Adult literacy students, City Council leaders, and advocates gathered last week at City Hall Park urging Mayor de Blasio to invest $16 million in adult literacy services, which they say is a necessary down payment for a system of universal access to literacy for New Yorkers in need of skill development.
Students urged Mayor de Blasio to build on this legacy and create a comprehensive adult literacy program for the 2.2 million adult New Yorkers currently lacking English proficiency and/or a high school diploma.
Students spoke of the lack of current classes and of the long waitlists, which can sometimes extend for over a year. More than 15,000 individuals are currently on such waitlists, a reality driven in part by the fact that 6,300 students lost classes at the end of FY15 due to funding cuts.
Literacy programs are the pathway to economic mobility, social integration, parent child engagement, improved health outcomes and improved community safety. Advocates said that strengthening adult literacy programs and building a well-coordinated adult literacy system offers the Mayor a unique opportunity to continue his Administration’s progress in fighting inequality and improving the workforce.
Council Member Carlos Menchaca of Brooklyn kicked-off the rally with a passionate speech, saying “The time is now to demonstrate that we are truly committed to advancing our New York City working families through literacy. Investing in adult literacy programs in our neighborhoods is an investment in our children’s early education success and our parents’ ability to secure quality jobs – and it’s vital for the integration of our New York immigrants.”
Photo credit: CPC
