominican literacy centers help adult learners seeking to earn their GED learn English as a second language or improve reading and math skills through one-on-one tutoring and computer-based work.

The Epiphany Education Center serves approximately 200 families each year. Children are tutored throughout the school year, starting with an initial assessment in order to tailor instruction to each individual. Students also participate in a book club during the school year, completing book reports to earn gift cards and prizes. 

The summer virtual book club, open to any child in the city of Detroit and several nearby communities, fosters year-round learning. Books, stickers and bookmarks are mailed to students who sign up for the program. 

“One of our goals is to help them develop a love of learning and create lifelong learners,” Taylor said. “Access to books is critical because reading impacts every aspect of life.”

Creating programs that connect with students takes time, but that is how Epiphany has always operated, Taylor says.

“For 21 years, the Sisters were very intentional about everything, including how we welcome the children who come here,” Taylor explained. “There are African American books and art all over the center to instill a love and knowledge of self. That intentionality was there from the beginning. I just carry it on.”

According to Data Driven Detroit, only 15% percent of third-grade students in the city of Detroit met or exceeded grade-level standards in English/language arts testing in 2025. Of Detroit's eighth graders, just 9% met or exceeded grade-level standards in math last year. No current adult literacy statistics are available, though a 1998 study by the National Institute for Literacy found that 47% of Detroit adults did not meet literacy benchmarks. That study, however, was disputed for its wide margin of error, and no studies have been conducted since.

While the statistics are daunting, Taylor and Irwin see results at their centers and feel hopeful. 

With each tutoring session at All Saints Literacy Center, adults are gaining confidence and skills that allow them to apply for jobs, navigate daily tasks, and become self-sufficient.  

“Right now we have a waiting list of learners wanting help because we need more tutors, and we do have a goal to increase the number of learners,” said Irwin, who encourages adults to consider volunteering as a tutor. 

At the Epiphany Education Center, academic proficiency for most children improves significantly after the first two months of intensive tutoring. Of the thousands of Detroit students the center has served, many have gone on to graduate high school and college. 

“We’re moving a mountain, but we know that it can be done, and that’s what keeps us going,” Taylor said. “We know the numbers are staggering, but we’re in this fight for the long term, and every year we get more people to help us move this mountain.”

Taylor adds, “Alone, I can’t do this, but with others and with God’s help, I can.”