LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF THE NEW RIVER VALLEY (LVNRV) 2019 IMPACT STATEMENT
About us:
The mission of Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley, a local 501(c)(3) community-based adult literacy organization is to foster, support, advocate for, and instruct adults in the New River Valley who seek opportunities to achieve greater independence through literacy. LVNRV provides free instruction for adults in reading, writing and math; GED preparation; ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages); and basic computer skills.
Demonstrates Growth:
LVNRV has seen a 44% increase in the number of adult learners served (from 167 in 2017-18 to 240 in 2018-19.) Additionally, the number of volunteers, who are the lifeblood and heart of our small organization, increased by 66%, from 102 to 169. Our revenue grew from $60,264 in 2017-18 to $106,770.
Furthermore, more adults have achieved positive learning outcomes, which demonstrates growth in organizational impact on lives, families, and our community:
● 102 adults achieved a work goal last year compared with 55 the previous year (goals achieved include securing a new or better job, entering an education or job training program, passing the GED/section of the GED, increasing basic computer skills.)
● 42 adults achieved a home/family goal last year compared with 35 the previous year (goals achieved include reading with and helping children with homework, increasing ability to communicate with child’s school, paying bills, reading information from a doctor or medication bottle, reading for personal enjoyment.)
● 38 adults achieved a community goal last year compared with 28 the previous year (goals achieved include increasing involvement in civic/religious activities, voting, achieving U.S. Citizenship, passing the driver’s license exam.)
The success of organizational growth can be attributed to the goal of developing partnerships; together, we can do more. LVNRV focused on reaching out to organizations and workplaces serving/employing low-income and low-literate adults and other stakeholders to jointly develop programs and services to meet clients’ educational needs.
Demonstrates Positive Values and Lives Your Mission:
Last year, 169 volunteers donated more than 4,535 hours of volunteer service to LVNRV; valued at $25.43 by the Independent Sector, this equates to more than $115,325 in in-kind support of local adult literacy services. The impact of the invaluable contributions of these volunteers has a positive ripple effect on lives, families and the community.
Adult literacy programming provides a substantial socio-economic return on investment. There is strong evidence that investment in literacy can benefit the economy by: reducing costs in areas such as social assistance, healthcare, and justice; and it results in increased productivity and earnings. Low adult literacy costs billions of dollars in lost revenue and increases costs for health care, corrections, welfare, and other major social issues.
When adults learn how to read, write, do math, use computers, and communicate in English, they have the power to lift themselves up, rise to new heights, and change their lives, their families’ lives, and the community we all share.
Makes Lives of Individuals and Families Better:
There are 15,000 adults in the New River Valley without a high school diploma or GED and 6,000 have less than a 9th grade education.Poverty, unemployment, crime, children's failure in school . . . many of our community's challenges intersect with low literacy.
LVNRV’s programs are working to address these issues, and our work impacts individuals, families and our community in profound ways.
LITERACY AND POVERTY/UNEMPLOYMENT
The relationship between literacy skill level and the likelihood of living in poverty is strong. Of adults with the lowest literacy levels, 43% live in poverty, and 70% of adult welfare recipients have low literacy levels. There is a clear correlation between more education and higher earnings. (Proliteracy)
Locally, the New River Valley Community Action Needs Assessment identified Education and Employability as 2 of the 4 top priorities to address poverty in our community.
Recent data show that nearly 30 percent of adults with household incomes at or below the federal poverty line do not have a high school credential. (Proliteracy) The key to financial success is adequate education to seek meaningful, income sustainable work, and increasing basic academic skills and earning a high school equivalency degree helps adults prepare for further education and better employment prospects.
To help adults in our community achieve economic self-sufficiency, LVNRV launched the SkillUp NRV initiative. Adults with employment goals receive instruction in workforce development skills as part of literacy and language instruction.
● Debbie was referred to us by a partner organization serving unemployed adults. She worked with a tutor to complete a resume and online job applications and got a job! She continues to work with a tutor to improve skills to complete on-the-job reading, writing and digital literacy tasks.
LITERACY, JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS
75% of state prison inmates did not complete high school or can classified as low literate. 95% of those incarcerated are reintegrated into our communities. Research shows that inmates who are educated are 43% less likely to return to prison. (Proliteracy)
LVNRV partners with NRCC to offer a GED/Workforce Development program at Montgomery County Jail; additionally, we provide financial literacy programming at New River Valley Regional Jail.
● Tom was incarcerated and attending jail-based classes and working with a tutor to prepare for his GED. He did not pass until the 5th time of testing after months of hard work. He’s been successfully employed in the community for 4 years now.
LITERACY AND CHILDREN
The greatest single indicator of a child’s future success is the literacy level of his or her parents. If a parent can’t read, the child will be more likely to get poor grades, display behavioral problems, have high absentee rates, or drop out of school. (Proliteracy)
Our family literacy programs give parents the skills to be their child’s first teacher and break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy. Family READS (Reading and English to Achieve Dreams and Success) is a partnership with Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library. This program, developed by MFRL and LVNRV, recently received a collaboration award from the state. 100% of graduates report increased ability to read with children and help their children succeed in school. Additionally, LVNRV partners with Montgomery County Regional Jail and the NRV Re-Entry Council to provide a family literacy program for incarcerated dads.
● Aurora, a graduate of the Blacksburg Family READS program, improved her English to help her son with his homework, to read with her daughter, and to register her daughter for Headstart and support her learning there. She increased the family’s income by getting a job, and she recently got a promotion!
Additionally, societal challenges such as poor health, lack of civic engagement, domestic abuse, and more are addressed when adults have the literacy skills they need and deserve.
Additional Information:
LVNRV does not receive any state or federal funding; the organization’s important work is made possible by contributions from United Way, local governments, local businesses, foundations, and the generosity of individuals. Thanks to the power of volunteers and the “neighbors helping neighbors” approach, LVNRV operates on a shoestring budget with no full-time employees; this small organization has a big impact.
