Established in 2007 this page's content is from the site's 2013 archived pages.
Use the below information as historical information which was accurate at the time.
About Us
About United Literacy… a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization, United Literacy strives to bring literacy and technology together to better serve and support adult learners and local literacy organizations throughout the United States.
Our lives are filled with words. We read newspapers for news, freeway signs for directions, product descriptions on food packaging for nutritional information, and books for entertainment and education. For the 30 million people in the United States over age 16—14 percent of the adult population—these simple tasks are difficult, if not impossible. According to ProLiteracy, adult low literacy skills can be connected to almost every socio-economic issue in the United States. Low literacy’s effects cost the U.S. over $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.
However, literacy is not only about the ability to read. It is the ability to write, compute, and use technology at a level that allows an individual to reach his or her highest potential as a parent, employee, and community member. Computer literacy does not mean that a learner has to know how to write software or network a computer. Computer literacy is knowing the basics—how to save and open a file, how to write and send an email, how to use a search engine, how to update a computer’s software or virus protection. It means being comfortable around computers and knowing how to use them to accomplish simple tasks required in a personal, education, or job setting.
As both the education and workforce sectors become incredibly dependent on technology, adult literacy learners are being left behind. Traditional literacy programs do an excellent job of teaching adult learners how to read and write. Learners conquer newspapers, books, street signs, instructions, and advertisements. However, traditional literacy programs often do not have the expertise or resources to provide computer literacy instruction leaving learners at a disadvantage for educational and career advancement. United Literacy wants to eliminate these disadvantages and round-out the literacy education adult learners receive so that they can become productive students, parents, employees, and community members.
I established United Literacy in September 2007. Eleven years earlier, I walked into my local literacy organization and asked for help. I had tried to order a birthday gift for my girl friend, who was a big Batman fan and frequently wore a Batman hoodie. She even had a little Batmobile model on her desk. When she told me she wanted a Batman Begins t shirt, I started looking and found the complete Batman shirts catalog online and was embarrassed when I couldn't read the description or understand how to place the order. I could spell certain words like "Batman" and "Dark Knight" and "t shirt" but I had to rely on the pictures and had to ask for help finding the right size. That's when I decided that I wanted to learn to read. During the course of my traditional literacy program, I was introduced to computers and the Internet, resources that had been intimidating and confusing previously. However, I embraced them and soon saw those tools improve my literacy skills. BTW, I am now able to buy those Batman shirts completely on my own! Seeing my own success, I wanted to share what I learned with other adult learners struggling to not only become literate, but computer literate in a society that requires those skills for success.
United Literacy uses technology to better support and educate adult literacy learners throughout the country while preparing them to fully participate in today’s high-tech society. In addition, UL provides technology support to non-profit local literacy organizations to improve their community outreach and, most importantly, to better serve their learners.
Mission Statement
United Literacy, Inc., is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to provide information and supplementary educational resources for adults who have low-literacy skills. United Literacy provides these services through print materials and web-based resources such as newsletters, workshops, and conferences, and makes these services freely and easily available to learners throughout the United States. In addition, United Literacy provides an Internet support network for learners that makes learning accessible and worthwhile.
Board Members
Daniel Pedroza
President & CEO
Gary Miller
Vice President
Martha Acosta
Treasurer
Cassandra Rosales
Secretary
Membership
Literacy Organizations: If your organization provides literacy classes or tutoring for adult learners, please join United Literacy. By joining us, your organization's information will become part of our national database. The database will provide learners with a comprehensive source of information about programs in their area. In addition, United Literacy offers member organizations technology support to help build their web presence and learner and community outreach. As a member, organizations will enjoy discounts on United Literacy sponsored events and discounts on materials. Membership is free. Click here to join. Coming Soon!
Learners: If you are an adult literacy learner, we invite you to become a member. Your membership will include discounts on United Literacy events. You also will receive an email copy of our bi-monthly newsletter, The Literacy Tribune. Membership is free.
Become A Writer
Call for Writers!
- Are you an adult learner?
- Do you like to write?
- Do you want to publish your writing?
