Holding the title for one of the “nation’s largest community-based provider of literacy services,” the Center for Literacy sits on 636 S. 48th St. For over four decades, this organization has helped educate not only Walnut Hill residents, but all Philadelphia residents, as well. A haven of adult literacy initiatives, tutoring, workforce education and professional development, each year the center serves an average of 5,000 students.
According to the center’s Literary Freeze statistics, Philadelphia’s literacy levels are at a critical and damaging low. The number of adults in Philadelphia who have not obtained a high school diploma totaled at an alarming 202,000. Each year over 8,000 students drop out of high school and 22 percent of adults lack proper reading skills.
“We do focus on adults for general education and we focus on youth,”Public Relations Specialist, Cymantia Bey said.
With 227 volunteers and 81 umbrella sites, will the city's literacy decrease?
In mid-April, the center will host the SpeakOut2010 event at the Philadelphia Free Library.
This annual event honors the best poems and essays from ten students involved in the literacy programs. Bey explained other written work from students is published in a SpeakOut book. Writers send readers on a journey of their personal experiences of the Center for Literacy programs.
Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill
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