Mission & Vision: Literacy Works’ mission is to strengthen adult literacy, parent education, and workforce development programs by developing and providing innovative training and knowledge-sharing opportunities for professionals and volunteers.
Literacy Works’ vision is that one day, all people will be able to realize their full potential through the ability to read, write, and interpret the world. This ideal inspires our team and drives our workOur Core Values
- We believe literacy is a human right.
- We honor and respect cultural and linguistic diversity.
- We believe that all adults bring knowledge, wisdom and life experience to their education.
- We believe literacy is ever-changing and multi-faceted; it supports the pragmatic needs, civic participation and creative aspirations of both individuals and communities.
- We believe that the most meaningful learning experiences stem from collaboration among organizations and between educators and learners.
- We are committed to excellence in the training we develop and provide along with the knowledge we share, drawing from the expertise of the local literacy community as well as sound research in the field.
Need
- Over 600,000 adults in the Chicago region cannot read or write well enough to meet the demands of today’s economy or attain their own goals.
- Half a million people in Chicago over the age of four cannot speak English well.
- Nearly 25% of immigrants and refugees in Chicago have an 8th-grade education or below; among certain populations, as many as 45% have left school before the 9th grade.
