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Updated: 11:48 AM Apr 20, 2010
Looks for Literacy Fashion Show
Since 1991 Friends of Literacy has been the voice of the illiterate in Knox County.
Posted: 12:20 PM Mar 16, 2010Reporter: Kiley Yarbrough Email Address: kiley.yarbrough@wvlt-tv.com |
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30,000 people in Knox County find themselves as adults, unable to read or write above a sixth grade level.
That means roughly 1 person out of every 10 in our community lacks basic literacy skills.
Close to 1 out of every 6 Knox county adults - more than 46,000 people - lack a GED or high school diploma.
About Friends of Literacy
Since 1991 Friends of Literacy has been the voice of the illiterate.
Friends of Literacy is:
- Private (not government operated)
- Independent (not part of a school system)
- Not-for-Profit
- Local (Serving only Knox County)
- Governed by a volunteer board of local corporate and community leaders
- Is supported by members (individual and corporate donations)
- Supported by local, regional, state, and national foundations and granting agencies
We support programs that offer year-round daytime and evening adult education classes.
Our Goal: To provide funding and volunteers that support basic education and life-skill training to adult students, helping them to become better workers, parents, and citizens.
What is Literacy? "Literacy means an individual's ability to read, write, and speak English, and to compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals and develop one's knowledge and potential." - National Literacy Act 1991
Benefits of Literacy:
- Better job opportunities, increased earnings
- Educational advancement
- Decreases intergenerational cycle of poverty
- Raises workforce effectiveness
- Increases civic participation
In 2009, Friends of Literacy helped 576 Adults to receive the GED.
The organization served 2,554 students and volunteers gave 1,771 hours to help students.
Friends of Literacy provides free adult classes to adults in Knoxville.
Executive Director Melissa Nance says fundraisers like Looks for Literacy help the organization reach members of the community.
The event is May 6th at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Call 865 594-1507 for more information or visit www.friendsofliteracy.org.
Not only does Friends of Literacy provide services, but it provides courage for people to succeed.
"Many adult students have challenges in their lives so finding the courage and commitment to return to school is no small task," said Nance.
Through their education they acquire the tools necessary to finally rely on themselves and not society to provide for them and their families.
And some who obtain their GED's go on to enroll in college. By doing this they are decreasing the inter generational cycles of poverty, raising workforce effectiveness, and improving our community's economic and overall well-being.
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