The Literacy Coalition Turns 10!

Happy birthday to us! In celebration of where we started and to honor how far we've come, view the Literacy Coalition's milestones through our virtual timeline! To read more about our history, see 'Our History' below the timeline.

Tip: Click the plus sign within the timeline to 'zoom out' by years (view at about 6 months), then scroll all the way to the beginning and start from there!

 Literacy Coalition Celebrates 10th Anniversary! on Dipity.

View this timeline on our blog: www.ReachTeachUnite.blogspot.com!

Our History

How It Started

In late 1997, the Austin American Statesman, along with Gary Godsey of United Way Capitol Area, initiated discussions about the need for an organization that would help coordinate literacy efforts in central Texas. Community literacy programs provided input, feedback, and direction.  These discussions were the foundation for what are now the quarterly Network Provider Luncheons.

The Literacy Task Force

The community’s deliberations identified a real need for a central point of organization and a shared advocate, and so the Literacy Task Force of Central Texas was created.  Members of the Literacy Coalition’s predecessor Task Force included national literacy specialist Suzii Paynter of the Christian Life Commission, Lynn Wolfe of the City of Austin, Elise Sillers of the Junior League of Austin, Retta Kelley (now Van Auken) of the Austin American-Statesman, Fred Butler of the Community Action Network, Paul Ellis of the local workforce board, and many other community leaders.  The Task Force began to operate from the offices of the Austin-American Statesman, with the full support of publisher Mike Laosa.

Gaining Momentum

Reverend Mike Murray of the 1st Baptist Church facilitated a major community forum with literacy service providers and people from all walks of the community, setting the foundation for the Coalition’s outreach, advocacy, and public awareness efforts. Niyanta Spelman contributed research about baseline literacy needs,  funded in part by Workforce Solutions.

In the fall of 2000, the Taskforce established a fund at the Austin Community Foundation, which marks the Coalition’s actual inception.  Initial funding came from a grant from the local workforce Board – support which continued with a second grant.  The Coalition began to have a life of its own, augmented by the addition of Gail Miller, a prominent community volunteer, as Executive Director in 2003.  The Literacy Coalition first hung its shingle at the ACC Highland Business Center, where it operated out of a niche in the hallway.  Later, the Coalition called an 8th street church home until moving into a suite of Akin Gump’s offices on 6th Street (a generous in-kind donation).

The Great Grown-up Spelling Bee

In 2004, the Literacy Coalition began to host its annual fundraising event, the Great Grown-up Spelling Bee.  The Bee’s unique appeal has grown rapidly over the years; the most recent Bee proved to be the most successful yet, raising over $79,000 to support community literacy efforts.

Initially held at La Zona Rosa, the Bee now takes place at the Austin Music Hall.  In keeping with Austin’s “keep it weird” vibe, the event embraces funky costumes and rowdy heckling.  One year, the Alamo Drafthouse sponsored a team of super heroes, complete with tighty-whitey outerwear.  Another year, an AT&T-sponsored team of legislators arrived late, but in style, driving up to the event in a limo.

Literacy Day at the Capitol

Literacy Day is a massive milestone in the Coalition’s progression into a local and state advocate for literacy programs. The first Literacy Day was orchestrated during the 2005 legislative session by Jon Engel, Adult Education Director of Community Action Inc., and Suzii Paynter.

More than 500 students from LCCT’s partner programs gathered at the Baptist Church and marched to the Capitol. ESL and GED students spoke with Capitol staffers about the importance of literacy programs in poignant and unprecedented exchanges. The students experienced a transformative civics lesson, and marched back to the Church for a debriefing bolstered by a sense of pride and accomplishment where earlier they had walked timid and unsure. In 2007, Literacy Day followed the same path as it did in 2005 except with a larger crowd.  Jon Engel and Suzii Paynter realized the need for something bigger.  In 2009, the Coalition successfully advocated for a more than doubled adult education budget, aided by the slogan “Adult Education Creates Taxpayers.”

Growing Initiatives

2008 and 2009 saw the official launch of both the Health Literacy Initiative and the Literacy Advancement Initiative.  The Literacy Advancement Initiative absorbed the bilingual Literacy Hotline, which had gone live in 2004 to refer people needing literacy services and volunteers to programs.  The Coalition began to conduct instructor trainings and publish resource directories through the Initiatives.

Where We Are Now

2010 has seen rapid programmatic expansion, supplemented by the release of a groundbreaking two-part report highlighting the severity of illiteracy and the limited capacity  of programs to provide services.

The Coalition has become a regional advocate, facilitating program cooperation and shared resources to help create a cohesive answer to illiteracy in central Texas.   It’s been an exciting ten years!  Stay tuned for what’s coming up next…