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Imagine not being able to read a newspaper, understand a recipe, or enjoy a letter. We don't give it much thought, and sometimes even take our ability to read for granted. However, adult illiteracy is a serious problem. When a radio program profiled Literacy Volunteers of America, I became involved as an adult literacy tutor. In a 1992 survey that measured adult illiteracy, the national capital area ranked third highest nationally. The Literacy Volunteers of the National Capital Area (LVA-NCA) changes lives of adults in the Washington metropolitan area. Through literacy, adults can achieve educational, professional, and personal goals. Toward accomplishing this mission, LVA-NCA:

Teaches basic literacy in an effort to strengthen related life and work skills by offering free, confidential, individualized tutoring and small-group instruction.
Educates the community about the underlying causes and consequences of illiteracy and
Partners with other organizations who share LVA-NCA's vision to work eliminate local illiteracy.

Who They Are
LVA-NCA is comprised of a small staff. Both volunteer tutors and a limited number of paid staff are members of the local community. Tutors and staff come from different places. In various stages in their lives, the reasons for involvement are as different as the people themselves. "I had just finished college and wanted to work in a meaningful field before going back to school. AmeriCorps offers some benefits and great work experience. Working with adults was an entirely new experience for me. But I didn't know much about the PROBLEM of adult literacy until I began working with LVA. Much of my knowledge of adult literacy has come from my experiences here," explains Adult Learner Coordinator and AmeriCorps volunteer Meghan Dunn. As Dunn's experience illustrates, each person involved brings different experiences.

Volunteer coordinator Gretchen Whitney had an entirely different experience. Whitney recalls, "I wanted to sail around the world when I turned 50 so decided I need to learn to speak Spanish. At the same time, I was running a property management company and supervised cleaning and landscaping people who spoke Spanish and didn't know much English. I just assumed that they could easily learn. As I tried to learn Spanish, I realized those trying to learn English at 40, 50, or 60 years of age must be struggling too. I decided to volunteer ESOL (English as a second language). That was 10 years ago," Whitney says.

Services Offered

As mentioned

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