Jori Martinez-Woods
Literacy coach/coordinator
St. Luke’s Staffer since May 2006

Education:
B.A. from Eckerd College in early childhood education.
M.Ed from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Experience:
I have had experience teaching, adults and children, since 1984.

Favorite St. Luke’s Memory:
My favorite memory is that of one of our volunteers from HCA. He requested to be in the infant room to interact with the babies. During his time in there, one of the infants began to cry. When the volunteer came close to the child, the child went straight for him and snuggled into his neck and quieted down. It was precious and brought tears to my eyes. It is awesome to witness our volunteers and children giving and receiving so much in the moment. Both lives transformed in an instant of tenderness.

Favorite Quote:
Our deepest fear is not that we are INADEQUATE; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”

Actually, who are you not to be? Your are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothting enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

From: A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson

About me:
I love to dance, create & sell jewelry, travel and lead InterPlay, which has allowed me to travel to Malawi, Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, Berkley, California and New York City. I also perform locally with ‘Outta da Blue’. I am blessed with two fabulous boys, Imani and Eamonn.

I have a passion for working with English language learners, which opened up opportunities for me to teach at UCLA, as well as St. Louis University. I have also been an instructor for the Nashville Adult Literacy Council’s English classes held here at St. Luke’s.