- Do you want to share your story with other learners?
The Literacy Tribune is looking for adult learners who want to write. The Literacy Tribune is a bi-monthly adult learner newsletter. You can write about:
- Your road to literacy.
- Your literacy organization.
- Your favorite literacy resource.
You can also write book reviews, poetry, short stories, or articles about health, finance, and technology.
The Literacy Tribune is your newsletter! We want you to write it!
March Issue of The Literacy TribuneMonday, 04 March 2013 20:48
March issue of The Literacy Tribune is now online. You can read it at www.theliteracytribune.org November's Issue of The Literacy TribuneMonday, 05 November 2012 21:33
Come and get it!!! November's issue of The Literacy Tribune is out!!! A good article to read Understanding “Language” versus “Reading” by Bud Pues. You can read it online or download it from our learner website http://theliteracytribune.org/ . GrammerCheckThursday, 11 October 2012 18:03
GrammerCheck-good source for students who want to feel confident about their writing. http://www.grammarcheck.net/ Thanks to Florida Literacy for posting on Twitter. The Literacy Tribune Website HitsMonday, 06 August 2012 05:10
For two months in a row, The Literacy Tribune website has received over 2500 hits. We are very excited about that. The Board and I want to thank you for spreading the word about our newsletter. Now our goal is to reach, and pass, 3,000 hits a month! By the looks of it, we should reach our goals soon. Daniel Pedroza President and CEO United Literacy, Inc. Open Literacy DatabaseThursday, 12 July 2012 19:09
Open Literacy Database Literacy Organizations: If your organization provides literacy classes or tutoring for adult learners, please join United Literacy Open Literacy Database. By joining us, your organization's information will become part of our national database. The database will provide learners with a comprehensive source of information about programs in their area. Membership to the Open Literacy Database is FREE and it will always be FREE. Sign Up today! it will only take you a few minutes to sign up! Click the link below to sign up. |
More Information on United Literacy:
Background and Formation:
- United Literacy was established as a 501c3 entity in December 2011, aiming to provide high-quality educational support services outside the public school system. This initiative was in response to the challenges faced by the Fort Worth area public schools, including economic pressures, teacher layoffs, increasing class sizes, and high teacher turnover. [Source: Literacy United](https://www.literacyunited.org/about)
Mission and Focus:
- The mission of United Literacy is to serve economically disadvantaged children and adults with significant reading needs. The organization focuses on improving literacy, which in turn increases self-sufficiency and access to work opportunities. This enhances the economic outcomes for individuals, their caregivers, and the North Texas community. [Source: Literacy United](https://www.literacyunited.org/about)
Philosophical Approach:
- United Literacy integrates reading skills with understanding Christian values, believing that the best way to live according to God's word is to be knowledgeable in it. The organization strives to equip disadvantaged children with reading and thinking abilities necessary for their future success as leaders and Christian stewards. [Source: Literacy United](https://www.literacyunited.org/about)
Key Personnel:
- Kary A. Johnson, founder and president, with a strong background in education and multiple degrees. She opened The Reading Connection in 2003 and has published numerous papers on various educational topics. [Source: Literacy United](https://www.literacyunited.org/about)
- Other notable board members include Carlos Martinez, Dean of the School of Education at Texas Wesleyan University; Celia Scott, an associate professor of education; Patty Sparks, a former probation officer and certified schoolteacher; Anastasia Taylor, Executive Director at Alliance Child & Family Solutions; and several others who bring diverse expertise and experience to the board. [Source: Literacy United](https://www.literacyunited.org/about)
Programs and Services:
- Literacy United offers intervention sessions in reading and math, executive function coaching, and summer reading programs. These programs are designed to meet the specific needs of individual children, with reading specialists who have advanced degrees and experience in helping struggling learners. [Source: Literacy United](https://www.literacyunited.org/services)
Impact and Achievements:
- Children and teens enrolled in Literacy United programs typically improve their reading level at twice the rate of those not receiving support. The results have been dramatically positive and academically significant for students involved in the Literacy United intervention program. [Source: Literacy United](https://www.literacyunited.org)