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In 1986, 19 volunteers responded to the devastating problem of
adult illiteracy in Metro Atlanta by forming Literacy Volunteers
of Atlanta (LVA). Two years later, with support of the national
organization Pro-Literacy Worldwide, Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta
(LVA) opened its doors to become Georgia’s only Pro Literacy
accredited affiliate. In 2003, LVA merged with Project Read to better
utilize their combined resources and technical knowledge to combat
adult illiteracy in Atlanta. LVA has trained thousands of literacy
volunteers, and helped hundreds of students to improve their reading,
writing, and speaking skills.
Based on the premise that well-trained and supported volunteers
can be effective tutors, LVA provides one-on-one tutoring and small
group instruction in basic reading and writing, family literacy,
and English for Speakers of Other Languages in the Metro Atlanta counties of
Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb and Gwinnett.
Our target population is made up of adults who read at Level I,
the lowest of five levels described by the U.S. Department of Education
in the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS). According to the 2003
NALS, more than ninety three million adults in this country are
at Level I. They cannot read basic signs or maps, complete simple
forms, or carry out many of the tasks required of an adult in our
society. The last NALS conducted in Atlanta revealed that 33% of
the population is at Level I.
Adult illiteracy affects all members of society and has a negative
impact on our collective health, education and economic vibrancy.
To learn more about how illiteracy affects all of us and our nation
view
our fact sheet.
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