Adult Literacy and Neighborhoods

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The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

Adult Literacy and Neighborhoods
by Cathy Burton
[President, McANA}

One Book, One City ???? What is that supposed to mean?

When I first heard about this concept being promoted by the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library and the City, I frankly did not see what the big deal was. Oh sure, it seemed like a nice gimmick to promote the library, and Friendly Persuasion is a great book, but what on earth did this have to do with neighborhoods and the serious business to which the City should be tending? Then someone suggested that I address the topic of adult literacy in my president’s column and I began to give the matter a little more thought. As an educator, the concept of promoting literacy in children has always been a slam-dunk. But as a community leader, I have never given specific thought to how literacy impacts our neighborhoods.

I have always been a reader. So has everyone in my family. I never really had to work at it - it just came naturally. From the time I first learned to read, it seems like I always had a book at hand to read in whatever few minutes I could find. It is something I have always taken for granted. But the whole “One City, One Book” thing got me to do a little thinking. According to the Indy Reads (a literacy guild) website, an estimated 100,000 adults in Marion County are reading at the lowest level of literacy. That’s a pretty staggering number. That means nearly 20% of the adults in our City may not be able to understand simple legal documents, help their children with their homework, read a bus schedule, or fill out job applications.

American history books are certainly filled with people who have made their mark on the world without benefit of a formal education. It is also true that times, and expectations, have changed. Today, a large percentage of business, economic, governmental, and community activity is conducted electronically, an avenue which is blocked for those with poor literacy skills. The opportunities to engage effectively in self-governance and community activism often become severely limited to those who cannot read, comprehend, and retain information above a fourth grade level.

Chances to improve employment situations which increase an individual’s quality of life and self-esteem are passed over. It is estimated that hundreds of billions of dollars are lost ever year in this country due to lost job productivity, crime, welfare payments, and other circumstances which are created or exacerbated by low literacy skills in our adult and emerging adult population. Unfortunately, those with low literacy skills are more apt to live in a cycle of poverty that is passed from one generation to the next.

Then there are the more intangible benefits that more sophisticated reading levels can provide. Such as expanding imagination and creativity, improving thinking and problem solving skills, shaping opportunities to share history and experiences, and discovering common ground within our communities. Statistics prove that reading with children helps strengthen family relationships and improve children’s joy of learning. Of course, there is just the pure pleasure of curling up with a good book to relax after a long day of dealing with the stress that we all encounter. Even if you don’t read for enjoyment, it is one of the most basic keystones in building a more productive, impactful and satisfying life.

I was lucky. Learning to read was easy for me. For many, it is not. It is hard work. But it is work that pays off for all of us, and we, as concerned neighborhood leaders, should do everything we can to make sure that every adult in our City is encouraged and given the chance to reach the highest level of literacy possible. Because knowledge truly is power.

And this One City, One Book thing - well it’s a pretty cool thing after all.

(For more information about literacy in Marion County, I would suggest visiting the Indy Reads website at: www.indyreads.org).