About Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta
LVA’s Founders Were Determined to Help Non-Reading Adults in metro Atlanta
Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta (LVA) was founded in 1986 by 19 volunteers committed to helping adult metro Atlantans who are eager to raise their literacy abilities. Based on the premise that well-trained and supported volunteers can be effective tutors, LVA is the only organization in metro Atlanta that provides one-on-one tutoring at no cost to our students in our service area, which encompasses all of Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett counties.
Our target population is made up of adults 18 and older who read at Level I, the lowest of five levels described by the U.S. Department of Education in According to a recent survey, the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), 17% of Georgia’s population lacks basic prose literacy skills. This includes individuals who scored “Below Basic” in prose and those who could not be tested due to language barriers.
That is a daunting statistic, but thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteer tutors, LVA has enabled over 10,000 thousand low-literate Atlantans to become more productive, self-sufficient and confident. Our unique, individual tutoring method focuses on teaching reading for meaning, comprehension and real-life situations to adult learners.
To become an LVA volunteer:
- Complete our LVA Volunteer Application (.doc) and fax or mail it to LVA,
- or simply contact us.
Our Programs and Credentials
In addition to Adult Basic Literacy, LVA provides help with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family Literacy, and Workplace Literacy. We also provide classes in areas such as basic and intermediate literacy, spelling, math, entry level computer skills and more.
LVA is one of over 1,200 certified ProLiteracy Worldwide organizations, and we must meet strict educational and accountability guidelines on an annual basis. For tax-deductible purposes, we are a charitable 501(c)(3) organization.
Why Should You Help Fight Low Literacy?
If you want to be certain your volunteer time and/or financial support is actually helping a struggling metro Atlantan dramatically improve his or her life — LVA is for you.
Because we never charge students for our services, we need funds to cover everything from rent and learning computers … to books for our library and tutor training materials.
Less than 20% of our operating budget comes from grants, so we depend on caring individuals for all the rest. To share a little of your good fortune with metro Atlantans eager to learn, please donate now.
LVA’s mission is to increase adult and family literacy primarily through volunteer tutoring. Our goal is nothing less than to provide all of the literacy skills crucial for more productive, prosperous and confident lives, thus improving the quality of life of all Georgians. We strive to provide a quality education in a supportive yet challenging learning environment that allows for individualized, self-paced instruction. Through our services, every adult learner will develop the basic skills necessary to be successful in the workforce, strengthen family relationships, and participate in society.
LVA’s Vision
Our vision is to enhance the lives of individuals in the family, the workforce, and the community through the power of literacy.
Our Philosophy
It is LVA’s belief that learning is a life-long process. We are dedicated to recognizing and developing the potential of each student in our program. Our student-centered, grassroots, and self-paced approach to learning enables adult learners to reach their personal literacy goals. LVA does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, or creed.
Collaborations/Partnerships
LVA collaborates with other service agencies and develops partnerships in a effort to better serve those in need. We collaborate with local agencies that provide employment services to assist our clients who are seeking work and provide literacy services to those clients.
We work with other adult literacy and education programs to ensure that our students with higher literacy levels will reach their personal literacy and education goals. We have developed formal partnerships with Raksha, Culture Connect, Refugee Resettlement and immigration Services of Atlanta, A&D Linens, and the DeKalb County Public Library to provide English literacy services to non-native English speakers within our community.
With the City of Decatur Housing Authority, we have formal agreement to provide Family, Basic and English Literacy services to their residents. Collaboration is essential to building strong community relationships and providing the highest quality, comprehensive services to adults and families who are most in need of assistance.
LVA Staff
To reach any staff member by phone, call 404-377-7323.
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Kingsland | Executive Director | vkingsland at lvama.org |
| Aaron Hampton | Operations Manager | operationslva at lvama.org |
| Michelle Holmes | Student Support Coordinator | assessment at lvama.org |
| Mary Elizabeth Glass | Family Literacy Coordinator | volunteerslva at lvama.org |
| Morgan Koukopoulos | Workplace Literacy Coordinator | workplace at lvama.org |
| Donald McKay | Resource Development | dmckay at lvama.org |
| Michael Wall | Lead Teacher for Basic Literacy | Lead.basic at lvama.org |
| Brenda Banks | Lead Teacher for Basic Literacy | Lead.basic at lvama.org |
| Dana Delassus | Lead Teacher for ESOL | ddelasuss at lvama.org |
| Rebeca Ruiz | Lead Teacher for ESOL | rruiz at lavama.org |
| Kimberly Fairman | Lead Teacher for Transition | kfairman at lvama.org |
Board of Directors
* Denotes Committee Chair
Officers
- Brown, Jany, CFP
- President
- UBS Financial Services Inc.
- Committees: *Personnel, Fundraising, Support
- Joined: 2005
- Portis-Jones, Hattie
- Vice President
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Committees: *Finance
- Joined: 2006
- Wallace, Elizabeth H. (Betsy)
- Secretary
- NeighborWorks America
- Management Consultant
- Joined: 2008
Members
- Banister, Eleanor
- King & Spalding
- Committees: Fundraising, Personnel
- Joined: 2003
- Kennedy, Lisa
- Bobby Dodd Institute
- Committees: *Fundraising, Strategic Planning
- Joined: 2007
- Harper, Rosetta
- Student Representative
- Committees: Intake
- Joined: 2006
- Hilton, Cathy
- UPS Capital
- Committees: Personnel
- Joined: 2006
- Hitchcock, Susan
- Turknett Leadership Group
- Committees: Fundraising
- Joined: 2008
- Johnson, Louisa
- Seyfarth & Shaw
- Committees: Fundraising, Strategic Planning
- Joined: 2009
- McGlawn, Walter
- Corporate Plus
- Committees: Fundraising, Strategic Planning
- Joined: 2007
- McGuire, Bernice
- Retired — BellSouth
- Committees: Fundraising, *Board Development,
- Strategic Planning
- Joined: 2003
- Mote, Linda
- Retired, Barnes & Noble
- Committees: Intake
- Joined: 2007
- Wesley, Beverly
- President, The Wesley Group
- Committees: Agency Image
- Joined: 2006
- Griggs, Judy
- Speedwell Consultants, Inc.
- Joined: 2010
- Halkos, Elizabeth
- Vice President - Sales & Marketing
- Purchasing Power
- Joined: 2010
- Handler, Jeffrey Glen (Jeff)
- UPS Capitol
- Joined: 2010
- Mitchell, Perry
- Creative Director/Ad Agency Partner, Retired.
- Joined: 2010
Our Current Newsletter
View our current newsletter. (pdf)
Intern/College Class Opportunities
LVA is often in need of interns on a year-around basis. This is an excellent way for high school and/or college students to earn their community service credits. We are also available to partner with college classes — particularly within in Education departments — whose professors want their students to gain real-world experience in teaching literacy.
For more information, please contact:
- Aaron Hampton, Operations Manager
- operationslva at lvama.org
- 404-377-7323