Between
now and April 1, advocates for adult literacy are asking the State Legislature
to consider increasing funding for the state’s Adult Literacy Education program.
The
lack of literacy skills is the thread that weaves through so many of today’s
societal issues, including poverty, incarceration, and dropouts. To solve these
socioeconomic problems, we must start building more literate communities and a
more literate adult population.
Literacy
New York’s 35 affiliates serve more than 6,000 adults. Trained volunteers work
one to one and in small groups with adult learners whose goal may be a high
school equivalency diploma, the ability to read with their child, or to become
an American citizen.
Literacy
funding is an investment in the state. An adult who can read can strive for
more than a minimum-wage job. An adult who can read will read to his or her
children. An adult who can read can break the grip of dependence on government
assistance, and become independent. Fostering literacy skills in adults allows
them to be better parents, better employees, and more active and engaged
citizens.
Literacy Volunteers of Rochester serves over 500 adult
learners each year with the help of nearly 300 volunteers who last year
contributed more than 17,000 hours of service. However, nearly 100 adults are
on a waiting list to get a tutor every day while many more in our community who
could be served are still unaware that help is available.
There’s
a saying in New York: “literacy leads.” It leads to employment, to independence, and to
opportunity. The ALE program helps adult learners lead more meaningful,
independent lives and it needs our support.
ROBERT
MAHAR
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
LITERACY
VOLUNTEERS OF ROCHESTER
This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2015.
