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Programs/Services

Oregon Literacy's mission is to:
Advance Literacy through Access, Advocacy and Alliances
All Access Advocacy Alliances

Access

Oregon Literacy builds services around access to make it as easy as possible for people to connect with literacy services, and to make those the best literacy services available.

  • The cornerstone of many of Oregon Literacy's services remains the statewide Literacy Line. The toll-free hotline [800-322-8715] connects over a thousand adults with literacy programs every year. Since its founding by a coalition of literacy groups in the 1980's, it has helped over 20,000 people connect with literacy programs in their own communities. Answering calls for help every day, OLI ensures access to programs through partnerships with organizations as widespread as the Oregonian, OPB, employment offices, libraries, and other non-profits across the state.

  • In the fall of 2003, Oregon Literacy formally launched the first Tutor HelpLine, to improve access to materials and information for volunteer tutors across the state. This new service answers questions and conducts research for both volunteers and volunteer literacy programs. The HelpLine incorporates the materials and resources in Oregon Literacy's HelpCenter, which volunteers made available on-line throughout the program year.

  • The Oregon Literacy Bookstore is the first stop for adult literacy materials. Carrying curriculum from over a dozen adult education publishers, the bookstore stocks samples of hundreds of titles to allow tutors and programs to make the best selection for their students. We continue to provide book scholarships to ensure that no student is barred from studying because they cannot afford their own materials.

  • OLI continues to update and maintain an on-line computer orientation to help potential new volunteer tutors learn about rewards and responsibilities of contributing their time to literacy. OLI will use this tool to continue to recruit new tutors for their literacy programs all over the state.

  • In 2004, Oregon Literacy and Portland State University will begin piloting a Learning Web, that allows learners to access learning opportunities, tools, and materials through an easily navigable website that centralizes available information and resources.
Advocacy

Advocacy services are offered through Oregon READS, a partnership between Oregon Literacy and Verizon READS.

  • Oregon Literacy will continue to produce the annual summer Media Kit, which in 2003 includes concrete information and suggestions on how literacy programs can improve communication with media sources.

  • Beginning in 2003, literacy programs in Oregon can order free Advocacy Postcards from Oregon Literacy to help students and supporters communicate with legislators about the importance of adult literacy programs. With initial orders totaling well over 1,000 postcards, this new service will help literacy programs speak with a louder voice to those who need to hear about our work, so they can advocate for adult literacy.

  • Oregon Literacy offers a statewide read-a-thon - Read Across Oregon, moving into it's second year, to all literacy programs as an opportunity to spread the word and raise funds for adult literacy.

  • A December fundraiser for Oregon Literacy (Seasons Readings) will bring Oregon notables together to support the cause of literacy. This event will bring much needed press to adult literacy, while allowing people to celebrate the joy of reading as a family.

  • In a partnership with the League of Women Voters, Oregon Literacy will produce Oregon's first ever Easy to Read Voting Guide, providing non-partisan voting information to all Oregonians, regardless of their reading level.
Alliances

Oregon Literacy believes that sharing knowledge strengthens all of our programs, and to that end strives to create alliances that benefit adult literacy.

  • Oregon Literacy sponsors three on-line discussion groups for literacy - a group each for tutors, a group for students, and a group for literacy programs.

  • The New Coordinators Packet provides a helpful step up for new coordinators at Oregon's literacy programs, ensuring that they are able to link up with available resources.

  • A "Literacy Start Up Q & A" booklet will provide assistance to nonprofits, schools, churches and community groups who are considering adding adult literacy to their services.

  • OLI staff and board are creating a Marketing Plan to raise the profile of adult literacy for all Oregonians, ensuring that potential students and volunteers alike know of the many quality programs serving our state.

  • Oregon Literacy recruits tutors and students for all literacy programs through alliances with media outlets.

  • Site Visits, through the Oregon Reads partnership with Verizon, will bring up to date information and assistance to small community based literacy programs.
These projects and services are primarily created and delivered through community volunteers and interns, who care enough about their community to spend time improving the literacy services for our state.


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