History

Literacy Partners was established in 1973 and has been an essential resource for literacy education ever since. Originally a grassroots literacy volunteer tutoring program in NYC, we evolved over the years to serve a majority of immigrant students with masters-level credential professional teachers supplemented by volunteer tutors and assistant teachers. Today, we serve more than 3,500 adults and 7,000 children each year through our programs in New York and seven others states, including Pennsylvania and Nevada.

Need

Parental literacy rates are the strongest predictor of whether children will thrive or struggle academically. Did you know...

-54% of adults in the US are at a literacy level below 6th grade.

-Approximately 50% of Americans read so poorly that they are unable to perform simple tasks such as reading prescription drug labels.

-50% of the unemployed between the ages of 16 and 21 cannot read well enough to be considered functionally literate.

This largely hidden epidemic takes a profound toll on both adults and their children.

Parent illiteracy means that children are placed in an inappropriate adult role, whether translating at the doctor’s office, reading important documents, or having to help their parent navigate the world.

Our Approach

Literacy Partners creates long-term impact by both solving today’s problem (building adult capabilities) and going upstream to prevent tomorrow’s from occurring (improving child outcomes). This unique dual-generation approach is critical for improving whole-family outcomes.

Through free classes, community workshops, and educational media Literacy Partners supports parents as they transform their lives by:

-Improving functional skills – literacy, language, self advocacy;

-Learning in context – parenting and child development techniques, trauma-informed, strengths-based curriculum;

-Strengthening key relationships – parent/child, parent/peers, parent/teachers, parent/volunteers, parent/staff, parent/community partners.

In addition to emphasizing family conversation and reading, our classes convey the literacy and language skills and confidence that students need to navigate public transportation, schools, banks, and health care systems. Teachers coach parents through the process of obtaining library cards, email accounts, government identification, health insurance, and using the internet. This essential skill development enables students to confidently access the full range of information needed to succeed as parents, employees, and community members.