Hopelink’s Eastside Literacy Program Kicks Off Its Fall Class Schedule Just in Time for September, Literacy Awareness Month

Bellevue, Wash.  Sept. 8, 2005 – Hopelink’s Eastside Literacy celebrates September as literacy awareness month by opening its doors to begin Fall classes teaching adults in north and east King County basic literacy skills, as well English as a second language.
 
The most recent Washington Adult Literacy Survey found that over 43,000 adults in the east and north King County region can not read above the third grade level.  While many are immigrants eager to learn and begin a new life—almost half of these adults are native English speakers.

Hopelink’s literacy program helps adults with reading, writing and math skills which are fundamental to holding a job with a living wage, as well as being effective parents, involved in their children’s education.

Adults with low literacy face a multitude of challenges that prevent them from being self-sufficient.  They can’t help their children with their homework, fill out a job application or understand directions on a medicine bottle.  Children are twice as likely to repeat this problem when their parents have limited literacy, and illiteracy can become a tragic cycle if parents do not receive help and support from programs such as Hopelink’s.

“Literacy plays a critical role in every aspect of life, but one of the most important reasons for teaching adult literacy is to break the cycle of illiteracy by giving parents the ability to read to their children,” said Hopelink President and CEO, Doreen Marchione.  “Building a literate community is a priority at Hopelink, and we believe in helping people by giving them the skills to help themselves.”

Hopelink’s Eastside Literacy Program is unique in that it connects people in the community who need help with those who can provide the tutoring they need.  Literacy tutoring for native English speakers is done one-on-one, while English as a second language is taught in a classroom setting.

Hopelink is in need of community volunteers to help teach adult students basic reading, writing and math skills, as well as English as a second language. Volunteers and Hopelink staff take an individualized approach to student’s needs while being respectful and understanding of the social realities of living with illiteracy.

Eastside Literacy has been the community’s expert on adult literacy since 1969.  As a program of Hopelink’s Adult Education Department, Eastside Literacy provides a crucial element in self-sufficiency, helping adults improve their family’s safety, stability and security.

About Hopelink
Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County by promoting self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helping people make lasting change. Hopelink assists people with meeting their needs for food, shelter, homelessness prevention, child development, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425.869.6000 or visit www.hope-link.org.

Media Contacts
Denise Stephens, Public Relations Specialist, office: 425.869.2440, denises@hope-link.org
Glen Miller, Communications Manager, office: 425.869.6025, cell: 206.790.5410, glenm@hope-link.org