Literacy and Post-Katrina New Orleans: www.literacygno.org

http://www.literacygno.org/literacy-statistics.html

This link (above) will take you to some shocking statistics on the rate of low levels of literacy in the New Orleans area. More than 25% of the adult population in New Orleans does not have a high school diploma; and a significant portion of that cannot read or write at all on a functional level.

If ever you hear someone discuss "rebuilding" after Hurricane Katrina, my question to that person would be this: How can anyone seriously discuss rebuilding and not address the issue of literacy? A literate populace is what will attract new businesses to the region. A literate populace will bring brain-power to the region, help solve problems, and help reduce crime and poverty.

Literacy is as important, if not more important, than hammers, nails, saws, and a fresh coat of paint. In rebuilding New Orleans we need to fix the broken houses and buildings, but we need to fix the broken people too.

Like healthcare, literacy skills are vital for a thriving community.

If you are a reader of this blog, please visit our friends at http://www.literacygno.org/ This is the new combined website for the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans and Literacy*AmeriCorps New Orleans. (I am presently working with both organizations, as well as with SVDP-ALC.) Like the related organization, the Lindy Boggs National Center for Community Literacy which is headquartered at Loyola University, these organizations are fully involved in the New Orleans area improving the literacy skills of our citizens and rebuilding this city through the power of words.
-- Adrian