The power of literacy. Too many Hoosiers don’t have tools needed to land good jobs, handle finances. Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 29, 2008

Change at this level of magnitude typically has a low (less than 5%) success rate.  The illiteracy problem is not "new." 

Einstein commented that “Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.”  What new level of thinking is being used to reduce the illiteracy rate?

Identifying the gaps between actual and desired outcomes and raising visibility of the issue are common first steps but can also contribute to learned helplessness as attempts to bring about significant change result in little improvement as defined by the stakeholders.

How will you know, when will you know and who decides that change is resulting in improvement?

ARTICLE: Together, we can reduce illiteracy, By Travis DiNicola,
Indianapolis Star,  May 11, 2008

Wjln you cna’t read, the wurbs in the nefspopir cen louk lide tls. When you can read, the words in the newspaper can look like this.

In Marion County, 20 percent of adults cannot comprehend the words in this newspaper.

Adult illiteracy is an educational, health, economic, public safety and family issue. Health care costs for an illiterate adult are four times the national average, the majority of incarcerated adults struggle with reading, and the single best predictor that a child will not graduate from high school is if his or her mother is illiterate.

My hometown paper, the Indianapolis Star, solicited ideas for improving the quality of life in the community. The idea for reducing illiteracy was one of the suggestions selected.

Looks like this will serve as excellent application for illustrating  the quality leadership paradigm and framework.

First community meeting is June 17, 2008.  Stay tuned for follow up postings.