Category: Community Quality

Illiteracy: Next Steps

OPINION: Editorial Illiteracy takes toll on our health and welfare, Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 22, 2008.

The statistics are startling. One in five adults in Marion County is functionally illiterate. The job prospects of one in three workers in the state are hampered by poor literacy skills. Health-care costs for an illiterate adult are on average four times higher than for a person who can read prescriptions, follow doctors’ instructions and process other health-related information.

This is a follow-up article discussing the initiative to improve literacy levels in Indianapolis.

Goal: 100% literacy. Solutions mentioned in the article include:  More networking among community organizations working independently on the issue; recruitment of more volunteers.

More info:
– www.indyreads.org, M. Travis DiNicola, Executive Director
– www.readyindiana.org
– www.illiteracyhurts.com
– www.proliteracy.org

Reducing illiteracy – Prevention & Prosperity

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.