Literacy Council of LaPorte County

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People climbing books

FACT:

  • More than 20% of adults read at or below a fifth grade level- far below the level needed to earn a living wage. The National Adult Literacy Survey found that over 40 million Americans age 16 and older have significant literacy needs.

FACT- Literacy and Children:

  • As the education level of adults improves, so does their children’s success in school. Helping low-literate adults improve their basic skills has a direct and measurable impact on both the education and quality of life of their children.

FACT- Literacy and poverty:

  • 43% of people with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty.
  • 17% of people with the lowest literacy skills receive food stamps
  • 70% of people with the lowest literacy skills have no full or part time job.
  • Workers who lack a high school diploma earn a mean monthly income of $452 compared to $1,829 for those with a college degree.

 

In 2002, a group of concerned organizations and individuals convened to discuss ways to positively impact literacy in our area. Meeting monthly, the LaPorte County Literacy Council has successfully created programs that reach pre-schoolers for kindergarten readiness, children entering the school systems, students who "fall into the gaps" of current literacy programs, and adults who need literacy skills to find a higher quality of life.

Member organizations of the LaPorte County Literacy Council include:

  • Adult Education
  • BabyTALK
  • Barker Woods Enrichment Center
  • Communities in Schools
  • Dunebrook
  • Even Start Family Resource Center
  • Healthy Communities of LaPorte County
  • H.O.P.E. Cultural Center for Social & Economic Growth
  • Ivy Tech State College
  • La Porte Community School Corporation
  • La Porte County Public Library
  • La Porte Family YMCA
  • Michigan City Mayor's Office
  • Michigan City Public Library
  • Purdue University North Central
  • READ La Porte County, Inc.
  • Reading is Fundamental
  • Safe Harbor
  • The Discovery Alliance
  • Unity Foundation of La Porte County

Our coalition is strongly involved with efforts to create a regional literacy strategic plan. The Literacy Council merged its efforts with Mayor Chuck Oberlie's Task Force on Literacy (Michigan City) to work together to benefit the county, and we are working closely with The Discovery Alliance's Northwest Indiana regional literacy task force.

For more information about LaPorte County literacy projects, call Sandy Gleim at

219/326-6260 or send email to her at sandy@laportecounty.net.

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Robin Kohn, Michigan City Public Library Program Director, and Judy Hanish, literacy co-ordinator at Healthy Communities/Literacy Council of LaPorte County, spoke about literacy and the Council at the kick-off event for "One Book, One Community" in September 2006. The book chosen for this, the 5th year of the event in Michigan City, was "The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nighttime," a wonderful book told from the perspective of an autistic teen.

The Literacy Council of LaPorte County is involved with health and financial literacy as well as math, reading and writing literacy.

We invite you to visit us or attend an event. Our members are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the organization and how you can participate.

Please get in touch to offer comments and join our mailing list.

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Literacy Council of LaPorte County      
800 Lincolnway Suite 201     
LaPorte, IN   46350
 219/326-6260