Challenging the Narrative

2018 — 2019

Programs

our adult learners apply their new skills to the workplace, to higher education, and to help their children and grandchildren succeed in school. We also launched expanded digital literacy classes that will prepare students to enter the workforce with the technological foundation they need to succeed. While we are energized by these outcomes, we are eager to embark upon methods for greater impact in the years to come. The start of this fiscal year kicked off a new strategic plan and deeper partnerships with workforce training providers, Georgia State University, and community allies to strengthen our wraparound services to identify and address barrier mitigation. Each of our students comes to us with unique life circumstances and reasons they have not received the necessary education to move toward their goals. While we recognize the challenges that they face, we recognize that education is the platform that makes it possible to defeat all barriers and transform lives. We thank everyone who has joined us on the journey to educate our adult population. We are grateful for our partners, funders and supporters. We challenge everyone to put adult literacy in the forefront of your thoughts, conversations and efforts. It takes a community to move a community.

Sincerely,

Addison Meriwether Chair, Literacy Action Board of Trustees

Adult Basic EducationLiteracy Action offers adult basic education classes across several levels of reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as GED preparation and scholarships to cover testing fees. A new GED Fast Track program provides qualifying students with an accelerated class that prepares them to take the GED exam in five weeks. All students supplement classroom instruction with online learning individualized to their specific needs.

Digital LiteracyLiteracy Action offers courses in basic and advanced digital literacy as well as an IT Fundamentals course delivered in partnership with Per Scholas. Adult learners are taught to become active participants in the digital age by acquiring skills such as accessing email, using word processing software, applying for jobs online, and navigating a tablet. Training on an online learning platform also strengthens students’ digital skills while complementing their core coursework.

English as a Second Language Literacy Action offers three levels of English as a Second Language courses at its downtown Atlanta location and two levels at Goodwill of North Georgia in Decatur. We also offer weekly English conversation classes at nine library branches throughout the metro Atlanta area and specialized educational programming for immigrant and refugee families at the Decatur Housing Authority and Cross Keys High School.

Family LiteracyThere is a strong correlation between parental literacy and children reading on grade level. Literacy Action's family literacy programs foster reading for the entire family, ensuring parents and grandparents have both the literacy skills and knowledge of strong learning behaviors that they need to support their children's academic success.

Work ReadinessLiteracy Action provides a work readiness class that is designed for unemployed, underemployed, or low-income students seeking job advancement. Students receive training in the soft skills necessary to navigate a work environment; create resumes and cover letters; and access additional work-readiness opportunities such as a career interest and skill inventory. All Literacy Action students have access to work-readiness workshops, job fairs, and individual career counseling throughout the program year.

Board of TrusteesAddison Meriwether, Chair Cushman & Wakefield

Barbara Felix, Vice Chair BMO Harris Bank N.A.

Deirdra Glover, Secretary Conserte Consulting

Blake McDaniel, TreasurerFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Althea Broughton Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

Brian GreenGeorgia Power

Melanee Haywood Delta Air Lines

Tracie KambiesDeloitte

David LaWare GE

Brian Lay EY

Dr. Meca MohammedGLISI

Nithya NarasimhanADP

Penny PalmerRandstad USA

David Peterson Literacy For All

JaKathryn Ross Georgia-Pacific LLC

Andrea Smith Junior League of Atlanta

Lesley SolomonCatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

Rho ThomasKilpatrick Townsend

Michael TurnerCommunity Volunteer

Calvin Wright Community Volunteer

Dear Friend,

As we reflect on last fiscal year, it signals a time to examine what we have achieved and what remains to be accomplished. With the support of individuals like you, Literacy Action offered 115 tuition-free and stigma-free classes at all levels of literacy, as well as programs to help

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2018-2019BY THE NUMBERS

21 students earned their GED, with an additional 28 students passing at least one subject area of the exam

59 students found new or improved employment with assistance from Literacy Action

20 students enrolled in a post-secondary education or workforce training program upon graduating

2 students obtained U.S. citizenship

67% of post-tested students made an academic gain

389 students participated in core adult education classes in reading, writing, mathematics, and GED preparation

100 students participated in digital literacy classes in keyboarding, word processing, tablet use, and more

118 students participated in electives such as family literacy, citizenship preparation, and work readiness

80 students participated in core ESL classes and 289 in conversation classes at local library branches

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I think the best thing about Literacy Action is that the students encourage each other to keep pushing. Everyone here has their own story, own goal, and is looking to learn.

My favorite place here is the Success Center. When I need a break from studying for my math exams, I find myself browsing the books in there and finding a new novel to read. Books have always been my pass to another world. A world that is far from me but if I keep learning and keep pushing could be a reality someday.

Literacy Action keeps offering new opportunities for students to get new skills. While I am strengthening my math skills, I am also taking a Microsoft Office Certification test. My goal is to come out not only stronger in reading and math but with a certification that I can take to the next level!

Literacy Action helped me make a commitment to myself to achieve my goals.

In 2012, I moved to the United States hoping to find work and better opportunities than I had in my home country of Colombia. But because I spoke limited English, employers always underestimated my skills, and it was hard to find a good job. I knew I needed to make a change in my life. I wanted to improve my English, become a U.S. citizen, and advance my career.

