CLICK HERE to view the latest presentation on literacy or download the powerpoint file.

Funding For Literacy Powerpoint Presentation

CLICK HERE to view the PowerPoints of the presenters for the first Literacy Summit held in March 2008.

Agency Resource Directory Registration CLICK HERE












 

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.

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.”

 

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…

”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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