Literacy Council of Union County
Mission:
The mission of the Literacy Council is to provide free instruction, through trained volunteer tutors, for adults in Union County who lack the skills of basic reading, writing, and mathematics.
History:
The Literacy Council of Union County was formed initially in 1986 to improve the lives of individuals who need assistance with basic skills for reading and to improve their comprehension of the written word. Due to a lack of funding in 2009, the Council was dissolved. It was re-established in 2010 through a partnership between South Arkansas Community College and El Dorado Connections/RSVP, and is managed by co-directors Linda Fitts of El Dorado Connections and Catherine Garrett of the Adult Education Department of South Arkansas Community College. The Literacy Council is now housed in the offices of El Dorado Connections.
Need:
The American Fact Finder of the U.S. Census 2010 states that in Union County:
- 26% of the adults over the age of 18 years do not have a high school diploma
- 6% of those adults have an education below the ninth grade.
- 42% of literacy students are between the ages of 25 and 44.
The goal of the Literacy Council is to reach as many of these individuals as possible, and in turn impact not only them but also their families. Arkansans of all ages and backgrounds need help with literacy.
Volunteer:
Volunteer tutors are given one-on-one instruction as well as encouraged to participate in Pro-Literacy web-based training, which is self-paced.