Facts about Literacy:

•  An estimated 882,000, or 30%, of adults in Chicago have low basic literacy skills and would benefit from adult literacy and/or adult basic education services.

•  54% of Chicago’s public school students do not meet or exceed reading standards.

•  61% of low-income households do not own any children’s books.

What we know:  From the time we begin reading picture books all the way through honing lifelong communications skills, literacy is the key to a successful and independent life. It is also the key to a vibrant and sustainable Chicago.

The Chicago Literacy Alliance was formed with a collective passion to help people of all ages and backgrounds receive the critical literacy support they need, from basic education and tutoring through enrichment, literary arts, and book distribution.

Working together, the folks at Chicago Literacy Alliance envision a future in which 100% of Chicagoland residents are functionally literate and in which such literacy is a defining characteristic and point of pride for the city of Chicago.

The Chicago Literacy Alliance is an association of more than 90 organizations helping to meet literacy needs for people of all ages and backgrounds.  The Alliance is dedicated to increasing the combined impact of our community’s literacy organizations by providing opportunities for creative and effective collaboration.

If you’d like to attend the Chicago Literacy Alliance’s Second Annual State of Literacy Symposium on  September 16, register here.

This event will feature panel discussions, presentations, standups, and breakout sessions from experts across Chicago.

Visit www.chicagoliteracyalliance.com for more information on how you can help.  Or, if you are interested in supporting their mission, click here to make a donation.