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Welcome to the
Literacy Initiative Website!
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, along
with many other community partners, embarked on
this initiative in 2008 to address our community’s
illiteracy problem. A regional Summit was held
to raise awareness and the Literacy Council of
West Alabama was born.
The Literacy Council was set up as a coordination
and support agency for all efforts already going
on in our area. The board (listed on this site)
and advisory group include representatives from
the business community, media, school districts,
institutes of higher education, community-based
organizations, as well as literacy providers.
Counties served in our region are: Tuscaloosa,
Hale, Lamar, Greene, Pickens, Fayette, Bibb and
Sumter.
A 2009 Action Plan has been outlined and is available
on this site.
BIG NEWS
Literacy Council Receives
Appropriation from Congress
Literacy Council of West Alabama chairman Johnnie
Aycock announced in July 2009 that the Council
has been awarded a $250,000 appropriation from
Congress, which should be received in 2010. The
Council plans to use the funds to hire staff and
create an office for the Council.
Kudos to LITE
The UA Alumni magazine recently included an article
about LITE (Literacy Is The Edge student organization).
It caught the attention of the Alabama Higher
Education Partnership, an association of 14 public
Alabama state universities. LITE leader, Dr. Bruce
Berger, was asked to present at HEPs Leadership
Conference in Sandestin in August to share the
LITE story and explain how other universities
in the state can start similar LITE campaigns
on campus . Audience included administrators from
universities and student leaders. It was a wonderful
platform for stimulating involvement on a much
larger scale across universities.
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The
Effect On Tuscaloosa
 Numerous
studies underscore the fact that educational
achievement is the most fundamental, clearly
established pathway to increased earnings
and a higher quality of life for all citizens.
At the same time, however, the level of
illiteracy in Alabama continues to be a
significant and tragic issue.
“Adult education is a vital
factor in improving the economic and social
condition of our state, and West Alabama
in particular,” says Dr. Fran Turner, director
of Shelton State Community College’s Adult
Education Program. “We are very excited
about the Literacy Summit and believe it
will make a positive impact on our community
and region by developing an understanding
and awareness of literacy programs, resources
and services that exist and that could be
developed.”
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FACT:
75% of small
business owners in Alabama report
that many applicants for job openings
do not have basic reading, writing
and math skills.
Learn
more… |
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”People
are the common denominator of progress.
So, no improvement is possible with
unimproved people, and advance is
certain when people are liberated
and educated. It would be wrong to
dismiss the importance of roads, railroads,
power plants, factories and the other
familiar furniture of economic development.
But we are coming to realize…that
there is a certain sterility in economic
monuments that stand alone in a sea
of illiteracy. Conquest of illiteracy
comes first.”
-John Kenneth Galbraith, The Affluent
Society
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