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.

HISTORY OF LITERACY COUNCIL OF LAPORTE COUNTY

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 IN 2007 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.

In our 12^th year of service, Healthy Communities of LaPorte County (HCLC) was formed to positively impact quality of life for all residents. The HCLC concept arose from a national movement, and succeeds locally by creating new collaborative efforts addressing priority unmet needs. Our goal is to work with dozens of community partners to avoid duplication of effort and combine resources to effectively impact a variety of essential issues.

Healthy Communities grows and prospers by providing hands-on development and project staffing. This unique organization was developed by LaPorte Regional Health System and Saint Anthony Memorial, which generously provided a decade of dedicated operational support. However, the intent was recognized that the organization eventually would move forward to sustain its operations. After four years as a 501©3 organization, HCLC is now self-sustainable through donations and grant-supported projects that provide administrative funding. Our thanks to John W. Anderson Foundation, HealthVisions Midwest and Matthew F. Moore Foundation for assisting with operational support over the past year, and to the numerous entities noted below that help underwrite outstanding council projects.

LITERACY COUNCIL – The Literacy Council of LaPorte County has been very fortunate to secure numerous grants – including a three-year support pledge from Unity Foundation of LaPorte County. Additional funding comes from The Discovery Alliance (TDA), City of Michigan City, Michigan City Community Enrichment Corp., and Dollar General to fund successful projects to improve our county’s low literacy rates.

The successful new Hispanic Kindergarten Readiness focus, collaborating with Dunebrook, provides 3-5 year olds with necessary skills, while parents learn English as well.  We also worked with Dunebrook to continue a kindergarten readiness focus in daycare homes.

Our Special Reading Needs project is raising reading levels – and grades – for many students in grades1-5 through additional tutoring opportunities.

We also will hold our second annual Executive Spelling Bee on March 27 to promote literacy awareness and raise funds for council support.