LITERACY SERVICES OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY INC
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Mission Statement
Mission: Our mission is to deliver comprehensive and innovative learning opportunities to local adults seeking English language and literacy skills to achieve their goals. Vision: Our vision is that all adults are empowered with the literacy skills they need to thrive in our community.
About This Cause
We are the only organization in Indian River County, FL that provides free, confidential tutoring to adults who struggle with literacy. For 52 years, Literacy Services of Indian River County (LSIRC) has helped people overcome barriers to literacy thereby enhancing their quality of life. We provide free, confidential, 1:1 tutoring and small group classes focused on improving the English language and literacy skills of adults living in Indian River County. In addition to traditional tutoring, we offer small group classes in the workplace, virtual classes, conversation clubs, online learning software, and a computer lab in Fellsmere. LSIRC serves adults, from age 16 and up, who reside in Indian River County and need to improve their English language and literacy skills. Our students are generally referred by a trusted source: friends, family, and community partner agencies. Many of our students struggle financially, coming to us with the goal of improving their literacy skills to increase their earning potential and financial security. Our organization supports students' achievement of their stated literacy goals by tailoring our services to the needs of each individual student's requirements and pace of learning. We serve adult learners with a wide range of backgrounds and goals. Some of our students were born in the USA, with the goal of improving their basic literacy skills to support their families, connect with doctors, communicate with teachers, or prepare for a career-related exam. Our international students come from 35 countries and many are newcomers to America. They speak over 20 languages, often with other alphabets, which can cause writing and reading difficulties. The majority of our students are Spanish speakers. Eighty percent (80%) of our students are female. Sixty-four percent (64%) of our students are ages 26 to 54, twenty-four percent (24%) are ages 55 and up, and the remaining twelve percent (12%) are ages 16 to 19. Currently, our oldest student is 83 years old. Over 50% of our students are the parents of school-aged children. Last program year, 45 parents became more engaged with their children's education, completing parental involvement literacy goals, such as opening FOCUS parent portals and attending parent/teacher conferences. Our students are spread throughout the county, with approximately 110 students from northern Indian River County (Fellsmere and Sebastian) and 174 students from southern Indian River County (Vero Beach, Gifford, and Highlands). In 2022-2023, 267 (94%) of our students required ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tutoring and 17 (6%) required literacy tutoring. Most students seek our services for better employment. Our services result in: - Improved language and literacy skills - New Employment, Training or Apprenticeship - Improved Employment or Promotion - Small Business Creation - U.S. Citizenship - Professional Licensing - More engagement in their children’s education - College Access/GED - Community Socialization and Involvement In 2022-2023, we served 284 students with 158 tutors. Our volunteer tutors logged in 9,580 hours teaching their students! • 943 overall literacy goals were met • 45 students became more engaged in their children’s education • 39 students obtained promotions, better jobs, or started their own business • 18 students passed the rigorous exam to became United States Citizens • 1 student passed the GED Exam An adult literacy crisis is facing our nation and our community. An estimated 43 million adults are functionally illiterate in the U.S.A. In Indian River County, the numbers of adults who struggle to read and write in English are startling: 36% of adults are low-literate and 19% of adults are very low-literate. This means that more than 1 in 2 adults in our community struggle to complete a job application, read a newspaper, read directions on medications, or help their children with schoolwork. To meet the adult literacy needs of our community, Literacy Services of IRC provides free, confidential, one-to-one and small group tutoring to local adults across the county. We teach a range of topics including Adult Basic Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), reading and writing assistance, preparation for the GED Exam, preparation for the United States Citizenship Exam, career related literacy, and conversational skills. We offer small ESOL groups, conversation clubs, workplace tutoring, Citizenship classes, and computer classes. Our Fellsmere computer lab is also open to individuals in the community who do not have access to computers, internet, printers, or scanners. For new and active students, we have an online learning software that is self-paced and can supplement learning. We started drop-in classes for waitlist students to begin building their skills while they wait for a tutor, and these have been very successful. We are a United Way agency partner that receives no federal, state or local government funding. We rely solely on the generosity of our residents, businesses, and foundations. We serve nearly 300 students every year. Students come to our office everyday seeking instruction to prepare for the U.S. Citizenship Exam, obtain their GED or high school diploma, learn the language of functional daily living (banking, transportation, shopping, medical, etc.), or gain the foundational language for career improvements. Our services have the multiplier effect of helping our students and their families. Geographically, 23% of our students reside in Fellsmere, 16% in Sebastian, and 61% in Vero Beach. According to the IRC Needs Assessment, the Hispanic/Latino population of IRC is projected to increase to 18% by 2040. LSIRC is a keystone to meeting this demand. We have the history, experience, and capacity to support this growing group that desires to become productive, engaged members of our community.