The Literacy Council of Buncombe County believes that literacy changes lives for the better. We at the POP Project couldn’t agree more.
Recently, the Lit Council announced that James Patterson would be the keynote for this fall’s annual Authors for Literacy Dinner and Silent Auction. We were excited to see such a prominent author and literacy advocate back in the mountains, and featured the Lit Council here in the blog as one of our drop box locations. But after reviewing their great programs, we decided we needed to share more about their work.
Since 1987, the Lit Council has been helping the Asheville community by giving opportunities to people who don’t believe they have a second chance to learn. Low literacy doesn’t only affect an individual’s ability to enjoy a good book, but it also affects their health, their ability to support their family, and their contribution – economic and otherwise – to our community. Literacy is a tool that can help people rise out of poverty and get better paying jobs to support their families.
In addition, the best determinant of a child’s academic success is his or her mother’s level of reading skill. Therefore, the Lit Council focuses on helping the adults, as well as the children, in our community who lack basic literacy so that the next generation has a better chance of success.
The Lit Council team wakes up every morning with a passion to teach the skills of literacy to those who need them. Clients receive personal instruction and top rate materials. In return, parents are now able to read to their children, employees are now able to take on greater roles in the workplace, and people who have struggled are now able to create better, more enriching lives for themselves.
The Lit Council Makes a Big Impact
Numbers don’t lie. The Lit Council’s programs are making a big impact on our community.
- The Lit Council serves approximately 250 students per year in their ESOL program, 50 students in the Adult Education program, and 50 students in the Augustine Project program, which helps children from low-income families.
- Within the ESOL program, they offer citizenship tutoring. The Lit Council recently had their 100th student pass through that program. 100% of Lit Council students who study for the U.S. Naturalization exam pass their exams and become citizens.
- Within the Adult Education program, the Lit Council recently started tutoring at Craggy Correctional Center to address the fact that 75% of state prison inmates lack a high school diploma or can be classified as low-literate.
- 100% of students who complete the Augustine Project program improve by at least a grade level in reading,writing, and/or spelling.
- 70% of ESOL students who complete a nine-month program through the Lit Council make significant improvement (for example, improving by at least a grade level, or going from a beginning to intermediate speaker).
- There is still more work to be done. 12% of Buncombe County adults lack a high school diploma.
- 43% of those with the lowest literacy rates live in poverty.
Get Involved with the Literacy Council
A lack of basic literacy skills affects not only struggling readers, but everyone in our community regardless of age, race, gender, or background. If you’re the type who likes to dig and and make a big difference one person at a time, a volunteer tutor position with the Lit Council may be a good fit for you. Here are a few upcoming training and orientation sessions:
Augustine Project: Building active, confident young readers
Two-week training in late June 2014
Contact Lily: lily@litcouncil.com or 828-254-3442
Adult Learning: Offering the hope and the help to improve lives
Volunteer orientation on July 16 and July 17, 2014
Contact Mary: volunteers@litcouncil.com or 828-254-3442
Support POP at the Lit Council
The Literacy Council currently houses one of the POP Project’s donation drop boxes. Stop by weekdays to learn more about volunteering with their literacy program, and drop off a few books while you’re there! The Lit Council is located in Asheville Office Park, 31 College Place, Suite B-221, Asheville, NC 28801.