At Literacy Action, I took classes in English and Civics, which helped prepare me for the citizenship exam. In February 2019, I passed the exam and became a U.S. citizen!

Now, I have just completed an IT Fundamentals class at Literacy Action. I am looking for an IT job that will increase my earnings in the short term and I have applied to degree programs in radiology as well. Literacy Action has helped me a lot to improve my English, my life, and my career. It’s never too late to start over!

MichaelIntermediate Math & Microsoft Office

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SaraESL, Civics, & IT Fundamentals

Financials

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

Revenue and Support Contributions $628,349Grants $924,197Investment income $17,725Other income $77,322Total Revenue and Support $1,647,593

Expenses Program services $1,129,929Management and general $325,374Fundraising $181,053Total Expenses $1,636,356

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Assets Cash and cash equivalents $494,719Investments $232,114Accounts receivable $998Grants and pledges receivable $199,777Prepaid expenses $23,927Property and equipment, net $88,695Other assets $22,969Total Assets $1,063,199

LiabilitiesAccounts payable andaccrued expenses $93,155Deferred rent $44,702Total Liabilities $137,857

Net AssetsWithout donor restrictions $727,221With donor restrictions $198,121Total Net Assets $925,342

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $1,063,199

For a full copy of our audited financial statements, email development@literacyaction.org

for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019ShanayaGED Graduate

What a difference a year makes! When I started Literacy Action in 2018, I was scared but knew that I needed to make a change for my future and for my kids. I was homeless, struggling to find steady work and raising two kids.

Although I was fighting many obstacles and so many curveballs were thrown at me, I still worked hard and studied as much as I could. I saw my goal of obtaining my GED and I refused to give up!

This year, I am proud to announce that I am a GED graduate and will be attending Atlanta Technical College in January 2020 for an Associate’s Degree in Phlebotomy. I am so thankful for the Literacy Action program and all that its staff has done to support me and push me toward a better future.

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$100,000+Technical College System of Georgia

$50,000 - 99,999The Arthur M. Blank Family FoundationThe Atlanta Women's FoundationDragon ConThe Dragon Con Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater AtlantaThe Merancas FoundationSusan and David PetersonThe Sara Giles Moore FoundationThe Scott Hudgens Family FoundationThunder Bay Foundation

$25,000 - 49,999MailChimp

$10,000 - 24,999Ada Lee and Pete CorrellBradley CurreyDeKalb CountyDelta Air Lines, Inc.Georgia Power CompanyGeorgia-Pacific FoundationIda Alice Ryan Charitable TrustIntegrity Community Development CorporationThe Junior League of Atlanta, Inc.Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLPMary Allen Lindsey Branan FoundationPiedmont Charitable Foundation, Inc.Pitney Bowes FoundationPNC FoundationVasser Woolley FoundationWells Fargo Foundation

$5,000 - 9,999Anonymous (x2)Bobbie Bailey FoundationTracie Coker KambiesCRJ FoundationH. James DallasThe David M. and Donna T. Brown Fund

Dollar General Literacy FoundationCatherine W. DukehartEYBarbara Felix and David CawrseFrances Wood Wilson FoundationGeorge M. Brown FundGeorgia Power Foundation, Inc.Georgia-PacificThe Jim and Billie Ellis Foundation, Inc.David LaWare and Christine CareyLeslie Kuban Gift FundAddison and Krissy MeriwetherNordson Corporation FoundationPrimericaPublix Super Markets CharitiesWells Fargo Bank, N.A.

$2,500 - 4,999ADPBanyan Street Capital Realty ServicesBelieve in ReadingChick-fil-A, Inc.Ann and Jeff CramerCushman & Wakefield of GeorgiaDaan De GroodtThe Galloway FoundationGenuine Parts CompanyGeorgia Literacy CommissionGoogle FiberMelanee HaywoodJohn and Mary Franklin FoundationKrogerBrian LayMacy'sBlake and Heather McDanielLesley and Andrew SolomonThomas H. Pitts TrustWaffle House Foundation

$1,000 - 2,499The Anne and Clint Kibler FoundationAnonymousArnall Golden Gregory LLPAtlanta HousingAtlantic Capital BankG. Niles and Kathleen BoltonRobert and Patricia BowdenAlthea BroughtonDonna Lynn ButterworthCCA and B, LLCConserte ConsultingDelta Community Credit UnionEpps AviationDeirdra GloverHard Rock Cafe - AtlantaIBMLaura LindemanRenee LivseyLois & Lucy Lampkin FoundationLubo Fund, Inc.Chris and Colleen McDaidColin MurphyRandstadPaul Matthew SevernSmith & HowardRho ThomasThomas H. Lanier Family FoundationYMCA of Metro Atlanta

$500 - 999Andy BerndtSusan BoydRobin DernJoy DyessJeffrey ElamLouise GunnAnna Craig HoganStephanie IrvinMarty JonesGina L. MorganMichael and Lauren ShumakerTillman Tax & Accounting ServicesMike Turner

