About the KLC
About
the KLC
The Kalamazoo Literacy Council (KLC) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit volunteer tutor organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of adults who struggle to read. The Kalamazoo Literacy Council offers free one-on-one programs designed to develop reading, writing and spelling skills. Our goal is to also educate the public about the crisis of illiteracy and bring together a community with a common goal of making Kalamazoo County 100 percent literate. The KLC is the only organization in Kalamazoo County exclusively providing free basic literacy instruction to adults.
According to the National Institute for Literacy, 13 percent of adults (25,495) in Kalamazoo County cannot read a job application, an intersection on a map, a prescription label, or read a story to their child. Their lives are often linked to poverty, crime, and poor health, and their children are more likely to struggle in school.
Our mission is led by highly trained and dedicated volunteers and supported by a full-time executive director, student services coordinator, part-time administrative staff, and generous donors. As a member agency of ProLiteracy – the largest adult literacy and basic education membership organization in the nation – we’re connected to the right tools and resources to best support our learners and grow awareness.
With 261 volunteers and 14 literacy centers, we serve more than 700 adults in Kalamazoo County every year. Get involved by making a donation or by becoming a volunteer.
Download the Spring issue of the KLC’s Literacy Advocate newsletter featuring the Right to Literacy intiative, our partnership with WMU, and an adult learner success story by JJ Menter.
about the artist: Paul sizer
In 2022, the KLC partnered with Paul Sizer, 
a Kalamazoo-based and internationally renowned illustrator and designer, to create visuals for the Everyone Needs To Read Public Awareness Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to drive awareness of the cause of adult literacy through the portrayals of empowered KLC learner voices. The images will be used in a widespread marketing initiative including our annual campaign, website, and social media. We are honored to work with Paul as he lends his artistic talents to our efforts to make Kalamazoo County a fully literate community. Learn more about Paul and see his work at www.paulsizer.com.
community literacy fellowship
The WMU/KLC
Community Literacy Fellowship is offered to faculty members and graduate students across multiple disciplines to work in collaboration with community experts in adult literacy and education to develop concrete community/university strategies that will improve the state of adult literacy in the region. Learn more about the fellowship and how to apply.
Related: WMU formalizes partnership with Kalamazoo Literacy Council
Lawanda's Story
2020 Mard Little Award for Adult Learner Excellence recipient Lawanda White cites part of her motivation for coming to the KLC: “I wanted to read to my son. I wanted to teach him.”
Our
purpose
Mission: Enhance the lives of adults by improving their reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension skills
Vision: Empower adults to reach their full potential
Our
History
For over 40 years, the Kalamazoo Literacy Council has provided free literacy services to adults in Kalamazoo County. Our story began with a group of passionate residents who wanted to make a difference in the lives of adults who struggle to read.
1974 – KLC Founded
The KLC was founded by local residents in response to a public call for adult reading tutors. After tutoring independently and meeting informally for four years, members formed a charter organization and elected officers.
1984 – New Councils in Eastern Michigan
A flourishing KLC joined an effort to establish new literacy councils on the east side of Michigan.
1986 to 1995 – Involvement in Literacy Network
From 1986 to 1995, the KLC played a significant role in the Literacy Network, a state-funded initiative to coordinate community literacy needs.
2007 to 2008 – Start of Strategic Planning
The KLC began a strategic planning process to build capacity within the organization with funding from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, Dorothy Dalton U. Foundation, and the John E. Fetzer Institute. The KLC shifted from an all-volunteer group to an organization with a professional staff and governing board to better meet its mission.
2010 – Partner with Goodwill Industries
The KLC formed a collaboration with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Michigan to strengthen the adult literacy services provided in the areas, and received a three-year grant from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.
Hire of Full-Time Director
A full-time executive director, Michael D. Evans, was hired to strengthen adult literacy services and to establish the Adult Literacy Collaborative (ALC) of Kalamazoo County. The ALC meets monthly, and serves as the venue for determining adult literacy priorities, identifying and expanding resources, and aligning services and programs.
2011 – Developed the Community Literacy Center (CLC) Model
Launched the Everyone Needs To Read Public Awareness Campaign
- Developed Literacy Advocate Orientation
- Created PSAs, posters, and other media items to promote adult literacy
2012 – Joined The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo as the Adult Learning Action Network (ALAN)
Started the Read and Seed community garden
2013 – Launched the ExpressWays 2 Success program (GED)
2014 – Celebrated the KLC’s 40th Anniversary
2015 – Launched Southwest Michigan Community Literacy Initiative – Phase I through the Region 8 Regional Prosperity Initiative (RPI)
- Established Adult Literacy Research and Training Symposium in collaboration with WMU
- 22 Community Literacy Centers supported in the region
- ESL of Southwest Michigan (formerly Portage ESL) supported by RPI
2016 – Received Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Funding
Hosted first Summer ESL Program at Westwood United Church
2017 – Adopted ESL of Southwest Michigan as an ongoing program of the KLC
Developed the Job Opportunity & Basic Skills (JOBS) curriculum
Hosted first Navigation Strategies Workshop in collaboration with Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan and Kalamazoo Adult Education
Presented the first Everyone Needs to Read: A Literacy Vision for Kalamazoo County class with the WMU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Established the Mard Little Award for Adult Learner Excellence
2018 – Launched Southwest Michigan Community Literacy Initiative – Phase II through the Region 8 Regional Prosperity Initiative
- Distance Learning Network established at eight sites
2019 – Launched Southwest Michigan Community Literacy Initiative – Capstone through the Region 8 Regional Prosperity Initiative
- Distance Learning Network expanded to 12 sites
- Celebrated 5th Annual Adult Literacy Research and Training Symposium
Led the Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change (PSE) project in Edison
2020 – Launched the KLC Virtual Learning Center
Launched Parent Literacy Together program in collaboration with Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan, the WMU McGinnis Reading Center and Clinic, and seven other community partners
Board of
Directors
Ben Harman
Director
Relationship Development Manager, Arbor Financial Credit Union
Matt Forkin
Director
Director of Education and Career Development, Boys and Girls Clubs of Kalamazoo
Deveta Gardner, Ph.D.
Director
Associate Dean, Merze Tate College, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo Literacy Council is a member organization of ProLiteracy.