Kalamazoo Literacy Council

By Michael D. Evans

Getting active in the Kalamazoo Literacy Council is one of the most effective ways to directly combat illiteracy in Kalamazoo County.

As of December 2010, the KLC had 91 trained tutors working with adults who want to improve their literacy skills and 86 members (many of whom are tutors) supporting the organization’s efforts through their financial, volunteer and public advocacy contributions.

While this represents an increase in the number of individuals willing to serve, it still barely scratches the surface of the 31,000 adults in Kalamazoo County who are functionally illiterate. That is why in 2011, the KLC has a goal of having 150 active tutors working one-on-one with adult learners and growing its membership to 200 active members.

More tutors are needed because, like most growing literacy councils, the KLC has fewer tutors than students who have need of literacy education. 63% of Laubach Literacy affiliates (such as KLC) had a waiting list for basic literacy instruction with the average wait of 1.7 months, according to Laubach Literacy Action’s A Year’s Work in Literacy: 2000-2001 Statistical Report. We expect more students to request services as our name becomes more visible in the community. We must stay ahead of the need by recruiting more tutors to help.

The membership of the KLC is made up of tutors, educators, employers, community leaders and others who understand that literacy is essential to a healthy and vibrant community. A literate community is a community with adults who have the reading skills necessary to work, manage their health and support their children’s education. More members are needed because we need a mobilized and informed voice to help spread the word about the importance of adult literacy in the community.

Membership in the KLC helps improve literacy matters in the community and helps our organization stay strong. Join or invite others to join to help make a difference for adult literacy.

(Reprinted from the January 2011 Edition of Reading NOW! the official newsletter of the Kalamazoo Literacy Council)