City Hosts National Literacy Conference for Change

61 percent.  According to Read to Succeed Buffalo, that's the estimated percentage of adults in Buffalo that place at literacy levels 1 and 2 - below the level required by most employers for any position above entry level. 

This translates into approximately 130,000 individuals who can perform only the simplest of literacy activities, at best. These troubling statistics are part of the reason the Queen City is hosting the National Community Literacy Leadership Conference, as well as the Right to Literacy Convention (open to the public) on Saturday.

The annual national conference, held from June 10th through the 12th, was organized by Literacy Powerline, a national organization whose stated mission is "to increase literacy levels through effective and sustainable community collaboration and engagement." The conference features sessions and speakers focusing on the urgent national need for literacy improvements, as well as discussions on the best methods for improvement that show signs of success with various age groups. The 3-day conference is an annual meeting for community literacy leaders nationwide to share ideas for dealing with low literacy rates.

While conferences in previous years have been held in Memphis and Las Vegas, Buffalo was selected this year for being on the cutting edge for innovation in community mobilization in literacy. 

Margaret Doughty, founder and executive director of Literacy Powerline, said Buffalo is on the cutting edge of literacy efforts in the community. "The growth of Read to Succeed Buffalo has created an environment for really innovative change," Doughty said, noting that the city's literacy advocates have engaged local government leaders and businesses in the process. "Many communities around the country are looking at Buffalo at the moment and saying, 'We need to replicate some of the models that are being promoted here,'" she continued. With Buffalo as the host city, about 100 literacy leaders and experts will be in town for the conference.

Read to Succeed Buffalo is a coalition of more than 50 local organizations dedicated to improving literacy throughout the area. "For us, literacy is not just picking up a book and reading," said Jaime Swygert, the organization's community outreach coordinator. Swygert continued: "Literacy is an individual's ability to be gainfully employed. It's financial literacy, computer literacy and health literacy, and it affects people of all ages from pre-school to senior citizens." The group works with communities to develop and implement solutions to literacy needs. It has even received national press coverage and recognition for its work. 

After the conference concludes on Friday, the Right to Literacy Convention will take place on Saturday, June 13 from 8:30AM to 2PM. The conference is the first of its kind in the U.S. and aims to bring awareness to the issue of illiteracy. "There has never been, in the United States, a declaration to the right of literacy," Doughty said. The convention is modeled after the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention for Women's Rights and will be kicked off with speeches made by re-enactors playing Frederick Douglas, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In the end, those in attendance will vote on proposed resolutions for literacy issues and rights to literacy; the chosen resolution will then be sent to President Barack Obama. "Buffalo will be at the center of what we hope will be a really critical national movement," Doughty said. Everyone is invited and encouraged to take part in this convention!

Literacy is a critical issue in today's society. According to Swygert, "Almost every social ill stems from illiteracy." There are a few simple ways that anyone can help improve literacy in their communities or even just within their own families. Of course, attending the convention is a great way to show your commitment to literacy issues, but anyone interested can volunteer with Read to Succeed Buffalo as well. 

"We have a motto," Doughty said, "100 percent literacy through 100 percent community engagement." Easy ways that Doughty outlined to support literacy can include simply reading to your children or grandchildren, making financial donations to literacy programs, volunteering with literacy programs or libraries, or just picking up a book for yourself.