Governor Hutchinson Brings Awareness to Adult Literacy in Central Arkansas
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January is Proclaimed as Adult Literacy Month!
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Little Rock, January 5, 2016 –
 It is critical that January has been proclaimed Adult Literacy Month for Arkansas, in order to raise awareness about this often overlooked or hidden crises in our state. Low literacy skills in adults are a major contributor to poverty. It is also the number one factor in determining childhood literacy rates. Just in the Central Arkansas area, more than 145,000 adults read at or below basic levels. Most do not have the reading skills necessary to succeed in the workplace; address their health care needs; read to their children; help with homework; talk to their teachers or read schedules, labels or billboards. Children in families with incomes below the poverty line are less likely to be read to aloud everyday than are children in families with incomes at or above the poverty line.
The benefits of Adult Literacy affect this generation as well as the generations to follow. The substantial relationship between parent involvement for the school and reading comprehension levels of fourth-grade classrooms is proven. Adults who can read proficiently are more likely to lift themselves out of poverty, breaking the cycle for themselves and their children.
“Literacy Action is so effective because we are one of the few organizations that focus on empowering individuals by teaching them one of the most crucial skills necessary to help lift themselves out of poverty: the ability to read.,” says Sara Drew, Executive Director for Literacy Action.
Literacy Action of Central Arkansas is serving this community daily, trying to reach as many adults that need our services as we can. In order to grow our outreach, teaching more adults how to read and speak English in Central Arkansas than ever before, we need your financial support. We cannot do this alone – we need YOUR generous help!
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About Literacy Action of Central Arkansas
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Literacy Action has worked hard since 1986 to teach literacy skills to struggling readers in the Central Arkansas area. We have offices in Little Rock and Conway, but serve a seven county area – Pulaski, Faulkner, Jefferson, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, and Saline. In the last 12 months, Literacy Action served over 500 adult students delivering over 7,000 hours of individualized instruction. Learning to read enables our students to get family-supporting jobs, have better access to health information and teach their children the value of literacy. We believe in acknowledging and advocating for the important role adults play in fostering their children’s basic literacy skills and attitudes toward learning. Parents are often children’s first and most influential teachers. With 145,000 adults in Central Arkansas reading at below basic levels, Literacy Action provides a crucial service that benefits the entire community. All services are offered free of charge.
Those who are interested in donating to Literacy Action can do so on our website, or send a donation by mail to:
Literacy Action of Central Arkansas
PO Box 900
Little Rock, AR 72203
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