You may not be aware that many people in the Lubbock community seriously struggle with reading. Executive administrator for Literacy Lubbock, Lynda Dutton, provided a shocking statistic.
"By county, Lubbock has 13 percent illiteracy rate. They judge that basically on someone who reads below a fifth grade level," Dutton said.
In response to that problem, a program was created to educate adults who find themseleves at that level.
"It was organized in 1989 by two teachers who actually started it who wanted to tutor adults in the library who did not know how to read," Dutton said.
Over 1,000 adults have gone through Literacy Lubbock. Dutton said these people walk away with a greater power to reach their potential in a world full of print.
"I mean, it just changes their life because they are blocked from half of the world, you know they're not conscience of print," Dutton said.
Literacy Lubbock is a free, life-long service to adult students. They provide books, supplies, and tutors to enrich lives with reading.
"We want to change lives through literacy and we want their lives to be improved forever," Dutton said.
Dutton is passionate about the program and believes it is successful in supplying vital life skills.
"Literacy is the most vital life skill that a person can ever really have and without the life skill of literacy a person will never reach their full potential as a human being," Dutton said.
Partnered with United Way, Literacy Lubbock is empowering people to read and achieve.
