A $20,000 grant gives Washtenaw Literacy the capacity to serve more people
Illiteracy is a serious yet largely hidden issue in our community. Nearly 1 in 8 adults in Washtenaw County—27,000 people—are barely literate, lacking the basic skills required to fill out a job application or read a map. And illiteracy contributes to a continuing cycle of poverty. Nearly 86% of those served by Washtenaw Literacy live at or near the poverty line, and 50% of children born to illiterate parents never learn to read
The centerpiece of Washtenaw Literacy’s programming is one-on-one tutoring tailored to the needs, goals, challenges, and life circumstances of each individual. A volunteer literacy tutor meets with an adult learner each week for two hours. Services are free and the hours are flexible. For many learners, it’s the first time in their lives they have received individual instruction and support.
A successful, proven approach: 90 percent of Washtenaw Literacy’s adult learners reach at least one of their goals—whether it’s finding a better job, reading to their grandchildren, obtaining their GED, earning U.S. citizenship, or simply learning to read English.
Washtenaw Literacy’s “each one, teach one” model for improving literacy would not be possible without a small group of mentors who work in partnership with the agency’s program staff to train and support a network of more than 500 literacy tutors.
As Executive Director Amy Goodman observes, “We couldn’t do what we do—and reach as many people—without the mentors.” Among their many tasks, mentors support the agency’s program coordinators and the 15-hour training sessions held for new tutors each year. They also work with literacy tutors to design individual lesson plans, and host a variety of educational workshops for tutors throughout the year.
AAACF’s grant supports Washtenaw Literacy’s mentor program, enabling the agency to expand its capacity to realize a strategic goal of serving 2,800 learners by 2015. A long waiting list serves as a constant reminder of the growing need for literacy services in our community.
Changing Lives One Word at a Time - Improving adult literacy is an investment worth making - leading to better health, children’s success in school, and higher income levels. A literacy tutor for more than three years, Washtenaw County Administrator Verna McDaniel shares: “Literacy provides families a foundation for success and a better life. The return on investment by giving families the ability to read is a gift in perpetuity.”