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Council helps lift burdens of illiteracy

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By DIANE GREY

Special To The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 30, 2009

Last month Gov. Charlie Crist declared September Adult and Family Literacy Month. Last week was designated National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Although Florida literacy month is long gone and national literacy week has passed, the effort to raise public awareness about the importance of adult education and family literacy does not cease.

Literacy is the ability to read and write in order to function in society, achieve goals and develop knowledge and potential. Illiteracy affects families, neighborhoods and communities. It prevents individuals from gaining adequate employment, achieving higher education and reaching their goals.

Compared to other industrialized countries, the United States ranks 5th in adult literacy skills. Between $106 billion and $238 billion is wasted each year as a result of insufficient reading and communication skills when dealing with health issues. Nationally, over 30 million people aren't able to read this article or fill out a job application.

Twenty percent of Floridians and 15 percent of Hillsborough County adults function at the lowest levels of literacy. In Hillsborough, about 120,000 adults read below a fourth-grade level, and 93,000 adults cannot communicate in English.

The Hillsborough Literacy Council (HLC) is committed to improving literacy by empowering adults through education. Since 1986 the literacy council has provided motivated adults with free confidential and personalized tutoring in basic literacy and English as a second language.
HLC is a nonprofit organization affiliated with Tampa-Hillsborough County public libraries and provides one-on-one tutoring in reading and writing to adult non-readers. Individual or small group English instruction is offered to speakers of other languages.

In the past year, HLC has served 424 students and helped thousands of students improve their literacy skills since its inception 23 years ago.

The program has helped students reach their goals to obtain job promotions, attend college and help with their children's homework. Their self-esteem is improved, they are empowered and they can realize their potential.

Feeling less like a burden, they become contributing members of society.
HLC continues to eradicate illiteracy and language barriers throughout Hillsborough County. We are here to help motivated adult students improve their ability to read, write and speak English.

Currently, there are almost 300 students waiting for a tutor. Consider serving as a volunteer tutor or giving a donation to help fight against illiteracy. A $25 donation will sponsor a volunteer to be trained; a $50 donation will sponsor a student and provide workbooks for a year.

For more information please visit www.hillsboroughliteracy.org.

Diane Grey is a volunteer for the Hillsborough Literacy Council.

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