The Clark County Literacy Coalition (CCLC) was founded in 1988 as a non-profit adult education organization and is comprised of fifteen members representing the Clark County Public Library, Springfield News-Sun, United Auto Workers, Clark State Community College, Del Pueblo, Opportunities Industrialization Center, Salvation Army, Springfield/Clark County JVS, the Springfield/Clark County Chamber of Commerce, Springfield City Schools, Clark County Schools, Wittenberg University, and the New Carlisle Public Library. The Springfield Foundation and the Turner Foundation, local grant making foundations, became honorary members in 2005. All of the member agencies share the Coalition’s mission: to increase the level of functional literacy and self-sufficiency among the people of Clark County. Although the above-mentioned organizations comprise the Coalition, each organization maintains its own independence and governance. As the Coalition members work to avoid any duplication of services, they seek the same outcome: All people of Clark County are functionally literate (Vision Statement).

The Clark County Literacy Coalition offices are located in the Warder Literacy Center. This historic structure in downtown Springfield had previously served as the Warder Public Library from 1890 to 1990. After the Clark County Public Library opened its new facility in 1988, the Library rededicated the building as the Warder Literacy Center and invited the CCLC to occupy the building.

The Warder Literacy Center functions as the networking, marketing, and training center for the Coalition. One-on-one tutoring began in 1989 with the Springfield Volunteer Reading Aides and continues to be offered by CCLC volunteer tutors today. Volunteer Tutor Trainers and staff provide the Tutor Training Workshop 10 times throughout the year to train volunteer tutors. The CCLC’s Basic Literacy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and Teaching Children to Read (TCR) programs are offered at the Warder Literacy Center to native adults, to foreign-born adults, and to children who are in need of literacy education.

Since 2001, Priscilla Marshall has served as the CCLC’s Executive Director. She has experience in both management and fundraising and has previously directed volunteer tutoring programs. David Smiddy works full-time as both the Volunteer Services Coordinator and the ESOL Coordinator. Bobbie Sin serves as the part-time Student Service Coordinator. April Smith works part-time as the TCR Coordinator. Vicki Fourman is the part-time Finance Coordinator, and Sue Menda is the part-time Hotline Coordinator. Mary Ann Jung contracts with the CCLC as the PICK-A-Pack Coordinator, and Jeff Smith contracts with the CCLC as the Grant Manager.

Most of the Basic Literacy students read below a 6.0 level (equivalent to the sixth grade) and struggle with learning differences. Through the Basic Literacy program, trained volunteer tutors work one-on-one with the adult student as they achieve their personal goals of reading the newspaper, obtaining a job, or registering to vote. Basic Literacy students also acquire skills through computer assisted learning programs in the Bennett Computer Learning Center located at the Warder Literacy Center.

In response to the growing immigrant population, the CCLC added the English for Speakers of Other Languages program in 1998. The ESOL program strives to enrich the lives of non-English speaking foreign residents by helping them learn sufficient functional English skills to participate in this community. Through small group classes, one-on-one tutoring, and computer-assisted learning, ESOL students acquire functional skills to achieve their goals.

In 2005, the CCLC began the Teaching Children to Read program which works with school-age children who have not successfully learned to read. Assessment and screening tools frequently reveal the indications of learning differences in these students. Through the Stevenson Reading Method, Semple Math, and through the use of learning accommodations, trained volunteer tutors work one-on-one with the TCR students as they begin learning how to decode unfamiliar words. A component of the TCR program, the PICK-A-Pack (Parent’s Increasing Children’s Knowledge) project, provides educational backpacks which contain reading books and learning materials which begin building a home library for the TCR students.

Although all three of the CCLC’s learning programs operate from July 1^st to June 30^th each year for reassessment and record-keeping purposes, all programs accept students on an on-going basis. As mentioned above, most students display indications of learning differences which have generally caused their difficulty when learning to read. The CCLC prepares students that the learning process is slow and that learning to accommodate learning differences takes significant time and energy. Successful students may work one-on-one with a tutor for approximately three years.

As the Clark County Literacy Coalition celebrates its 19^th anniversary in 2007, it expects to serve approximately 200 adult students and 65 children. After 19 years, the CCLC continues to offer its programs and services at no cost to the students. Learning to read at the Clark County Literacy Coalition is free to those willing to learn. Through education, the ability to read, and the basics of math, the people in this community will be enabled to reach their full potential.

To fulfill its mission, to address the growing influx of new students, and to keep all programs and services free, the CCLC must continually seek sources of program funding. The CCLC currently receives support from local foundations and trusts, the Ohio Department of Education, the Clark County Public Library, direct mail appeals, United Way, special events such as the 5K Race for Literacy, organizational donors, other contributions and income, and from corporate grants and sponsors. In the years since 2001, donations and contributions from most of these sources have either remained level or have even declined. Two grants received in 2006 were not received in 2007 because one of the funders does not fund the same organization two years in a row and because the other funder is no longer funding organizations outside of Dayton. Unfortunately, CCLC expenses have increased as a result of cost of living increases, increased price and shipping for learning materials, and an increased demand for services. The CCLC has also deferred the maintenance and upgrading of much office equipment throughout the last few years in an attempt to reduce expenses. The CCLC has reached the point where some of these upgrades must be addressed.

Currently, the CCLC is seeking $56,454 of support to finish 2007 in the black and to provide for the much needed upgrades and improvements. Of this amount, $29,000 will come from other planned fundraising to cover expenses in the general fund and for staff salaries and benefits. The remaining $27,454 expected from this campaign will provide for the necessary upgrades and improvements to the CCLC’s program services. The cost to increase the TCR Coordinator’s hours to full time is $6,854. The recent increase in demand for TCR services has prompted this decision. Lexia SOS (Strategies for Older Students) is a learning software program in the Bennett Computer Learning Center which greatly benefits many CCLC students. Unfortunately, the CCLC holds only a single workstation license of this program. An additional $1,600 would upgrade the CCLC’s license to allow the program’s installation on the remaining five computers. The CCLC also needs a $10,000 to purchase additional reading books, workbooks, and teachers’ manuals. While the CCLC reuses as many of these books as possible, some of the books are consumable, and many books need to be replaced. The CCLC also must replace its current photocopier. The CCLC has estimated $9,000 to purchase a color copier which will enable the staff to print and produce materials which previously have been outsourced to a local print shop.

The CCLC now turns to its Board of Directors, Volunteer Reading/Math Aides, and the philanthropic community for financial assistance. The good news is that the growth of the programs has resulted in many more students reaching out for help, but in order to keep up with the demand the CCLC must also reach out for help. With your help, perhaps in a monthly giving plan, the CCLC will continue to upgrade its services and keep the people of Springfield moving toward their goals. Thank you for your support.