SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White presented
$80,000 in literacy grants that will provide basic skills
instruction to adults and families in the Joliet area.
The grants to the Joliet Public Library and Joliet Junior
College are part of $7.6 million Secretary White awarded during
Literacy Month.
"Our literacy programs in Illinois help adults and families
improve their reading, writing, math and English," said White.
"In addition, we have built partnerships with businesses to
provide skills training for prospective employees. By teaching
people the basic skills they need, we are helping them function
effectively as workers, parents and citizens in our communities."
White made the announcement as a part of activities
highlighting September as Literacy Month. Using the theme ‘Adults
Can Go Back To School Too,’ White wants adults to see they are
the change agents not only for themselves, but for their children
as well.
While all of the literacy programs help adults and families
improve their reading and basic skills, each is designed to help
people improve their lives in a different way.
The grant for the Joliet Junior College (JJC) is a $45,000
grant for adult volunteer literacy. The funds will go toward
recruiting, training and materials.
"Meeting the literacy needs of our district is a vital part
of our mission," said J.D Ross, JJC President. "The generosity of
Secretary White’s office and the tireless efforts of our staff
and volunteers leads to a significantly improved quality of life
for the citizens we are able to reach through this program."
The Joliet Public Library received a grant of $35,000 for
family literacy. The funds will go towards staffing, materials,
books, computers, and software.
"Learning how to read is hard work," said Jim Johnston, the
director of the library. "This grant allows us to dedicate one-on-
one assistance, create fun activities, and all of that keeps our
visibility up and adds excitement to the program."
The Secretary of State funds many different types of
literacy programs including adult volunteer programs, workplace
skills enhancement programs, making work pay programs, family
literacy programs and new chapters programs. Each program depends
on local support and partnerships to help identify and students
recruit volunteers and provide in-kind resources to stretch the
grant funding.
"These literacy grants have proven to be a wonderful
investment for the state," said White. "The partnerships we have
created throughout the state have provided new opportunities for
thousands of people."