Wiggle Bug Foundation$250 - 499

Paul AndersonAnonymous (x2)William ArroyoMindy BindermanCoxe Curry & AssociatesAnne CrossMargaret and Dabney DanielAshley DerrickCraig and Alyson EppMarc GottliebLillie HackneyLisa and Scott KennedyLauren LambiaseLiteracy Action StudentsKerry McArdlePenny PalmerRhonda Reeves RussellMitchell ReinerClare and Norman RichieDebra Semans and Roger SiegelAmy StoutKaren and Tom WhiteCalvin Wright

$100 - 249Chris AhrenkielJames and Deanna AndersonGeorge AndlAnonymous (x8)Joyce BakerRobert BallardGena BarbatoBill and Haqiqa BollingGail J. BryantDonna BuchananPamela BuzbeePhilip ChaffinRaymond CiociLisa ConleyJeff CordryGary CrumpLinda DembowskiAndre DickensMichael DuncanMattie Eley

Thank You to Our DonorsJennifer FindleyThomas and Joan FrangosDonna FrankovskyCharles GarnerPhil and Annette GeminderAmy GerberJennifer GibilterraDaphne GreenbergMarc Greenberg and Susan GlattLaura GuerinRandy HainGracie and Jack HanchrowAlison HarrisTennille HooverJ. Scott JacobsonKhalil JohnsonMonica JonesLaura KearnyBarbara KimbleCheryl KingMargaret LaneBeth LaxtonChrissy LizasoAlexander MasonJuliet MavromatisLee and Gilda MorrisMeg MosleyRod MulliceJo Ann MustianChristopher and Nancy NunnVicky PolashockVal Porter CookColin PottsTiffany PringleJane SaralMichele SarkisianAndrea SmithCarla SmithDorchelle SpenceBeth SpillaneJames Tobias and Lance HelmsNedra D. Toney-JordanAdam TreibelAnn TunmerElizabeth Wallace and Christopher ScislowiczAlice WatsonLynn WillardCassandra Worthy

Tina Wright$1 - 99

Chenoa AdamsOmotola AjibadeAnonymous (x61)Katherine BedgoodLlewellyn BellDiana BermanJay BernathMary BlockDiana Brace and Jeffrey BlockRebecca BracewellAlexis BrazierNancy BrittainJesika BrooksTessa BrooksBrownieland Pictures, LLCDwayne BrownleeIan BuckleyDavid BurghardtShirley BurtonRebecca CampomanesShannon CarterAbbie CataldoJay ChapmanKristina ChristyMary CiccarelliMisty ClarkAli CohenJennifer ColangeloLynn and Jerry CraneTanya DasDonald and Debbie DavidsonChristopher DeanJohn DeanDecatur Woman's ClubNikki DerbyshireJuhee DesaiMary Ann DoddShannon DonahueAimee EldridgeJeffri EppsCelena EvansScott FrancisDiane FrazierRyan FreemanKellie FrissellHarry and Charlotte GordonAngela Green

Jonathan HarkelMelissa HarrisAngela HarwoodElizabeth HeitbrinkAdam HerndonPam HerringtonWayne HitchJohn HolbrookMaxwell HostetterJack and Mindy HymanDawn Jackson-RobinsonHannah JarrellsRichard JeffersonMelanie JohnsonDavida JonesKelly JordanVincent KaneKasey KarenLucy KeebleCharles KimbleAmy KinardDebra KnightLisa KohoutAndrew KruseChristine LaiDavid LeaAndrea LeachCheryl Lynn Sirna LeitzStephanie MazzoniMona McArdlePhilip McArdleAbie McCauleyMary MercerChristopher MielDaniel MooreMary Lou MooreRobert MooreDonna MorrisSpring MullinsAlexander NealBrittany NealBrian NealonDiane NixAiven O'LearyMarshall and Peggy OrsonJodi PaceChristopher PitrofHattie Portis-Jones and Robert JonesNicole PozzoMiranda Reseigh

Matthew RiesMatthew RobertsonNicolle RobletoRenee SchaeferBetty SeatonChristopher ShirleyMary ShowellShannon SiegnerJeremy SmithMarcia SoldatSunyoung SongCraig SouthernRachel SprecherEverett StephensBarbara StephensonRhonda TaylorBonnie TerrellJenn ThomasElizbeth ThompsonMary ThompsonMichael and Sue TrotterCourtney TurpinJoe VazquezPhilip VogelAmanda and Nelson WagnerJack WalzMehtab WasiWednesday Morning Study ClubJudith WeismanBarbara WheelerLinda WhiddonFelicia WhiteAnn WookeyAngela Wright

In-Kind/OtherAlston & Bird LLPAZTEC SoftwareKen BernhardtBold American EventsThe Community Foundation for Greater AtlantaExecutive ITGeorgia Health FoundationArteimus KiddLion ImageryMailChimpProLiteracyTwilio

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231 Peachtree Street NE, Suite M-100Atlanta, Georgia 30303

(Ph) 404-818-7323

info@literacyaction.org

Our mission is to build better futures by empowering adults with literacy,

life, and work skills.