Janis FontaineThe Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is building success with childhood readers.
“That literacy and one’s economic future are connected surprises no one.” — Kristin Calder, CEO of the Literacy Coalition
In 1989, community leaders launched the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County because they recognized the adult literacy problem that was holding people back from good-paying jobs. Today, the coalition focuses on reading for all ages.
Why it matters: Last year, the Literacy Coalition provided services to nearly 56,000 adults, children and families through nine programs in 173 sites from Jupiter to Boca Raton to Belle Glade.
Most of the beneficiaries of these programs are adults with low literacy skills and low-income families. As many as 30 Literacy AmeriCorps members serve as tutors for children and adults and as high school graduation coaches.
Flashback: More than 15 years ago, Kristin Calder joined the coalition as a volunteer. She served on the board of directors for four years. For the past 11 years, she’s served as CEO.
“A tutor once said to me, ‘If reading to a child a couple of hours a week can change the trajectory of his life, why wouldn’t I do that?’” Today, the coalition has more than 1,000 tutors on its roster, with about 350 actively tutoring about 500 kids.
The Building Better Readers Program pairs a child with an adult for tutoring. It identifies and intercedes with kindergarteners showing limited basic skills.
“It is not too late for those kids,” Calder said. “They can and do catch up but it takes time and resources.”
By giving away books — every child born in Palm Beach County goes home from the hospital with a book and at more than 40 local pediatric clinics kids get a book at every doctor visit — the Literacy Coalition is getting to one root of the literacy problem: access.
Dozens of other groups from the mighty (the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties) to the humble (the Christ Child Society of Boca Raton) put books in the hands of low-income readers.
“We gave away 50,000 books last year,” Calder said.
The Literacy Coalition recruits and trains tutors several times a year.
“We have a healthy retiree population willing to step up to help,” Calder said. “I think the tutors get as much out of it as the kids do. They’re always talking about ‘my kids.’ It’s very much a grandparent/grandchild kind of dynamic.”
The children’s confidence increases with each achievement and success can make learning fun, she said. And you can never have too many cheerleaders.
“We see tangible results every day,” Calder said. “We are making an impact and there’s financial support for our programs. Services are increasing, and more kids are being helped.”
Every spring Calder meets new supporters at the Love of Literacy Luncheon, the coalition’s annual fundraiser. She will greet new and longtime volunteers April 10 at the 34th annual luncheon. For information on tickets, visit here.
This is the second of five Stet News snapshots of Palm Beach County organizations devoted to childhood literacy. Last week: the Edna W. Runner Educational Center.
Next week: Root & Wings.
