Humboldt Literacy Project connects illiterate adults with volunteer tutors
“Know Your Nonprofits” is a weekly column in the TimesStandard that takes an in-depth look at nonprofit organizations throughout Humboldt County. This week’s featured nonprofit is the Humboldt Literacy Project, located at 537 G St. in Eureka. Emma Breacain, executive director, answered the following questions.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR ORGANIZATION AND ITS MISSION »
Humboldt Literacy Project connects illiterate adults with volunteer tutors for free, confidential, oneon-one English language studies at the learner’s pace, tailored to their goals and needs. The individuals involved see increased confidence and success at home and at work, but the entire community benefits from a more educated and capable general population.
WHEN AND WHY WAS THIS NONPROFIT FOUNDED? »
Our project was started in 1981 by an HSU grad student and, in 1985, we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a part of California Library Literacy Services.
Adult illiteracy is a social issue. It is not confined to the individual. It sits in the middle of a giant web of tangential causeand-effect issues. It affects families, workplaces, medical care and the children’s education and well-being and literacy. Literacy is absolutely everything. It is community health.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OR THE ISSUES THIS NONPROFIT IS TRYING TO SOLVE? »
Most people are just shocked that adult illiteracy is still a real problem in the U.S. in the 21st century. If the general public was aware that 15% of adults in the U.S. are functionally illiterate, we might see some positive changes in how we approach education, employment and families. And if those illiterate adults understood that there are 14,000 people in Humboldt County struggling with the same thing, they might feel less alone and more empowered to ask for our help sooner. The stigma and abuse faced by an adult with literacy issues is a huge barrier to seeking help and to the learning process. Our new tutors are always surprised at how much work we must do before we can “get to work.”
WHERE DOES MOST OF THE NONPROFIT’S FUNDING COME FROM? »
Our funding comes from multiple sources including the state library, local health and human services, private foundations, individual donors and our own fundraisers. We’re really looking forward to being able to host our annual “Trivia Challenge” again.
HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION? »
Call us! If you are interested in improving your skills or helping someone improve their skills, call us so we can help you make that happen! If you want to support us, but you’re not ready to be a tutor, we’ll need you as a volunteer helping us put on our live fundraising parties, presumably next year.
TELL ME ABOUT A FEW OF YOUR ORGANIZATION’S RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS » Our proudest accomplishment at this moment is the fact that we are here after this past year! We made rapid adaptations to impossible changes around us, and we never stopped taking in new tutors and learners, continuing their education and providing online entertainment with our family literacy parties.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAS THE PANDEMIC CREATED FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW HAS THE NONPROFIT DEALT WITH THOSE CHALLENGES? »
Everything has had to move online, and fast, in a place where, when I started my job, each client and volunteer was maintained on a little 3-by-5 index card in a little box. It was an analogue world, and a lot of our people truly liked it that way.
When everything first shut down, we lost a huge percentage of our clients and volunteers right away, mostly because they suddenly had increased family responsibilities or expanded duties at essential jobs. Or both.
Many of our learners do not have internet in the home, and many of them are not computer literate. Many of our tutors thought they were signing up to help with English language
skills, they’re not particularly fond of this technology, and not everyone is fully comfortable with it.
I can’t help but see it all as a major growth opportunity. Our people are learning to use new technology and equipment. Those who can’t do that are using their creativity and adaptability to share lessons by text or by U.S. mail or other improvised, contact-free means. Only a few pairs of tutors and learners are still meeting in person, and they’re doing it with care. I’m outrageously proud of all of us.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION? » We have a very informative website at humboldtliteracy.org, and we can be reached by telephone at 707-445-3655.