Illinois Literacy

              International Literacy Day is celebrated annually
on September 8. This year, Secretary of State
and State Librarian Jesse White headlined the
International Literacy Day celebration sponsored
by the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition at
three different locations.
The day started on Chicago’s south side at Alpha
Temple Baptist Church, where adult learners and
volunteer tutors spoke of their successes. Joanne
Jones, chair of the South Side Literacy Coalition,
introduced representatives from local libraries
and the police who recognized the importance of
the literacy programs in their neighborhoods.
At the Allison United Foundation on Chicago’s
west side, Secretary White was welcomed by
John Davis, chair of the West Side Literacy
Coalition, and heard moving stories from adult
learners who had faced considerable challenges
in their quest to learn to read. Both the learners
and volunteers were inspired that someone of
Secretary White’s stature would come to meet
them personally.
The day concluded at the Association House of
Chicago where the North Side Literacy Coalition
and the Hispanic Literacy Council held a multicul-tural
celebration. Traci Kogan, chair of the North
Side Coalition, and Amy Aleman, chair of the
Citywide Coalition, introduced volunteer tutors
and adult learners who spoke to the crowd of
their accomplishments and thanked Secretary
White for his support of adult literacy.
Each year in September, International Literacy Day highlights the importance of literacy in
our lives. Literacy is a set of skills that allow adults to function successfully in everyday life.
Literacy enables workers to find and maintain meaningful work. Literacy enables parents to
help their children learn. Literacy enables citizens to participate in their communities and in
our government.
Each day in Illinois, literacy programs enable people to improve and enhance their lives. In this
issue, you will read about how one adult learner was introduced to the library for the first time and how
libraries and literacy programs are joining forces to provide adult education opportunities in their communi-ties.
You also will read about the innovative programs being offered during the summer months. Too often,
when school is out for the summer, students — both adults and children — lose some of their educational
progress. Through the Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Program, libraries and literacy programs make
reading and learning fun during the summer break.
Whether at a library, at a literacy project site or on a field trip, literacy students have so many options for
learning and exploring their communities, their state, their country and their world. With the help of literacy
staff and volunteers, we continue to help learners of all ages to be successful at school, at work, in the
community and at home.
Jesse White
Secretary of State & State Librarian
The Illinois Literacy newsletter is available at www.cyberdriveillinois.com
Jesse White
Secretary of State
& State Librarian
International Literacy Day
Literacy advocates join Secretary White at the Allison United
Foundation on Chicago’s west side.
WINTER
2006
Secretary of State Jesse White and literacy advocates at the south
side celebration at Alpha Temple Baptist Church.