Connie Best tutors Nora Finch at the East Texas Literacy Council, the LVA affiliate in Longview, TX.

In an increasingly complex and technological society, where first graders work on computers and you can talk online to someone on the opposite side of the earth, it�s hard to believe that there are adults in this country who can�t read this sentence. It�s hard to believe that more than forty million adults in the U.S. can�t fill out a job application, follow directions on a prescription, access an ATM machine, or read a bedtime story to a child. But it�s true. In urban areas from New York City to Chicago and Houston to San Diego — and in small communities like Chipley, FL; College Station, TX; and Ashtabula, OH — there are adults who lack literacy skills. They are men and women; white, African American, Asian American, and Hispanic; dropouts and high school graduates; born in the U.S. and abroad. And LVA offers the key to unlock their potential — and open the door to the whole world.

Who are we?
Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. is a national, not-for-profit organization, managed by professionals, which delivers local literacy services through a network of more than 50,000 volunteers nationwide. The LVA network consists of more than 350 affiliates in 42 states in which volunteers are trained to tutor adults and their families. Our extremely cost-effective system enables us to provide student-focused tutoring, one-to-one or in small groups, at no charge to the student. Founded in 1962 in Syracuse, NY, LVA has helped over half a million adults and their families to gain literacy skills.

Why do we exist?
The ability to read, write and speak English proficiently is the key to living a full and free life in America. LVA provides volunteer tutors with the professional training, materials, and support that enables them to teach these vital skills.

The cost of illiteracy to individuals and society is enormous. The 1993 National Adult Literacy Survey by the U.S. Department of Education showed that 21% to 23% of adults in this country have literacy skills at the lowest level. LVA exists to reach and teach those individuals, and enable them to achieve personal, educational and job-related goals through literacy.

How are we organized?
We are a three-tiered organization. The LVA national network is supported by a state/regional system which, in conjunction with LVA National, provides local literacy programs with training materials and technical support in management, advocacy, fund development, public relations and technology.

The bulk of our work force operates at �customer level� through our local programs. More than 50,000 trained volunteers provide direct service to more than 70,000 adult learners and their families nationwide. The local LVA affiliates provide the training and support that enable volunteers to tutor effectively.

Why is LVA�s work important?

Antoine Howell helps his son, Antoine, Jr., build computer skills at the LVA/GTE Family Learning Center located at the Durham County Literacy Council, an LVA affiliate in Durham, NC.

Adult literacy students, many of whom may have learning disabilities, gain the skills that enable them to reach their goals as parents, employees and citizens. LVA has endorsed the goals of the National Institute for Literacy�s Equipped for the Future Initiative:

• to refocus our adult literacy and lifelong learning system on delivering results that really matter in the lives of adults

• to make sure that all adults who seek to strengthen their knowledge and skills will have access to a system explicitly designed to equip them for the future

• to accelerate our progress, as a nation, toward achieving the national adult literacy and lifelong learning goal

• Literacy is the key
• LVA students speak
• LVA Accreditation: the key to quality literacy services